2005 Kia Optima Complaint Log

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The contact was unable to use the key to manually unlock the door to the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to open consistently from inside the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

driver side door lock does not open using the arm rest switch. wife was in the car could reach the switch but not the unlatch lever . Car was overheating with Ac on with keys in the ignition . Had to have her roll down the passenger door window to manually open the rear passenger side door . From the rear seat I could reach the lever and unlock the door. If I could not it would have been a fire hazard.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR'S FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

THE DRIVER DOOR BECOME JAMMED AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY/EXCESSIVELY JERK ON IT. DUE TO NOT OPENING, I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE. NOT ONLY THAT, AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE DRIVER DOOR TO OPEN, I HAVE TO LEAVE IT CRACK TO AVOID THIS STRUGGLE.

AFTER REPAIRING THE MASS AIR FLOW HOSE,PURGE VALVE,AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET. IT DIDN'T PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE LONGER TO PUT MILES ON THE CAR. SO I DID.. AFTER SEVEN WEEK GOING BACK TO HAVE IT CHECK IT WAS STILL SHOWING NOT READY. THE MERCHANIC THERE COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM AND THEIR SUBJESTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AFTER PUTTING 1175 MILES ON MY CAR

I AM A DISABLED WOMAN WHO BECAME TRAPPED IN HER OWN CAR BECAUSE THE LOCK MECHANISM ON THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN NOR COULD I ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THE GEARSHIFT TO TRY THE PASSENGER DOOR AND HURT MY BACK IN THE PROCESS. I CALLED 911 FOR HELP

CLOSED DRIVER'S DOOR AND DOOR WOULD NOT REOPEN. I TOOK CAR TO AUTO SHOP AND MECHANIC FINALLY GOT DOOR TO OPEN AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. HE THOUGHT HE HAD REPAIRED THE DOOR AND CLOSED IT, BUT WHEN HE TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR FINAL INSPECTION, AGAIN IT WOULD NOT OPEN NORMALLY AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE FOUND THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY FROM THE WAY THEY HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED. AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE KIA DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS INCLUDING MY CAR'S YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE I TRANSPORT SMALL CHILDREN, SOME IN CAR SEATS. MY CAR IS AN OLDER CAR AND I WOULD LIKE ALL FOUR LOCKS REPLACED WITH 'UP TO STANDARD' LOCKS.

ONE MORNING I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT GONE OFF! ; (

THE LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG HAS BEEN STAYING ON AND MY HORN QUIT WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A CLOCK SWITCH (I BELIEVE I SAID THAT RIGHT) WHICH IS SOMETHING IN THE STEERING CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG AND HORN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT ACTIVATE WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH WOULD NOT BE GOOD. MAYBE EVEN NOT WORK IF I GET IN A WRECK.

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DRIVER SEAT AND SUNROOF HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHERE THEY WORK THEN DON'T, FOUND THAT THE SWITCHES ARE BAD AND WORK SOMETIMES.

LOCKED CAR AFTER BUYING IT USED DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING TO DRIVE THIS THING. KIA DEALER DID NOT EVEN MENTION THIS TO ME, BUT DID SAY IT WAS 200 MINIMUM. I HOPE THIS GETS INVESTIGATED. IN AN ACCIDENT THE DOOR WILL NEVER OPEN. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND AFTER 2 HOURS IT WILL NOT UNLOCK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE REMOTE FOR ENTRY AND HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

I STARTED THE VEHICLE THIS MORNING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AFTER TWO DAYS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NEITHER THE DRIVER DOOR OR PASSENGER DOOR WILL UNLOCK. THIS OCCURS FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. MECHANISM WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO UNLOCK, THEREFORE THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED. DRIVER MUST CLIMB OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE.

FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. IT WILL LOCK WITHOUT PROBLEM BUT THEN WILL NOT UNLOCK. IT CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. TO UNLOCK IT FROM OUTSIDE REQUIRES THAT THE DOOR BE UNLOCKED AT THE SAME TIME THE DOOR HANDLES IS PULLED OPEN. IT REQUIRES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET IT RIGHT - USUALLY IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES OF PLAYING WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND KEY TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY.

MY AIRBAG CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE CAR WAS JUST STARTED AND STATIONARY WHEN THE LIGHT WENT ON.

KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK DRIVER'S DOOR AND DRIVER CANNOT UNLOCK DOOR FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. KIA MOTORS WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE IS REQUIRED TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A FREQUENT ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMA CARS, WELL KNOWN AND OFTEN WRITTEN UP ONLINE, THE PART REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS SOLD ON EBAY BY MULTIPLE SELLERS ALWAYS. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN YOU PULL ON THE OUTSIDE HANDLE IT WILL MAKE ALL THE DOORS LOCK SOMETIMES. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLIANTS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR WAS IN A CRASH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CODES WERE CLEARED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID,. IT WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. ALL THE OTHER DOORS WOULD OPEN, BUT THE DRIVER DOOR. IF YOU OPENED IT WITH THE KEY IT CLICKED, BUT WHEN YOU PULLED THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IT WOULD LOCK.. IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS A BAD BACK HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE ARE HAVING IS WE ARE ALWAYS REPLACING BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS; ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. WE ARE FOREVER GETTING PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE TO TELL US OUR HEADLIGHT OR TAILLIGHT IS OUT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THE REPAIR COST FOR THE DOOR WAS $400.00 AND WE SHOULD BE REFUNDED AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS PAID TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE ISSUE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. YOU COULD CLICK IT AND IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO OPEN, BUT IT DIDN'T. HAD TO DRIVE TO A KIA STORE AND HAVE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $450. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO THINK THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT I CAN SEE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING STUCK IN THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, I WILL SELL THE CAR. THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR. I REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS REGULARLY (ABOUT ONCE A MONTH) AND I AM ALWAYS HAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HOW MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED FIRST? *TR

DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM WILL NOT UNLOCK, LEAVING NO EASY ACCESS OR EXIT TO OR FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS QUITE A HAZARD AS THE OPERATOR COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY (AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR SOME YEARS NOW AS BEING VERY COMMON TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR). WHY HAS NHTSA BEEN IGNORING THIS PROBLEM? *TR....UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT

MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, AND CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IS TO EITHER CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOW OR CRAWL OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. MY FEAR IS IF IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND WE WOULD BE SICK IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. FOR THE DRIVER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THE CONSOLE TO GET OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! TRIED TO UNLOCK WITH WILL NOT WORK.

THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, THOUGH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE ELECTRONIC LOCK FOB WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. THE KEY WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. ENTRY AND EXIT MUST BE DONE BY CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND GOING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND FELLOW PASSENGERS. IF WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY TWO YOUNG BOYS IN THE CAR, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM EXIT THE CAR UNTIL I HAVE CLIMBED OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND EXITED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. HELP!!!!!!!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THE KIA BRAND OF CARS. ALL OVER THE INTERNET IT IS DISCUSSED HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ALL TYPES OF KIA MODELS. *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY. WHEN SHE INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED IT, SHE COULD HEAR THE ACTUATOR ENGAGING AS THOUGH IT WERE UNLOCKING, BUT ONCE SHE TRIED THE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR REFUSED TO OPEN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE DOOR FINALLY RELEASED AND OPENED, BUT TO LOCK THE DOOR AND CLOSE IT, RESULTED IN THE SAME ISSUE. *JB UPDATED 04/22/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH AND ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT HAD THE ACTUATOR REPLACED PREVIOUSLY BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,038.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN. WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK IT FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THE UNLOCK MECHANISM WORKS, BUT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I NOW HAVE TO CRAWL IN FROM ANOTHER DOOR AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIAS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH KIA. *TR

I BECAME ENTRAPPED IN MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK. ITS BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE. WHILE ITS DANGEROUS TO KEEP IT UNLOCKED, I CHOSE THAT OVER BEING LOCKED OUT OR BEING LOCKED IN. LAST NIGHT MY ELBOW HIT THE LOCK AS I PARKED. I HAD MY COWORKER COME PULL THE HANDLE WHILE I PUSHED THE UNLOCK BUTTON. WHILE IT HAS WORKED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IN THE PAST, IT JUST WOULDN'T GIVE IN. I THEN, HAD MY COWORKER TRY THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT POPPED. I'M NOW REDUCED TO CLIMBING OVER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. WHILE ITS PAINFUL AND TIMELY, ITS NOT AS BAD AS CLIMBING OVER THE BACK. I'VE HAD TO DO THAT WHEN I HAD NO ONE TO CALL FOR HELP. IT'S SO DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR WHEN YOU'RE READY. ITS ALSO HORRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE NOT BEING THERE WHEN YOU COME OUTSIDE BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOUR DOORS UNLOCKED FOR A CAR THIEF. IF I OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND PRESS LOCK AND CLOSE IT. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OR USE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT BREAKING A WINDOW. IF THERE WAS A FIRE CAUSE BY SOME SORT OF COLLISION, MY CHILD AND I WOULD BE BURNED BEFORE I COULD GET TO HIM. IF ME OR A PASSENGER ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE LOCK BEFORE WE GET OUT, I'LL HAVE TO BREAK MY OWN WINDOW TO GET BACK IN. I SENT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AN EMAIL WHICH I'M SURE WILL BE IGNORED LIKE THE MANY OTHERS SENT BEFORE ME. THIS IS SAD CAUSE MECHANICALLY THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN GREAT. THIS IS MY SECOND ONE. IF I HAD OF KEPT THAT ONE LONGER, I'M SURE I WOULD'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIXED. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER OPENS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DRIVER MUST ENTER AND EXIT VEHICLE FROM PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. KIA DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR OR FIX THE PROBLEM... *TR

I CANNOT ENTER AND EXIT MY CAR SAFELY ANYMORE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB OR BY KEY MANUALLY. I WAS IN A HURRY AT ONE POINT TO EXIT TO RETRIEVE MY CHILD WHO HAD EXITED THE CAR AND WAS HEADING INTO TRAFFIC AT A PARKING LOT AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. I HAD TO EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOOR WORKS IN RARE INSTANCES, BUT IS NOT RELIABLE OR DEPENDABLE. THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW. HOWEVER, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE SHOULD I HAVE AN EMERGENCY, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THE CAR AS NEEDED. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AFTER THE DOORS ARE LOCKED . IF YOU UNLOCK THE DOORS THE DRIVER SIDE WILL UNLOCK AND THEN RE LOCK ITSELF. IF THERE WAS TO BE A VEHICLE FIRE OR OTHER PROBLEM, THE DRIVE WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF A WINDOW OR CROSS OVER THE CENTER CONSUL TO EXIT THE VEHICLE . THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. *TR

1. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND REFUSES TO UNLOCK. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR KNOBS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ARE NOT WORKING. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, BECAUSE THE DRIVER CANNOT ESCAPE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS ISSUE MUST BECOME A RECALL ITEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (HAPPENED ON 05/13/2013, ABOUT 82,000 MILEAGE) 2. DRIVER SEAT (POWER) IS NOT WORKING SINCE ABOUT 52,000 MILEAGE. (AROUND SPRING 2010). *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE UNLOCKED THE DOORS, THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 10-15 MINUTES, BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED.

THE FRAME IS EXTENSIVE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY HAS LIKELY BEEN COMPROMISED. NOTHING UNUSUAL HAS HAPPENED THAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH RUST, SUCH AS BACKING INTO SALT WATER, ETC. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON SALTED NY ROADS BUT STILL, THE RUST IS EXTREME ON THIS VEHICLE EVEN WITH THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THE BODY HAS RUSTED EXTENSIVELY AS WELL, TO THE POINT WHERE THE REAR QUARTER PANELS BY THE REAR WHEEL ARCHES HAVE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH.

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD BOTH FRONT DOORS HAVE FAILED LATCHES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WILL GO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE OR NOT AT ALL. I WENT 2 MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND NOW I JUST KEEP MY DOORS UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME SO I DON'T NEED TO DEAL WITH IT. *TR

MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR STICKS AND WONT OPEN. AT FIRST IT STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT A FEW TIMES IT OPENS. BUT AS SOON AS YOU LOCK THE DOORS ITS BACK TO NOT UNLOCKING WHEN YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT. NOW MY PASSENGER DOOR WONT OPEN AT ALL. I AM WORRIED THAT IF THERE'S EMERGENCY I WONT BE ABLE TO GET OUT ANY OF THE DOOR. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP FIX IT. *TR

MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN BOTH FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, SO I'VE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT AND GET IN THE CAR. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TWICE NOW TO GET MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN, I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO CLIMB IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR AND I HAVE HURT MY KNEES IN DOING SO. EVERYTIME I LOCK MY DOORS AND THEN UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS NEEDS A RECALL .I HAVE ALREADY SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM... *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I CAN HEAR THE ASSEMBLY TRYING TO WORK, THE KEY WILL UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY. I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN NEWPORT RICHEY FL AND THEY TOLD ME THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO POSSIBLY LOSE THEIR LIFE IN AN ACCIDENT,BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE THERE IS A RECALL. *TR

THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK STARTED STICKING AND WILL NOT OPEN. NOW BOTH DOORS ARE LOCKED AND I CANNOT OPEN EITHER. THE BACK DOORS DO OPEN, HOWEVER IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK DOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL EVEN GET IT TO A DEALER TO FIX IT. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN IT. WHETHER IN OR OUT, IT WON'T OPEN. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPEN WITH A KEY OUT OF THE CAR, BUT WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. *TR

WHILE I DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME LOCK PROBLEMS AS A LOT OF 2005 OPTIMA OWNERS... MY DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE LOCK MECHANISM. IN MY CASE, THE LOCK WOULD ACT FINE ONE MOMENT AND NOT WORK THE NEXT. FOR THOSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD SUGGEST GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO REPLACING THE ENTIRE LOCK MECHANISM. I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE SINCE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB FROM THE EXTERIOR OR MANUALLY FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE KEY FOB AND DOOR LOCKS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL WAS SEEN LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA AND I FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE. THEREFORE I SAW IT NECESSARY FOR ME TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. THE DOOR LATCHES ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IF THE CAR EVER CAUGHT FIRE OR IF THE CAR EVER WENT INTO A RIVER, GOT FLOODED, OR IN A WRECK IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. IT STAYS LOCKED AND EVEN WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE CAR, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I CURRENTLY HAD A BABY AND HAD TO HAVE A C-SECTION. IT WAS HORRIBLE HAVING TO CLIMB IN AND OUT THE CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE.... FROM RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE COME ACROSS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. KIA SHOULD RECALL THE 2005 OPTIMA. *TR

I AM UNABLE TO UNLOCK MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER MANUALLY/KEY OR BY REMOTE ACCESS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF I NEED TO EXIT MY VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY (FIRE AND OR CRASH) I WOULD BE UNABLE TO. ALSO, TWO OF MY REAR SEATBELTS ARE JAMMED IN THE HALF EXTENDED POSITION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WITH THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR