Latches/locks/linkage Problems of Kia Motor Optima - part 2

Kia Optima 2003. Can not open driver door. Lock does not disengage with key or power lock button. Lots of complaints and I am sure there lots more unreported. Does 15 or twenty of us have to die before kia is forced to fix this issue. No injury, crash or fatally yet. . . . . . . .

See all problems of the 2003 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

I own a 2004 kia Optima purchased brand new. I have been unable to unlock (or open) the driver side door. The vehicle has never been in an accident. The problem accorded a few weeks ago when I attempted to unlock my car door. Once I removed my key and lifted the handle to get in all of the doors lock. I had to enter through the passenger side door. The drivers side door will also not open from the inside. This is a safety hazard as if I get into a car accident I will be trapped inside and could die!! I am not the only person with this issue for this make and model. And it appears that the 2003 model has the same issue. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2004 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

I own a 2003 kia Optima. I have been unable to unlock the driver side door. I have had to either climb out the window or the one of the other doors in order to exit the vehicle. When I lift the outside handle to enter the car all of the doors lock. When I unlock the door from the inside you can push and push on the door and it will not open. I see that several others have had this issue it needs to be corrected as if I get in an accident I will not be able to exit the car.

The contact owns a 2004 kia Optima. The contact stated that the door locks failed. The contact stated that he tried to enter the vehicle with the automatic key fob but the doors would not unlock. The contact was able to unlock the vehicle by manually turning the key abruptly and pulling the door handle. The contact had previously been locked inside the vehicle as a result of the failure. He was able to exit the vehicle by constantly depressing the automated key fob until the door locks responded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 80,000.

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.

See all problems of the 2005 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The contact owns a 2002 kia Optima. The contact stated that the front driver's side door would not unlock with the key fob or manually. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated the door lock motor would have to be replaced. After the repair, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

See all problems of the 2002 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The driver's side will lock you in the vehicle and won't let you out. You can be driving with the doors unlocked and it will lock itself while in motion or you maybe ready to leave a location and can't get back in the car. I have had several problems within the last week of being trapped in my car and sometimes I can't get the locks to let me out on the passenger side either. This has been a scary situation and I hope it doesn't cause someone to be hurt or killed.

Driver side door automatically locks and will not unlock from outside with the key or from the inside unlock lever. Driver is trapped inside car and must exit by crawling over console to passenger side door. This happens sporadically and is a serious safety hazard. It renders the car unable to be locked at all. There seem to be plenty of others experiencing this same problem, yet no recall from kia.

Drivers side door lock locks unattended, traps driver inside car. Can not open with key or switch. Safety issue. Also; air bag sensor light activated for the second time, has to be a defect.

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.

The contact owns a 2006 kia Optima. The contact stated that the front driver¿s side door would not unlock or open. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 213,000 and the current mileage was 214,000.

See all problems of the 2006 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My rear passenger door lock stopped working. The door will not unlock. I called the dealership while I was still under warranty but they could not get me in for an appointment in a timely manner and now my warranty has expired and the dealership is telling me it costs over $200 to fix the problem. I consider this to be a safety issue. If I were ever in an accident the person sitting in this seat would have a hard time getting out of the car.

See all problems of the 2010 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The contact owns 2004 kia Optima. The contact stated the passenger front door lock failed to unlock electronically or manually. The air bag warning light also remained illuminated. The drivers door lock also failed at 41,000 miles; however, the actuator was replaced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for the passenger door or the air bag warning light. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000. The current mileage was 64,000.

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!.

The contact owns a 2003 kia Optima. The contact stated that she was unable to unlock the driver side door. The contact stated that she had to either climb out the window or the one of the other doors in order to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the locking solenoid was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 102,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.

Passenger side door did not unlock. This forced passenger to come out from the driver side door.

The driver side door on my car will not unlock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been putting up with this for 4 to 6 months now. And getting really upset please tell me if this is considered a safetly hazard and this is covered I really don't think I should have to pay for this problem to be fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the only way I have been able to get it to unlock is for me to crawl out of the passanger side. Then play with the lock with they key for a few days to have it unlock.

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 front driver and passenger door locks are defected. When I push the automatic switch to unlock the doors, the driver side door stays locked and have to push it on and off a few times for the passenger side door to unlock. I took my car to a kia dealer for a diagnosis and was given an estimate of $807. 00 for both door lock latches. I still have not had it fixed, being that I cannot afford it right now, so now I have to get in and out through the passenger side door. I researched this problem online and discovered that there are similar complaints with the same car make and model. The door lock latch should be recalled and repaired by kia. Are there any new solutions to this problem? please let me know. . . .

2004 kia Optima ex. The driver door lock will not unlock trapping us in car. Must crawl out through passenger seats. Does not open from inside or outside. Locking mechanism is messed up on drivers side.

The contact owns a 2006 kia Optima. The contact stated that when using the remote key fob to unlock the doors, the vehicle would respond but once the contact physically pulled on the driver side door handle, the vehicle would automatically lock. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but denied assistance with repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 35,000.

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. .

The contact owns a 2006 kia Optima. The contact stated that the drivers side door lock would not disengage. The contact tried to unlocked the door manually, with a key, and the key fob and it failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 63,000.

The contact owns a 2003 kia Optima. The contact stated that the driver side door lock was inoperable and the contact was unable to enter or exit through the driver side door. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 44,000.

The contact owns a 2002 kia Optima. The contact stated the front drivers side door would not open after it was locked. The driver was forced to enter and exit the vehicle by climbing out of the window. The dealer was notified; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileage was 43,000. Once the driver side door is locked it cannot be unlocked for the inside or using a key for the outside. After working the lock for sometime it may unlock or stay locked. What we do now is to leave the car unlocked which is not the best idea. The problem is not getting into the car but getting out. No recall from kia. Updated 10/26/2011.

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 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.

The contact owns a 2004 kia Optima lx. The contact stated that the driver side door would not unlock when using the key. The contact had to enter the vehicle through the passenger side. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 42,000. Updated 08/05/lj updated 08/15/11.

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?.

My 2006 kia opimal driver side door will not unlock.

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.

Once you lock the doors on a 2003 kia Optima, you cannot unlock from either the inside or outside for long periods of time. If you keep locking and unlocking from inside, they will eventually stay unlocked. Very unsafe if you need to get out of car quickly.