2003 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

MY WIFE NOTICED THE CAR PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND CALLED HER BROTHER. HE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THAT EVENING 12/30/2013. HE DROVE THE CAR PULLING ONTO A HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE -- NEITHER FORWARD NOR REVERSE. HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE FRONT AXLE DROPPED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS TOWED AND THE GARAGE NOTIFIED US THAT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME HAD CORRODED. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS NHTSA RECALLED KIA OPTIMA (2001-2004 MODEL YEARS) ON MAY 27, 2009. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/31/13 WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VEHICLE. THE KMC WAS CONTACTED ON 1/2/14. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS BASED ON "SALT USAGE OF 20 STATES AND DC." THIS INTERPRETATION OF THE NHTSA RECALL ID # 84125 NEEDS DIRECT CLARIFICATION FROM THE NHTSA. THE ORIGINAL RECALL LETTER STATES: "KMC IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2001 - 2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY "SOLD IN OR" CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF (20 + THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA)." SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN INDIANA MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE INITIAL RECALL. REGARDLESS, THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD WARRANT A NOTIFICATION TO ALL OWNERS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS MECHANICAL ISSUE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. THIS COMPLAINT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH ODI# 10558172. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO COMPLETE A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE AXLE HAD BECOME SEPARATED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF THIS COMPLAINT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH ODI#10559087 UPDATED 03/18/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY OR BY USING THE KEY FOB. SHE WAS FORCED TO CLIMB INTO THE BACK SEAT IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FAILURE RECENTLY RECURRED ALL OF THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE LOCKS; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK AND IGNITION WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE IGNITION AND TRUNK LOCK WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR, FUEL TANK SENSOR AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WHEN SHE MADE TURNS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK AND COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LATCH WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,500. UPDATED 12/20/13*CN THE DEALER STATED THE LOCK PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. UPDATED 12/26/13

I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS, MY CAR STOPPED AND STARTED SHAKING, IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. TURNED THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AS I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. I GOT OUT AND WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR; THE WHEEL WAS AGAINST THE FIREWALL. I FOUND A RECALL 2-15-13, CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SENT A TOWING COMPANY; IN WHICH, TOWED MY CAR TO MIKE SMITH KIA IN PADUCAH, KY. THEY FOUND THAT MY LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB-FRAME DUE MASSIVE CORROSION. REPLACED THE SUB-FRAME & DRIVE AXLE,2 NEW TIRES. PICKED MY OPTIMA 3-20-2013. 3-27-2013, NOTICED POWER STEERING LEAK, CALLED SET-UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT FOR 4-4-2013. APRIL 3, 2013 MY BRAKES GO OUT! JESSE HODGES (MIKE SMITH KIA) HAS MY CAR TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY; IN WHICH, THE BRAKE LINE CRACKED MY THE GAS TANK. I PAID TO REPLACE THE BRAKE & GAS LINES, THEY REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING LEAK! THE PROBLEM NOW IS: ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE TIRES THEY REPLACED FROM THE RECALL. MIKE SMITH KIA WILL REPLACE MY TIRES BUT WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT; IN WHICH, WAS TO BE DONE WHEN REPLACING THE SUB-FRAME. I FEEL THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA CORPORATION, THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS IN RECEIVING COPIES OF MY FILE FROM MIKE SMITH KIA TO RESOLVE THIS. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS!! (RECALL CASE NUMBER: [XXX] WITH KIA CORPORATION) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR FOR THE DAY TO GO TO WORK. AT THAT POINT IN TIME THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. UPON RETURNING THAT NIGHT I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK. I MUST NOW ENTER AND EXIT MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY, THE UNLOCK-ALL BUTTON, REMOTE ENTRY, INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON, OR BY TURNING THE CAR OFF. *TR

PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT PUSHING THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. IT TAKES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO GET DOOR OPEN USING THIS METHOD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD TRAP A PERSON IN THEIR CAR. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START AFTER ADDING FUEL. AFTER REVIEWING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A FIX TO THE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, IT IS NECESSARY TO PUMP THE GAS NUMEROUS TIMES THEN SLAM INTO GEAR WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE GAS. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE HARM TO THOSE AROUND THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US FIND A FIX OR BETTER YET HAVE KIA RECALL THE 2003 OPTIMA. THANK YOU *TR