This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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.
- Hyde Park, MA, USA
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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.
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.
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..
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"
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.
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Odessa, FL, USA