2003 Kia Optima Body & Structure Problems

Your vehicle's frame has rusted through in a way that makes it unsafe to drive. When you took it in for an alignment because it was pulling to the right, the shop discovered the rust damage was too severe to proceed. Although there was a recall (#09V183000) for this exact problem, the dealership only inspected the frame rather than replacing it, and refused to repair it because the recall had already been performed. Addressing this issue will likely require complete frame replacement or welding repairs to restore structural integrity.

Your driver's side door won't unlock using either the key or the inside door lock switch. This creates a safety concern since you may become trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing the door locking mechanism, which may include replacing the lock actuator or related hardware.

During a routine oil change and safety inspection, a technician discovered severe corrosion and cracks in your vehicle's sub frame, which made the car unsafe to drive. Your car has been at the dealer for several weeks waiting for repairs. Kia told you this vehicle isn't covered under a specific suspension recall campaign, even though the sub frame damage is a structural concern.

Your driver's side door won't open when it's locked and closed, even though the lock mechanism works fine when the door is open. A part inside the lock assembly appears to be rotating too far and getting stuck, which prevents the door from opening. If this happens while driving, you'd have to exit through the passenger door or window instead.

Your passenger side door won't unlock from either inside or outside the vehicle, and this problem keeps happening. You may have experienced the same issue with your driver side door before. The door lock mechanism will likely need to be inspected and possibly repaired or replaced.

Your front passenger door handles—both the interior and exterior ones—aren't working properly and won't open the door. This happened at 177,526 miles. The manufacturer was notified but your vehicle wasn't diagnosed or repaired. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the door handle mechanisms or internal latch components.

I HAD PARKED AT THE GROCERY STORE ONE NIGHT AND MY CAR DOOR WOULDN'T SHUT. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE LATCH WAS STUCK IN A POSITION THAT WOULDN'T CATCH. FINALLY, AFTER LIFTING THE DOOR HANDLE AND PUSHING THE DOOR SHUT, IT STAYED CLOSED. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED USING THE KEY AND THE AUTOMATIC LOCK FEATURES, BUT NEITHER ALLOWED FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN. I NOW HAVE TO EXIT AND ENTER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD BE TRAPPED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR FAILED AND AS A RESULT, THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY EXTRA/ABNORMAL STRESS, DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT... THE PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT ENGAGE EITHER FROM THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS, OR SAME BUTTON FUNCTION AVAILABLE INSIDE THE CAR, AND EVEN MANUALLY SWITCHING THE LOCK WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER'S CHAIR FAILS EVERY-TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOOR LOCKED OR UNLOCKED IS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND USE THE KEY TO JIGGLE THE LOCK UNTIL IT FINALLY SWITCHES TO A LOCKED OR UNLOCKED POSITION. THIS ISSUE IS NOT THE FIRST I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR... IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND I'M SURE IT COULD BE A DANGER TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER. OR EVEN CREATE A NEW POSSIBILITY FOR THEFT IF THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO LOCK THE DOOR PROPERLY WHEN WE LEAVE THE VEHICLE...! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS CAN BE RESOLVED WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR POOR WORKMANSHIP. *TR

THE DOOR HANDLE(S) ARE DEFECTIVE TO POINT WHERE EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. UPON TAKING IT TO A BODY SHOP, THE WORKERS INFORM ME THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH OF "2003 KIA OPTIMA DOOR STUCK" WILL SHOW THAT MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, WHEN THINKING IN TERMS OF AN ACCIDENT OR IF A PASSENGER NEEDS TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF THE CAR. I FEEL THAT KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK. THIS FORCED PASSENGER TO COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK BEFORE THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

OWNER OF 2003 KIA OPTIMA - DRIVER DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE OUR OUTSIDE. OWNER MUST USE PASSENGER DOOR TO GAIN ACCESS TO VEHICLE. EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SEEMS LOOSE. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR TO REMOVE DOOR PANEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IF SHE REPAIRED HER VEHICLE AND A RECALL WAS LATER ISSUED THAT SHE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/11/11

DRIVER'S DOOR WON'T OPEN. FAILED IN SHUT POSITION. *TR

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!! *TR

PAINT CHIPPING OFF FRONT BUMPER AND BOTH HANDLES. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK STUCK AND I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT. 2 MONTHS AGO THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK AND I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, OF COURSE NOW THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIES. *JB