2005 Kia Optima Complaint Log

I WENT TO KIA DEALERSHIP REGARDING KEYLESS REMOTE NOT WORKING. I ADVISED DEALERSHIP THAT BOTH REMOTES WERE RE-PROGRAMMED 12 MONTHS AGO AND THAT ONE REMOTE STOPPED WORKING 6 MONTHS AFTER RE-PROGRAMMING AND THE 2ND REMOTE STOPPED WORKING 12 MONTHS AFTER RE-PROGRAMMING. BASED ON DISCUSSION, IT APPEARS THAT 2003 THROUGH 2006 KIA OPTIMAS HAVE DEFECTIVE KEYLESS REMOTE SYSTEMS, BUT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL RECALL, REPAIR OF KEYLESS REMOTE IS NOT COVERED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE REPAIR COST IS ABOUT $400. MY OPINION IS THAT A RELATIVE KEYLESS REMOTE RECALL SHOULD BE MADE BY KIA SINCE THE KEYLESS REMOTE DEFECT IS NOT CUSTOMER'S FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DOORS DID NOT OPEN WHEN USING THE KEY, KEY FOB, OR FROM THE INTERIOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

NEEDED TO REPLACE DOOR LATCH ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND REFUSES TO UNLOCK IF THE DOOR IS COMPLETELY CLOSED. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS I'VE BEEN FORCED TO CRAWL OUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL OF THE AUTOMATIC DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER AND MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,500.

REPORTING A FAILURE IN THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. THE DOOR LOCK WILL "UNLOCK" WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB, DOOR PANEL OR USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT LOCKS THE DOOR PREVENTING YOU FROM OPENING IT. THE DRIVER IS TRAPT IN THE CAR WITH THE ONLY OPTION TO EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER TIME YOU NEEDED TO EVACUATE THE CAR QUICKLY. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON KIA VEHICLES. *TT

THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. THE TWO FRONT DOORS WILL NOT OPEN EVERYTIME I TRY TO OPEN THEM THE DOORS LOCK UP. I CAN NOT SAFELY ENTER AND EXIT MY CAR. I HAVE TO GO OUT THE BACK SEAT BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME TO DO SO. RESEARCH ON THIS SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA. IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE STARTED I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. ALSO I HAVE A BULGING DISC IN MY BACK AND THIS IS STARTING TO CAUSE PAIN AND IT CAN CAUSE MY BACK TO FULLY SEIZE UP AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ITEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOMEONE GETTING HURT OR WORSE EVEN DEATH.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR, WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO ENTER THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 09/01/2011 *LN

IN 2011 WE HAD A HOLE FORM IN THE GAS TANK OF OUR 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP IN WHICH THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN HAD CAUSED WEAR ONTO THE ACTUAL TANK. THEY REPLACED THE TANK WITH NEW GAS TANK (ORIGINAL FACTORY GAS TANK) ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK IN FOR SERVICING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE LOCKS ATTEMPTING TO LATCH, BUT THEY FAILED TO DO ACTUALLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR DOORS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,338.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE WHO WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DOOR LOCKS. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR RELATED WARRANTIES AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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 IAND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 69,000.

MUCH LIKE THE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS I'VE READ, MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA LX HAS A DEFAULT IN THE DRIVER SIDE AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING. SURE I COULD HEAR THE DOORS ELECTRONICALLY UNLOCKING.. BUT STILL COULD NOT OPEN MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. FINDING OUT THIS WAS GOING TO RUN ME ABOUT 300-400 DOLLARS I WAITED TO SEE IF IT WAS SOMETHING I COULD FIX... MY FRIEND AND I REMOVED BOTH PANELS AFTER HAVING TO SLIM JIM AND PUSH AND PULL THE DOOR OPEN. WE LOOKED AT BOTH DOOR INSIDES AND SAW NO DIFFERENCE AND NOTHING THAT SEEMED TO BE BROKEN, BENT OR UNATTACHED. OF COARSE AS I DROVE A WAY MY LOCKS LOCKED AGAIN.. SO I WAS BACK TO CLIMBING OUT MY PASSENGER SIDE. AS OF YESTERDAY MY PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING.. THEY SAY IM UP TO 500 NOW AND NOTHING IS COVERED BY WARRANTY. IM THINKING, REALLY!!?? THIS IS THE SECOND KIA I HAVE PURCHASED AND HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MY KIA'S BUT THIS SUCKS! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE STUCK IN THERE CAR ON FIRE OR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER DYING BEFORE KIA RECALLS THIS. I'VE READ SEVERAL POSTS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH KIDS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE "TOO BIG" TO GO CLIMB OVER THEIR CAR SEATS TO SAFETY! AT THIS POINT THE ONLY WAY IN AND OUT OF MY CAR IS NOW THE BACK DOORS BUT FOR HOW LONG, WHO KNOWS! WHAT'S NEXT, SQUEEZE THROUGH THE GLOVE BOX? OKAY, OKAY SO THAT'S NOT REALISTIC BUT JEEZ! WHAT THE HECK CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE DOORS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE BY USING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. OVER TIME, THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM EITHER FRONT DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I DRIVE A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. YESTERDAY WHEN I CAME OUT TO MY CAR THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. EVERYTIME I PUT THE KEY IN AND ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, IT LOCKS BACK IMMEDIATELY. I TRIED TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AS WELL BUT THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN. IN ORDER TO GET INTO OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO USE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD IF I WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF FOR SOME REASON I NEED TO EXIT MY CAR IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE 3 KIDS THAT I TRANSPORT ALSO AND AM TERRIFIED THAT SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE READ THE BLOGS THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL ISSUE BUT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. I AM GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION POSSIBLE TO INSURE THAT THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED SINCE IT IS A MALFUNCTION ON THE PART OF A KIA PART. *TR

I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE OPTION OF 'AFFECTED PARTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE LOCKS/LINKAGE, IS WHY THE NHTSA IS NOT SEEING HOW 1000S ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A LOCKED DOOR ISSUE WITH KIAS OF MANY MODELS OVER A SPAN OF 10 YEARS! MY DRIVER DOOR IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH $700 TO GET IT FIXED I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CAN NOT GET IT INSPECTED!!! DUE TO SAFETY! KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2005 KIA OPTIMA AND ABOUT THE FIFTH TIME I DROVE IT I WENT TO THE STORE AND WAS STUCK INSIDE THE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUT THEN FINALLY IT DOES BUT I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOIN TO WORK OR NOT ..THIS IS CRAZY AND LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WITH THE KEY, SHE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. SHE HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR NOT LOCK THE VEHICLE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE LOCK MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

KIA OPTIMA DOOR LOCK IS FAULTY, WILL NOT UNLOCK AND ONLY WAY TO GET DOOR OPEN IS TO USE A SLIM JIM (IF YOUR LUCKY) OR BREAK OPEN DOOR PANEL AND OPEN MANUALLY BY PULLING ON LOCKING MECHANISM. FAULTY PART IS A SMALL PLASTIC PART IN THE MECHANISM. THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY KIA MODELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEAT AND CONSOLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I CAN'T OPEN MY DOOR!! MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REFUSES TO OPEN, FROM INSIDE OR OUT! I TRY TO UNLOCK IT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WHEN I PULL ON THE LATCH, IT LOCKS THE DOOR AGAIN, AND IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, SOMETIMES RELOCKING THE DOOR ON ME. IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE BEFORE THEN, AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING, NOTHING HAPPENED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THIS CORRECTED AS OF YET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, ALL FOUR DOORS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE CHECK SWITCH IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DRIVER DOOR OF KIA 2005 OPTIMA WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AT ALL. HAVE TO CLIMB OVER PASSENGER SEAT TO GET TO DRIVERS SEAT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MOST LIKELY THE PART THAT IS BAD IS CALLED THE 'DOOR CHECKER' ACCORDING TO THE KIA MANUALS. I HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE. CALLED DEALERSHIP THERE WILL BE 2 HOURS OF LABOR INVOLVED. THE PART WEARS OUT TO THE POINT WHERE IT TELLS THE SYSTEM THAT THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHED SO IT TRIPS THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM SWINGING OPEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A DEALER PART ONLY. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

THE CAR WILL RUN FINE, THEN ENGINE WILL START TO MISFIRE. THEN LOSE POWER (PUT THE GAS PETAL TO THE FLOOR AND CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT REV UP DUE TO THE INCREASED GAS FLOW.) THE ENGINE WILL SHUTTER AND TURN OFF. LE IT SIT FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START. THE CAR WILL DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 5-10 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT RUN FOR START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WILL NOT DRIVE BEYOND COUPLE HUNDRED FEET. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, EGR VALVE, SPARK WIRES, SPARKS, COIL PACKS, WATER PUMP, ALL BELTS, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND SHORT BLOCK REBUILD (WARRANTY WORK). THE CODE WAS THE FIRST TIME WAS MISFIRE IN 1 AND 4 CYDERS, AFTER THE REBUILD THE CODE IS MISFIRE 2 AND 3 CYDERS. WE HAVE THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NO CLUE. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE VEHICLE OR OUTSIDE. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT BUT ALSO VERY UNSAFE. LAST YEAR THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, WHICH I PAID TO HAVE FIXED AND NOW THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING ON DRIVERS SIDE. KIA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

BRAKES TURNED TO SPONGE ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN FALL 2009, AGAIN IN FEB 2010,SUMMER 2010 AND AGAIN 12/ 22/ 2010. AT FIRST OCCURRENCE WINTER OF 2009 I ASSUMED I HAD HIT ICE AND WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE FOR THAT REASON. HOWEVER, EVERY INCIDENT AFTER THAT CONFIRMED THAT ROAD CONDITION WAS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. DURING FIRST EVENT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING,CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. BRAKE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AT 4 WAY STOP AND AGAIN ON RESIDENTIAL STREET AS I AM PREPARING TO PARK. NOTE THAT THESE INCIDENTS ALL OCCURRED AS I WAS CONSCIOUSLY SLOWING THE VEHICLE AND PREPARING TO COME TO A FULL STOP. SPEED OF VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF ALL THE ABOVE INCIDENTS IS ESTIMATED LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 15 MPH. WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS VEHICLE THAT RANDOMLY WILL NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALTHOUGH INSPECTION REVEALS BRAKES ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND TIRES ARE NEW. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE FEB 12, 2010 AFTER CAR WOULD NOT STOP AT STOP SIGN CONSEQUENTLY I WAS FORCED TO TURN THE CAR INTO SNOW BANK TO HALT VEHICLE. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BROADSIDED ONCOMING TRUCK IN N/S 4 WAY. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND EVENT DID NOT REOCCUR WHEN DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE. LAST NIGHT 12/22/2010 HAD TO THROW CAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF ENGINE IN MID TRAFFIC AS OTHER VEHICLES ARE BRAKING BECAUSE OF RAPID CHANGE TO SLOW IN 45 MPH ZONE. MY CAR IS CLIMBING HILL AS CARS AHEAD ARE BREAKING FOR STALLED, SLOW TRAFFIC. RANDOM PROBLEM WITH BRAKES OCCURS MORE OFTEN AT LOW TEMP ALTHOUGH HAS OCCURRED ONCE IN SUMMER. NOTE TEMPERATURE AT EVENT LAST NIGHT 28F AT 6:30 PM. BRAKE FLUID TESTED GOOD ON FEB 12, 2010 AT INSPECTION. BRAKES WERE IN FINE WORKING ORDER, TIRES NEW. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION CHECKED OUT FINE. I REPORTED SUBSEQUENT BRAKE FAILURE EVENTS TO KIA (AFTER FEB 12, 2010) BUT AFTER CALLING KIA ON 12/23/10 I FIND THEY DID NOT RECORD SAID EVENTS IN KIA DATABASE ALTHOUGH I WAS ASSURED MY PHONED IN REPORTS IN WERE DOCUMENTED. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR TO LOCK. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE REOPENED. THE CONTACT WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND SUGGESTED THAT THE DOOR BE UNASSEMBLED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,703.

2006 KIA OPTIMA DRIVERSIDE DOOR LOCKS NOT ALLOWING DRIVERS DOOR TO UNLOCK, WE CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE WILLING LOOK AT THE PROBLEM FOR A SERVICE FEE AND LABOR, WE SEARCH ON-LINE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA LX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE IDLE POSITION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. HE COULD NOT OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY OR EVEN USING THE HANDLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

2005 KIA OPTIMA DRIVERS DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONS. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE MANY INTERNET REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA WILL NOT RECALL OR TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. NHTSA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! *TR

WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IT JUST KEPT RELOCKING, THE LOCK DOESN'T OPEN ALL THE WAY IT MAKES A NOISE AND LOCKS AGAIN. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TO SEE IF I COULD OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE KEY DOESN'T TURN ALL THE WAY, IF THE OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND YOU TRY TO OPEN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IT JUST CLICKS INTO THE LOCKED POSITION. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY AND CAN'T. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA OPTIMA LX/EX. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AND IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK IT EITHER WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE, OR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IF I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY, IF WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO SO SINCE I HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE AND ENTER AND EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE OWNING THE CAR THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I AM TIRED OF HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED. IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

STARTING APPROX. JULY 28, THE FRONT PASSENGER LOCK BEGAN ACTING UP, GIVING A LOT OF RESISTANCE WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE KEY TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. THEN YESTERDAY, ABOUT EIGHT DAYS LATER, THE PROBLEM MOVED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHERE NOW I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. WHEN I OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT JUST RE-LOCKS THE DOOR WITHOUT OPENING THE DOOR. ON THE INSIDE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM FOR KIA CARS. THIS CAN BE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT IF FOR SOME REASON I NEEDED TO EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY, I WOULD BE STUCK INSIDE. RIGHT NOW MY ONLY WAY OF ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE IS CLIMBING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OR THROUGH THE WINDOW. I HAVE AM WAITING FOR AN OPENING AT THE KIA DEALER, BUT THEY ARE BUSY (LIKELY WITH OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM) AND I HAVE READ THE REPAIR COSTS FOR THIS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH. WITH THIS BEING SUCH A WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE AND WITH THE POTENTIAL SAFETY AND HAZARD RAMIFICATIONS, IT SEEMS THAT KIA SHOULD BE DOING A RE-CALL TO REPAIR ALL THESE PARTS THAT ARE WEARING OUT AFTER ONLY 50,000-70,000 MILES--WHILE OTHER CARS SEEM TO HAVE NO ISSUES AT ALL. THIS IS AN UNFAIR SITUATION TO PUT EVERYONE IN WHO HAS TO GET THIS FIXED, AT GREAT COST, AND SEEMS TO ALMOST BE A PLANNED FAILURE (AS WIDE-SPREAD AS IT IS AMONG MANY MODELS) TO KEEP THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS BUSY. *TR

DOORS, LOCKS, LINKAGE, UPON LEAVING WORK ON JUNE 16TH, 2010, I WENT TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR USING THE KEY AND THE CAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I OPENED THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRAWLED OVER TO TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, NO LUCK. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS NOT AND WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. HUGE SAFETY HAZARD!!! NO LUCK WITH KIA FIXING IT EITHER!!! *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA. DRIVER DOOR WON'T UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO CLIMB ACROSS THE PASSENGER SEAT TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION WHAT IT IS DOING TO MY LOWER BACK. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN FIX IT FOR ABOUT $400 PLUS ABOUT $105 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES. I SHOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE KIAS OUT THERE . THERE IS A LIST OF MANY OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY OR SAFELY. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. AFTER BEING LOCKED I CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. AFTER BEING LOCKED I CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, AND IN ORDER TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND PULL THE HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS WORKS ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. OTHERWISE, IF I JUST TURN THE KEY AND THEN PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE I HEAR THE CAR DOOR RELOCK BEFORE I CAN OPEN IT. *TR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT UNLOCK, EVENTUALLY AFTER CONTINUING TO TRY AND UNLOCK IT THE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK (HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS), NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. CAN NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN AT ALL. *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA AIR BAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. *TR

THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA JUST BLEW OFF MY CAR, WENT AIRBORN AND HIT THE ROAD SHATTERING IT IN A ZILLION PIECES. THEIR WAS A VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT LAND IN THEIR WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS COMPANY WAS HERE TO INSPECT AND THEY SAID THAT THE GLASS HAD BEEN GLUED ON TOP OF THE SEAL AND WASN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT ALL. THAT IS WHY IT FLEW OFF LIKE IT DID. IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I CAN NOT GO WITHOUT MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT COME TO MY HOUSE AND INSTALL THE WINDOW HERE, THEY INSIST THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. ALL I WANT IS REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COST OF REPLACING THE WINDOW WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR THEM IN THE LONG RUN ANYWAY. *TR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN WITH A KEY OR WITH THE UNLOCK SWITCH. WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH THE KEY. IT WILL NOT UNLOCK BUT THE REST OF THE DOORS WILL. NORMALLY I HAVE TO JUGGLE AND PLAY WITH THE KEY AND THE DOOR WILL UNLATCH . LAST NIGHT I STOOD OUTSIDE FOR 15 MINUTES AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN SO I HAD TO CLIMB THRU THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PROBLEM IS A HAZARD. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY I WOULD BE SCREWED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN EARLY 2010. ONCE I UNLOCKED IT THE FIRST TIME I DECIDED TO JUST LEAVE THE DOOR UNLOCKED FOR EASY ENTRY BUT THAT LEAVES MY CAR VULNERABLE FOR THEFT OR ITEMS I MAY LEAVE IN IT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE A PASSENGER HAS UNKNOWINGLY LOCKED THE DOOR AND I WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB THRU THE OTHER SIDE AND JIGGLE THE KEY ALL OVER AGAIN. LAST NIGHT WAS THE LONGEST THAT I HAVE EVER HAD TO PLAY WITH THE DOOR AND NOW I BELIEVE IT WILL NOT OPEN AND I HAVE NO SOLUTION ON HOW TO OPEN IT SINCE THE COMPANY CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE REMOTE. THE DRIVER HAD TO GET OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DOORS WILL OPEN BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ALL FOUR DOORS WILL LOCK AFTER YOU GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE EVEN IF THE KEYS ARE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER OPEN THE DOOR WITH A SLIM JIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,100.

THE GAS TANK ON THIS 05 KIA WAS LEAKING AT 78,000 MILES, TOOK IT TO DEALER, I HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR, THEY FURNISHED THE NEW GAS TANK COST ME $330, NOW AT 98,000 MILES IT IS LEAKING AGAIN AND KIA IS REFUSING TO FIX IT, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, GOING ON 3 GAS TANKS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. PAID DEALER $95 TO INSPECT THE TANK AS TOLD BY KIA CONSUMER DEPT, DEALER DIDNT LOOK AT THE TANK INSTEAD SAID IT NEEDED A GAS VALVE FIRST $400, BEFORE THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE TANK. THE DEALER IS LEE KIA, IN FT WALTON BEACH FL. SO I GUESS I JUST CONTINUE DRIVING CAR TILL SOMETHING REAL SERIOUS HAPPENS? NEED SOME HELP HERE PLEASE THANK YOU CHALMER & KASEY BERRY

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME STOP. I HIT THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THIS PERSONS CAR. IT SMASHED IN MY FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, BENT THE HOOD ABOUT TWO FEET IN THE AIR, AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DRIVE A KIA OPTIMA 2005. I THINK THIS CRASH DEFINITELY WARRANTED A AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

I WAS LEAVING FOR SOME TIME OFF OF WORK TO GO BACK TO WISCONSIN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER DOOR LOCKED ON ME AND I COULD NOT GET IT OPEN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE DOOR OFF TO FIX IT. THEN IT ONLY REMAINS FIXED FOR ABOUT 3-4 TIMES AND IT LOCKS ON ME AGAIN AND THEN I HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE AND GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS OVER 60,000 MILES AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEN I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. COMMON SENSE TELLS ME THAT IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN DON'T YOU THINK THAT IT IS A DEFECT OF SOME SORT AND THE COMPANY KIA SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A RECALL. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? A NICE LAW SUIT. I TOOK MY CAR WHERE I GET MY OIL CHANGED AND THEY AGAIN OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR SO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SO IT COULD BE OPENED. WELL, AGAIN IT UNLOCKED FOR 3-4 TIMES AND LOCKED UP AGAIN, SO NOW I AM OUT MONEY AND THE [XXX] DOOR STILL DOES NOT UNLOCK SO I CAN USE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THIS PRESENTS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR