2003 Kia Optima

141 complaints on file, page 1 of 8.

1. Filed Feb 3, 2025Failure Feb 1, 2025Joplin, MOEngine, Steering, Suspension

   While driving on the roadway, I was almost to a four way intersection, as i was going to get into the left turn lane, I turned the steering wheel slightly to the left as the steering wheel turned but the car almost did little adjusting to turn into the left turn lane. As this occurred you could here a noise underneath the vehicle . As I wasn't sure exactly what had happened, I attempted to limp the vehicle down the road to a friend's. As I did the steering got worse and as I could nearly stear the vehicle something was in the road which because of the steering I couldn't avoid it as it was late at night and raining and I ran over something that gave me a flat on the passenger side front tire . I got to my friends drive a few feet away and almost didn't get it pulled in because of the steering. As I took a look at my car, I noticed that two bolts on the driver side on the rack and pinion were almost about to fall out, two ball joints were bent and one nut was completely missing from the lower ball joint, as well as the sway bar was out of place and If I would have been driving down the highway, I do belive I would have wrecked.

   NHTSA complaint 11640256
2. Filed Nov 5, 2019Failure Oct 7, 2019168,531 milesMacy, INFrame and members, Suspension

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000(SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT CALLED BOB ROHRMAN KIA (801 SAGAMORE PKWY S, LAFAYETTE, IN 47905, 765-746-7301) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,531.

   NHTSA complaint 11278319
3. Filed Jul 29, 2019Failure Jul 24, 2019167,000 milesPlymouth, INBody

   THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE, THOUGH IT HAD A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND IT WAS ONLY INSPECTED AND NOT REPLACED. THE CAR WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT AS IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT, THE SHOP SAID THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE FOR THIS VEHICLE. RECALL #09V183000. GURLEY LEEP KIA IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE FRAME WAS RUSTED BUT KIA WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE.

   NHTSA complaint 11240321
4. Filed Jun 14, 2018Failure Jan 1, 200960,000 milesWinnsboro, SCService brakes, Body, Unknown or other

   DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY OR INSIDE DOOR LOOK SWITCH. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZZARD.

   NHTSA complaint 11101795
5. Filed Dec 27, 2017Failure Dec 25, 201724,000 milesStanford, KYUnknown or other

   AT 24,000 MILES MY VEHICLE STARTED LOCKING DOORS WHEN TEMPERATURES REACH 32 DEGREES OR LOWER. VEHICLE OUTSIDE ON CITY STREET OR DRIVEWAY. WHEN TEMPERATURES GET TO 32 DEGREES, DOORS LOCK AND DO NOT UNLOCK TO ALLOW ACCESS. IF YOU ARE INSIDE OF CAR IT LOCKS YOU INSIDE OF CAR, AS WELL AS OUT OF CAR. LOCKS UNLOCK THEN LOCK INSTANTLY EVEN WHEN USING KEY, NOT KEY FOB TO UNLOCK CAR~ NO ACCESS TO ENTER VEHICLE UNTIL ABOVE 32 DEGREES. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY...YOU HAVE NO VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM IN PAST.RECALL AND FIX IT PLEASE!!!

   NHTSA complaint 11056734
6. Filed Jul 5, 2017Failure Jun 16, 2017123,000 milesLeesburg, VAStructure

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DULLES MOTORCARS LOCATED AT 107 CATOCTIN CIR SE, LEESBURG, VA 20175, PHONE NUMBER: (703) 777-7077, FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SAFETY INSPECTION, THERE IT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN OF SEVERE CORROSION AND CRACKS IN THE SUB FRAME AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITHOUT REPAIRS BEING COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11003026
7. Filed Mar 11, 2017Failure Aug 1, 200735,000 milesHampton, VABody

   DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN IF LOCKED WHEN CLOSED. MECHANISM WORKS FINE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN OPEN, HOWEVER. A PART IN THE LOCK ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE ROTATING TOO FAR AND GETTING STUCK. AS A RESULT, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED IF LOCKED WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED OR THE DRIVER WILL HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR OR THROUGH THE WINDOW.

   NHTSA complaint 10960160
8. Filed Oct 19, 2016Failure Oct 10, 2012Syracuse, NYFuel system, Gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages

   MY MAIN ISSUE IS THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CAN NOT OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR YEARS. EVERYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS A 2003 AND 2004 KIA OPTIMA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I BET EVERY VEHICLE KIA SOLD FOR THESE YEARS HAS THIS PROBLEM. MY OTHER ISSUE IS I AM UNABLE TO FILL MY FUEL TANK AS I NORMALLY COULD DO. I HAVE TO TRICKLE THE FUEL IN THE TANK BECAUSE IF I PUMP IT TOO FAST THE PUMP WILL CUT OFF. I'VE EVEN HAD THE FUEL SPILL OUT OF THE TANK BEFORE THE TANK WAS EVEN FULL (IT WAS AT ABOUT 3/4 FULL). PLEASE DEMAND THAT KIA RECALL THESE PROBLEMS. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S TAKING THIS LONG FOR THIS RECALL TO BE ISSUED. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS FORM AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE TAKEN SO LONG TO PROCESS THIS FORM. THANKS AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ASAP. [XXX] PS. AS OF TODAY MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES. I'VE DRIVEN IT IN ONE WINTER SO FAR (LAST WINTER) AND IT STARTED HAVING THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM AT AROUND 33,000. THE FUEL ISSUE STARTED AROUND 2 YEARS AGO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10917282
9. Filed Sep 9, 2016Failure Aug 29, 2016Sanford, FLAir bags

   AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS LITE, FOR NO REASON! THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 48K MILES , NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT NOR HIT ANYTHING . I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOR HAVE ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME BECAUSE , IT'S WITHOUT AN AIRBAG THERE IS NO PROTECTION

   NHTSA complaint 10905149
10. Filed May 11, 2016Failure Apr 13, 2016147,433 milesHanson, KYLatches/locks/linkages, Door

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,433.

    NHTSA complaint 10864345
11. Filed May 6, 2016Failure Apr 29, 2016177,526 milesConroe, TXDoor

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN UTILIZING THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES, THEY FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,526.

    NHTSA complaint 10863592
12. Filed Apr 12, 2016Failure Apr 11, 2016149,000 milesWinchester, KYSuspension

    KIA HAS ISSUED A RECALL (09V183000) HOWEVER IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE STATE IN WHICH I RESIDE, BUT ALL BORDERING STATES TO THE EAST, WEST, AND NORTH. I'M IN KY AND STATES LIKE OH, IN, IL, WV, ARE INCLUDED. I'M HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE LISTED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER AS THEY HAVE SELECTED TO COVER ONLY SPECIFIC STATES I'M LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS NOW INOPERABLE. THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE TIRE AND SUSPENSION TO BREAK FREE.

    NHTSA complaint 10855180
13. Filed Nov 30, 2015Failure Nov 22, 2015100,000 milesKingwood, WVSuspensionCrash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10807445
14. Filed Nov 9, 2015Failure Apr 15, 201060,000 milesElkhart, INAir bags, Electrical system, Engine

    AFTER 60,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING OR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES BY REPLACING A MAIN FUSE. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE DOOR WILL LOCK AFTER THE DRIVER EXITS THE CAR. SOMETIMES, THE KEYS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR.

    NHTSA complaint 10789284
15. Filed Oct 19, 2015Failure Mar 15, 201598,000 milesDayton, TNElectrical system, Body

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE FOBIK AND COULD LOCK THE DOORS, BUT THEY FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ UPDATED 4/23/18*JB *CN

    NHTSA complaint 10783280
16. Filed Jun 10, 2015Failure May 9, 201460,000 milesHudson, OHAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10724566
17. Filed May 29, 2015Failure Aug 20, 2014OPA Locka, FLAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/04/15*LJ UPDATED 2/1/2016*JS UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

    NHTSA complaint 10722310
18. Filed Feb 10, 2015Failure Feb 9, 2015119,829 milesSenoia, GATires

    I STOPPED TO HAVE MY TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED AND THE MECHANICS WERE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE PASSENGER TIRE'S SIDEWALL SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE. THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED THEY REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE DOUGHNUT SPARE EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLYB10 MILES FROM HOME. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. THESE TIRES ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10682650
19. Filed Feb 3, 2015Failure Jan 29, 2015Wyoming, MNSuspension

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FOR THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE FRONT BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10680795
20. Filed Feb 2, 2015Failure Jun 7, 201293,400 milesIndianapolis, INElectrical system, Latches/locks/linkages

    DOORS (ALL) WILL LOCK AFTER UNLOCKING WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET IN. I UNLOCK THE DOOR, EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY FOB, WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR THE DOORS LOCK. YOU CAN PLAY WITH IT AND FINALLY GET IN BUT I'VE HEARD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME THING ON THE SAME MODEL. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10680712