general problems of the 2003 Kia Motor Optima

Drivers door is jammed locked. The remote works the locks move with remote and key. The door does not open. Multiple complaints on kia forum regarding door locks.

The door will not unlock with a key fob, key or manually. You are literally locked in the car and cannot open the door to get out. This is horribly dangerous and if you were in an accident you could not get out of the car. Please help get a recall on this part. This car is not safe.

First: in the affect parts section of this complaint there is no where to mark defective locks. I have 2003 kia Optima se four-door. It will continuously lock and unlock automatically. Will only stop clicking on and off when engine is turned off. This poses a safety issue by being locked in an auto with electronic locks that cannot be unlocked either manually or with the key fob. When will there be a recall, either involuntarily or voluntarily. I bought this auto new and still have it.

Door lock for the drivers side does not work and also does not unlock. This presents a huge safety concern, driver cannot exit the drivers' door! we have been able to unlock the drivers' door but it will not open! I reviewed the issue online and found hundreds of the same complaint. Kia needs to address the drivers door issue ASAP as it is a huge liability since it is an extremely common problem.

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.

***safety issue*** 1) under normal operating conditions without abuse or consumer modification. 2) door locks frequently fail to unlock or will automatically re-lock when attempting to unlock either manually or electronically. This could cause an inability to escape the vehicle in a reasonable amount of time or may result in being unable to access children trapped inside. Thus, leading to heat stroke, death, or other physical harm. 3) had to pay to replace door latch assembly, but still intermittently fails to unlock as of the date of this report. There is no manual override to unlock the doors with this mechanical/electrical failure.

Power locks instantly lock after unlocking,(over and over) prohibiting me and my passengers to enter or exit the vehicle. It sometimes takes 5-10 minutes of trying to unlock that they will finally stay unlocked allowing access. I have a toddler and a baby on the way. If there were to be an accident or a fire, I could only imagine being trapped inside.

Power door locks re-lock after you unlock them and pull on the door handle to open the door. This can either trap you in your car, or trap you out. You have to go around to the other side, but crawling over the center console to the driver's side is almost impossible. Had the switch and actuator replaced on the driver's side. About a year later, the same thing happened with the passenger side door. Kia doesn't seem to care since it gets them over $300 worth of business each time.

Brake failure, front rotors grooved, pads heat glazed, rear rotors also. Plus rear calipers were bounded up. The doors locked by themselves, and there was squealing when the consumer placed the vehicle in reverse. It was found that the doors harness connection was poor and shorted out.

The consumer noticed while driving, that the doors locks unlocked and locked without pressing the lock button which was followed by the dash board lights flashing. Problem. Please provide details.