general problems of the 2003 Kia Motor Optima - part 2

2003 kia Optima driver side door wont open from inside or out. No warranty on the car, was told by kia dealership when I called that they have heard of the problem!! also the passenger door is doing the same thing. Lots of blogs about this problem. What happens when my daughter has to get out of her car and cant? sometimes she has to get in and out through the back seat doors!!.

Power door locks instantly lock after unlocking continuously, prohibiting entry or exit to the vehicle. This poses a safety hazard if there were to be an accident locking me and my children inside the vehicle. Sometimes it takes 5-10 minutes to get in or out of the car trying to catch the door handle at just the right time to be able to open it.

Door locks - the door locks on my '03 Optima have failed twice. First the driver's side locks failed. After unlocking the doors, the doors lock again when pulling on the door handle. Kia dealer replaced the actuator and latch at a cost of $300+. Within 1-1/2 years the same thing happened with the passenger side, with the same cost to repair. When it happens, you cannot open the door from the inside. It is a definite safety hazard.

2003 kia Optima power door locks stick & won't release, necessitating driver to crawl over console in order to exit and/or passengers cannot get out without crawling through window. In the event of a fire or other emergency serious injury could result.

I bought my 2003 kia Optima new 5/24/03. Sometime during the winter of 2004/06 noticed door locks clicked more than I was used to hearing, but they worked. I thought it might be due to cold weather as antenna doesn't go all the way done in cold weather (antenna noted to dealer 12/20/04). I thought I mentioned this to dealer prior to 60k miles while getting another service done and was told the problem could not be duplicated, but there is no record of it per dealer. In any case I brought the car to dealer 3/6/07 for oil change and asked they check door locks which were only working intermittently - per the invoice they checked lock relays, disconnected and checked switch, checked ground at jb-07, 0 ohms , etcs module all ok. The mileage at that point was 67288. I was told the electrical warranty expired at 60k. I did not have the money to get it repaired. By 10/24/07, the front passenger door could no longer be opened with driver door switch or remote, and key entry took several minutes while turning the key while the door unlocked then locked as I pulled up the handle. I was charged $35. 55 to diagnose that there was a possible wiring etac or relay problem not covered by warranty - cost of repair would be over $1000. Now the cover to the passenger door key hole just came off probably due to the excessive key play needed to open the door. I am concerned for safety of passengers getting stuck if the driver is incapacitated in an accident and can't run around the other side of the car with key in hand to let them out. Right now car is in the dealership getting the recalled rusted subframe replaced. It will take 1 week to get the part. Meanwhile, I am with out car, the dealer won't pay for rental and I drive 72 miles round trip to work . Car lurches forward occasionally with high way driving, noted to dealer at 89346 miles - dealer can't duplicate problem.

The contact owns a 2003 kia Optima. The contact stated that the front passenger and driver seat doors remained locked without a warning. The dealer was notified and advised him that there was an electrical defect. The contact did not inform the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was approximately 120,000. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.

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.

Periodically the doors on the consumer's 2003 kia Optima lock on there own. The consumer stated he never locks the doors. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership and they are currently waiting for parts. The dealership has not offered information as to why this happens. The consumer stated he bought the vehicle used and it started approximately two months ago. He also stated that this does not always happen. If the driver side door locked, the passenger side also locked. He has to work the key over and over. When he turns the key it feels like it is opening and the locks will start to go up inside and then it locks back. 8nm.