2005 Kia Optima Latches & Locks Problems

Your door lock isn't working properly — the key won't turn to unlock the door from outside, and the door handle doesn't open reliably from inside either. This left you unable to access your vehicle or take it to a dealer for diagnosis. The problem started around 82,000 miles.

Your driver's side door lock failed and wouldn't unlock, trapping you inside the vehicle. You were able to unlock the passenger door from outside, but the driver's door remained stuck, forcing you to exit through the sunroof instead. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing or replacing the driver's side door latch mechanism.

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD BOTH FRONT DOORS HAVE FAILED LATCHES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WILL GO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE OR NOT AT ALL. I WENT 2 MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND NOW I JUST KEEP MY DOORS UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME SO I DON'T NEED TO DEAL WITH IT. *TR

THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, THOUGH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE ELECTRONIC LOCK FOB WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. THE KEY WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. ENTRY AND EXIT MUST BE DONE BY CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND GOING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND FELLOW PASSENGERS. IF WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY TWO YOUNG BOYS IN THE CAR, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM EXIT THE CAR UNTIL I HAVE CLIMBED OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND EXITED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. HELP!!!!!!!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THE KIA BRAND OF CARS. ALL OVER THE INTERNET IT IS DISCUSSED HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ALL TYPES OF KIA MODELS. *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY. WHEN SHE INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED IT, SHE COULD HEAR THE ACTUATOR ENGAGING AS THOUGH IT WERE UNLOCKING, BUT ONCE SHE TRIED THE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR REFUSED TO OPEN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE DOOR FINALLY RELEASED AND OPENED, BUT TO LOCK THE DOOR AND CLOSE IT, RESULTED IN THE SAME ISSUE. *JB UPDATED 04/22/14

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. FAILED DOOR LATCH/LOCK ASSEMBLY. FIRST HAPPENED IN JULY 2007. HAPPENING AGAIN IN JANUARY 2014 ON SAME CAR. DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE--ONLY WAY OUT IS CRAWLING TO PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR BACK DOORS, OR BY CRAWLING OUT OF DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW. HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES WE HAVE OWNED, INCLUDING OLDER CARS. LOCK SHOULD NOT FAIL THAT OFTEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REMAINING DOORS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE OPTION OF 'AFFECTED PARTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE LOCKS/LINKAGE, IS WHY THE NHTSA IS NOT SEEING HOW 1000S ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A LOCKED DOOR ISSUE WITH KIAS OF MANY MODELS OVER A SPAN OF 10 YEARS! MY DRIVER DOOR IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH $700 TO GET IT FIXED I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CAN NOT GET IT INSPECTED!!! DUE TO SAFETY! KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! *TR

MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR STICKS AND WONT OPEN. AT FIRST IT STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT A FEW TIMES IT OPENS. BUT AS SOON AS YOU LOCK THE DOORS ITS BACK TO NOT UNLOCKING WHEN YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT. NOW MY PASSENGER DOOR WONT OPEN AT ALL. I AM WORRIED THAT IF THERE'S EMERGENCY I WONT BE ABLE TO GET OUT ANY OF THE DOOR. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP FIX IT. *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE UNLOCKED THE DOORS, THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 10-15 MINUTES, BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED.

WHILE I DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME LOCK PROBLEMS AS A LOT OF 2005 OPTIMA OWNERS... MY DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE LOCK MECHANISM. IN MY CASE, THE LOCK WOULD ACT FINE ONE MOMENT AND NOT WORK THE NEXT. FOR THOSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD SUGGEST GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO REPLACING THE ENTIRE LOCK MECHANISM. I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE SINCE! *TR

TL* 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.

TL* 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.

REPORTING A FAILURE IN THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. THE DOOR LOCK WILL "UNLOCK" WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB, DOOR PANEL OR USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT LOCKS THE DOOR PREVENTING YOU FROM OPENING IT. THE DRIVER IS TRAPT IN THE CAR WITH THE ONLY OPTION TO EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER TIME YOU NEEDED TO EVACUATE THE CAR QUICKLY. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON KIA VEHICLES. *TT

TL* 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.

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? *TR

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.. *TR

TL* 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.

TL* 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 *LN

TL* 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.

TL* 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. *TR

TL*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.

TL* 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. *TR

TL* 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.

TL* 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.

2005 KIA OPTIMA. DRIVER DOOR WON'T UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO CLIMB ACROSS THE PASSENGER SEAT TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION WHAT IT IS DOING TO MY LOWER BACK. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN FIX IT FOR ABOUT $400 PLUS ABOUT $105 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES. I SHOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE KIAS OUT THERE . THERE IS A LIST OF MANY OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY OR SAFELY. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR

TL* 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR TO LOCK. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE REOPENED. THE CONTACT WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND SUGGESTED THAT THE DOOR BE UNASSEMBLED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,703.

I CAN'T OPEN MY DOOR!! MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REFUSES TO OPEN, FROM INSIDE OR OUT! I TRY TO UNLOCK IT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WHEN I PULL ON THE LATCH, IT LOCKS THE DOOR AGAIN, AND IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, SOMETIMES RELOCKING THE DOOR ON ME. IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE BEFORE THEN, AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING, NOTHING HAPPENED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THIS CORRECTED AS OF YET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS BECAME DEFECTIVE AND WOULD SPORADICALLY CAUSE HER TO BECOME LOCKED INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD OFTEN HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOWS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,677 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE VEHICLE OR OUTSIDE. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT BUT ALSO VERY UNSAFE. LAST YEAR THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, WHICH I PAID TO HAVE FIXED AND NOW THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING ON DRIVERS SIDE. KIA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

DRIVER DOOR OF KIA 2005 OPTIMA WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AT ALL. HAVE TO CLIMB OVER PASSENGER SEAT TO GET TO DRIVERS SEAT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MOST LIKELY THE PART THAT IS BAD IS CALLED THE 'DOOR CHECKER' ACCORDING TO THE KIA MANUALS. I HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE. CALLED DEALERSHIP THERE WILL BE 2 HOURS OF LABOR INVOLVED. THE PART WEARS OUT TO THE POINT WHERE IT TELLS THE SYSTEM THAT THE DOOR IS NOT LATCHED SO IT TRIPS THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM SWINGING OPEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A DEALER PART ONLY. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA OPTIMA LX/EX. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AND IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN WITH A KEY OR WITH THE UNLOCK SWITCH. WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH THE KEY. IT WILL NOT UNLOCK BUT THE REST OF THE DOORS WILL. NORMALLY I HAVE TO JUGGLE AND PLAY WITH THE KEY AND THE DOOR WILL UNLATCH . LAST NIGHT I STOOD OUTSIDE FOR 15 MINUTES AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN SO I HAD TO CLIMB THRU THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PROBLEM IS A HAZARD. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY I WOULD BE SCREWED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN EARLY 2010. ONCE I UNLOCKED IT THE FIRST TIME I DECIDED TO JUST LEAVE THE DOOR UNLOCKED FOR EASY ENTRY BUT THAT LEAVES MY CAR VULNERABLE FOR THEFT OR ITEMS I MAY LEAVE IN IT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE A PASSENGER HAS UNKNOWINGLY LOCKED THE DOOR AND I WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB THRU THE OTHER SIDE AND JIGGLE THE KEY ALL OVER AGAIN. LAST NIGHT WAS THE LONGEST THAT I HAVE EVER HAD TO PLAY WITH THE DOOR AND NOW I BELIEVE IT WILL NOT OPEN AND I HAVE NO SOLUTION ON HOW TO OPEN IT SINCE THE COMPANY CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2006 KIA OPTIMA DRIVERSIDE DOOR LOCKS NOT ALLOWING DRIVERS DOOR TO UNLOCK, WE CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE WILLING LOOK AT THE PROBLEM FOR A SERVICE FEE AND LABOR, WE SEARCH ON-LINE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING. *TR

2005 KIA OPTIMA DRIVERS DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONS. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE MANY INTERNET REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA WILL NOT RECALL OR TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. NHTSA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! *TR

MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK IT EITHER WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE, OR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IF I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY, IF WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO SO SINCE I HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE AND ENTER AND EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE OWNING THE CAR THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I AM TIRED OF HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED. IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

STARTING APPROX. JULY 28, THE FRONT PASSENGER LOCK BEGAN ACTING UP, GIVING A LOT OF RESISTANCE WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE KEY TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. THEN YESTERDAY, ABOUT EIGHT DAYS LATER, THE PROBLEM MOVED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHERE NOW I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. WHEN I OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT JUST RE-LOCKS THE DOOR WITHOUT OPENING THE DOOR. ON THE INSIDE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM FOR KIA CARS. THIS CAN BE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT IF FOR SOME REASON I NEEDED TO EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY, I WOULD BE STUCK INSIDE. RIGHT NOW MY ONLY WAY OF ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE IS CLIMBING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OR THROUGH THE WINDOW. I HAVE AM WAITING FOR AN OPENING AT THE KIA DEALER, BUT THEY ARE BUSY (LIKELY WITH OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM) AND I HAVE READ THE REPAIR COSTS FOR THIS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH. WITH THIS BEING SUCH A WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE AND WITH THE POTENTIAL SAFETY AND HAZARD RAMIFICATIONS, IT SEEMS THAT KIA SHOULD BE DOING A RE-CALL TO REPAIR ALL THESE PARTS THAT ARE WEARING OUT AFTER ONLY 50,000-70,000 MILES--WHILE OTHER CARS SEEM TO HAVE NO ISSUES AT ALL. THIS IS AN UNFAIR SITUATION TO PUT EVERYONE IN WHO HAS TO GET THIS FIXED, AT GREAT COST, AND SEEMS TO ALMOST BE A PLANNED FAILURE (AS WIDE-SPREAD AS IT IS AMONG MANY MODELS) TO KEEP THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS BUSY. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. AFTER BEING LOCKED I CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. AFTER BEING LOCKED I CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, AND IN ORDER TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND PULL THE HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS WORKS ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. OTHERWISE, IF I JUST TURN THE KEY AND THEN PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE I HEAR THE CAR DOOR RELOCK BEFORE I CAN OPEN IT. *TR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT UNLOCK, EVENTUALLY AFTER CONTINUING TO TRY AND UNLOCK IT THE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK (HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS), NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. CAN NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN AT ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE REMOTE. THE DRIVER HAD TO GET OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DOORS WILL OPEN BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ALL FOUR DOORS WILL LOCK AFTER YOU GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE EVEN IF THE KEYS ARE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER OPEN THE DOOR WITH A SLIM JIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,100.

I WAS LEAVING FOR SOME TIME OFF OF WORK TO GO BACK TO WISCONSIN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER DOOR LOCKED ON ME AND I COULD NOT GET IT OPEN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE DOOR OFF TO FIX IT. THEN IT ONLY REMAINS FIXED FOR ABOUT 3-4 TIMES AND IT LOCKS ON ME AGAIN AND THEN I HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE AND GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS OVER 60,000 MILES AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEN I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. COMMON SENSE TELLS ME THAT IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN DON'T YOU THINK THAT IT IS A DEFECT OF SOME SORT AND THE COMPANY KIA SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A RECALL. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? A NICE LAW SUIT. I TOOK MY CAR WHERE I GET MY OIL CHANGED AND THEY AGAIN OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR SO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SO IT COULD BE OPENED. WELL, AGAIN IT UNLOCKED FOR 3-4 TIMES AND LOCKED UP AGAIN, SO NOW I AM OUT MONEY AND THE [XXX] DOOR STILL DOES NOT UNLOCK SO I CAN USE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THIS PRESENTS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR DRIVER DOOR LOCKS AND CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE OR OUT. IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT OR VEHICULAR FIRE, DRIVER WOULD BE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IF UNABLE TO CRAWL OUT THROUGH OTHER DOORS. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. THIS IS AN EQUIPMENT DESIGN FLAW AND ACCORDING TO INTERNET DATA AND PERSONAL CONTACTS, IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE MAKE-REGARDLESS OF MODEL OF VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE HAS NOT RESULTED IN MY HARM AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TO DIE BEFORE YOUR AGENCY ISSUES A RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM SURE THAT SOMEONE HAS ALREADY BEEN HARMED DUE TO THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT BASED UPON THE SHEER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF 2005 KIA OPTIMA AND I HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE DOOR. WHEN DRIVING DOORS WOULD START LOCKING/UNLOCKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHEN INSIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN SOMETIMES AFTER NUMEROUS TRIES. MOST TIMES HAD TO CLIMB OVER SEAT TO TRY OTHER DOORS I HAD INCIDENT WHERE I UNLOCK DOOR PUT GRANDSON IN CARSEAT I WENT TO DRIVER SIDE TO GET IN VEHICLE BUT DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN EACH TIME I WOULD UNLOCK, DOORS WOULD AUTOMATIC RELOCK TEMP WAS 97 DEGREES I CONTINUE TO TURN KEY AND STARTED DIALING 911 WHEN DOOR OPENED DANGEROUS/HEART WRENCHING SITUATION. I WAS AFRAID TO RIDE KIDS IN CAR IN CASE OF ACCIDENT WE MAY BE TRAPPED. I WENT TO KIA OF BATON ROUGE THE EMPLOYEE STATED HE AGREES THIS IS DANGEROUS BUT HIS CONCERN WAS HOW KIA WAS GOING GET PAID FOR REPAIRS, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILES FOR WARRANTY. I TOLD HIM I HAD NO PROBLEMS PAYING FOR VEHICLE PROBLEMS THAT IS NORMAL BUT THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR/TEAR I LOOK UP INFO ON KIAS AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT DOOR LOCKS. I ALREADY KNEW SERVICE DEPT WOULD SAY IT WAS THE ACTUATOR BECAUSE THIS IS INFO THAT WAS ON INTERNET. KIA EMPLOYEE STATED TO ME IF I PAID FOR REPAIRS HE WOULD GUARANTEE I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS THIS IS NOT FAIR THIS IS A DEFECT. IF I GET STOP BY POLICE HE MAY THINK IM REFUSING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN IM REALLY TRAPPED INSIDE! I AM HONEST HARDWORKING INDIVIDUAL. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR THAT MY MONEY IS SPENT ON VEHICLE THAT IS A HAZARD TO ME & MY FAMILY. IF KIA IS SUCH A GREAT COMP. I THINK THEY SHOULD REALIZE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT THEIR COMPANY SHOULD REPAIR PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL TRAGEDY OCCUR AND THEY ARE FACING A MAJOR LAWSUIT TO START A RECALL. I HOPE KIA DOES WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. YES I DID PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE RIDING IN THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NORMAL USE. DOOR LOCK FAILS LOCKING DRIVER IN CAR, PREVENTING SAFE EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATH IF A VEHICLE FIRE OR ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THIS MAKE WITH NUMEROUS INTERNET-BASED COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM FINDABLE ON THE WEB. THE $300.00-$400.00 COST OF REPAIR IS TOO PROHIBITIVE TO ALLOW ME TO FIX THIS. THE LIFE-THREATENING CONSEQUENCES OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT WARRANTS MANUFACTURER TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM IS LISTED IN MANY YEARS AND MODELS BY SAME MANUFACTURER. *TR