2005 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Latches/locks/linkages is the leading concern among 144 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 7 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
144 reports, newest first.
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 19, 2010
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
Air bags, Apr 6, 2010
2005 KIA OPTIMA AIR BAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 24, 2010
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.
Visibility, Feb 16, 2010
THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA JUST BLEW OFF MY CAR, WENT AIRBORN AND HIT THE ROAD SHATTERING IT IN A ZILLION PIECES. THEIR WAS A VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT LAND IN THEIR WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS COMPANY WAS HERE TO INSPECT AND THEY SAID THAT THE GLASS HAD BEEN GLUED ON TOP OF THE SEAL AND WASN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT ALL. THAT IS WHY IT FLEW OFF LIKE IT DID. IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I CAN NOT GO WITHOUT MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT COME TO MY HOUSE AND INSTALL THE WINDOW HERE, THEY INSIST THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. ALL I WANT IS REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COST OF REPLACING THE WINDOW WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR THEM IN THE LONG RUN ANYWAY. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 4, 2010
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
Structure, Jan 27, 2010
I HAVE A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD THE CAR FOR THREE YEARS AND AM HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED UNTIL LAST WEEK. I PICKED THE CAR UP YESTERDAY AND DID NOT DRIVE IT FOR HALF AN HOUR WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AGAIN. I PAID ALMOST $400 AND THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN. IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP AND MY MECHANIC DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS TO ME AND MY SON BECAUSE OF THIS VEHICLE? I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER ONE!*CW
Power train, Jan 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COME OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD GRADUALLY CORRECT ITSELF; ALTHOUGH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
Latches/locks/linkages, Jan 8, 2010
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
Air bags, Nov 24, 2009, crash
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME STOP. I HIT THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THIS PERSONS CAR. IT SMASHED IN MY FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, BENT THE HOOD ABOUT TWO FEET IN THE AIR, AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DRIVE A KIA OPTIMA 2005. I THINK THIS CRASH DEFINITELY WARRANTED A AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 12, 2009
HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER IN THE CLUTCH MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO STAY ENGAGED. I DID NOT HAVE A COLLISION BUT WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY TO AVOID HAVING A TRUCK STRIKE ME FROM THE REAR. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNLESS I PREPAID THEM, AND THEY WOULD LATER DETERMINE IF I WOULD REIMBURSED. NOTE THAT THE CAR HAD ONLY FOUR YEARS AND 27K MILES OF A 10 YEAR/100K WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE NOT HAVING MULTIPLE DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES AND TRAINING MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW TO RESPOND. THE SITUATION WAS ENTERING ONTO AN INTERSTATE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN WORKING PROPERLY THE ENTRY WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE WITH TIME TO SPARE. WITH THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING AND GIVING THE FEELING OF BEING IN NEUTRAL MOVING TRAFFIC HAD LITTLE OR NO TIME TO RESPOND. *TR
Power train, Sep 15, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS OR DRIVING IN REVERSE THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TIRES. THE CONTACT TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO THE CV SHAFT AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THAT PART; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE THE KNOCKING SOUND. THE DEALER LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 24, 2009
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HIGH BEAMS (SEPARATE BULBS AND SWITCH) WOULD ONLY WORK SPORADICALLY (SWITCHED 'ON', NOTHING. SWITCHED AGAIN, MAY COME 'ON', TURNED 'OFF' THEN 'ON' MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON). DEALER STATES 'IT HAPPENS, THEY BURN OUT', YET SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.(?) NON WARRANTY, SO YOU PAY. ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE SAME CAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SAME ISSUE, HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED WITH YOU. IN ADDITION, 'GOOGLE' SEARCH SHOWS MANY ENTRIES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES (SAME MANUFACTURER) OVER MANY MODELS/YEARS. SIGNS POINT TO POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CHARGING OF BATTERY BY VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (MAYBE WHY THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AT THE SAME TIME). BATTERY WAS PREVIOUSLY FINE. I'VE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THINGS STOP WORKING, THEN WORK ON THEIR OWN (POWER WINDOW WON'T WORK, STICKS PART OPEN. SWITCH DOES NOTHING. THEN SUDDENLY LATER WINDOW LOWERS/RAISES WITHOUT SWITCH BEING TOUCHED. TRUNK SUDDENLY POPS OPEN). DEFINITE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THESE MAKE OF VEHICLES OVER MANY YEARS WHICH NEITHER MANUFACTURER IS GOING TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES. UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING, MANY WILL BE PAYING FOR SERVICE CAUSED BY THEIR NEGLIGENCE. . ALSO, SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ALL THE TIME. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR
Air bags, Aug 20, 2009
APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AGO MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I'VE LEFT MESSAGES WITH THE KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE AT LEAST 7 TIMES SINCE THIS PROBLEM RECURRED, WITH NO REPLY FROM KIA. LAST YEAR I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THIS OFFICE AND KIA FIXED THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND I BELIEVE THE AIR BAGS IN THIS CAR ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. AGAIN, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY AND MY FAMILY IS IN DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 17, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AT LEAST FOUR TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURS AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN REPLACING THE PART THAT HOLDS THE FUEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,970.
Seat belts, Jun 23, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONSUMER STATED THEIR 3 YEAR OLD SON ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HIMSELF IN WITH THE SEAT BELT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IF SLIPPED FROM HIS HAND AND WRAPPED AROUND THE 3 YEAR OLDS NECK. THE SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO RETRACT AND HE COULD NOT FREE HIMSELF. THE CONSUMER WIFE GRABBED THE TOP OF THE BELT AND KEPT IF FROM RETRACTING EVEN MORE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT. THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE REAR ENDED AND THE HIS WIFE HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY THE ROOM BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT HAD BEEN CUT A WEEK PRIOR. UPDATED 07/16/09. *JB UPDATED 07/14/09. *LJ
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2009
II HAVE A 2005 KIA OPTIMA FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE AIR BAGS . I HAD THE LIGHT TO COME ON WILL THE CAR WAS BEING INSPECTED LAST YEAR FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT WAS THE SENSORS. I MADE A APPOINTMENT TO GET IT FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT THERE THE LIGHT WENT OFF THEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A WEEK LATER AND THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN AND THE SAME THINGS HAPPENS WILL THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. 2ND PROBLEM HAD THE TIMING BELT TO GO OUT SO I PURCHASED A USED MOTOR TO HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. FIRST THE THROTTLE SENSOR WENT OUT REPLACED THAT FOR IT TO BURN UP WITHIN A HOUR OF IT BEING FIXED, THEN HAD TO HAVE THE CAR REWIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP NOW THE SIX MONTHS LATER THE DOOR LOCKS ARE TRIPPING ME IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAD SOME TYPE OF WIRING FIRE, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT,WHERE THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, AIR BAGS LIGHT ON, AND THE DOOR LOCKS ARE TRIPPING ME IN THE CAR. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Air bags, Jun 15, 2009
RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED MY AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING WHEN I WENT OVER A MINOR BUMP. IT IS NOW CONSTANTLY ON. I HAVE SEEN OTHERS POST THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, May 22, 2009
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
Steering, Suspension, Apr 27, 2009
STOCK TIRES (ON STOCK RIMS) RUB AGAINST UNDERCARRIAGE UNTIL A BAND OF CORD ARE EXPOSED AND TIRES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE FAILED (OR POTENTIALLY AN ACCIDENT RESULTS). *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 6, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. RECENTLY, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 5/18/09 *CN UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Mar 25, 2009
I HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "ANYTIME ANYONE WITH ANY WEIGHT SITS DOWN ON THE SEAT IT WILL COME DISCONNECTED". I HAD IT FIXED ONCE AND NOW IT IS ON AGAIN. EVER SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE ONLY DEALERSHIP I CAN GO TO IS 2 HOURS AWAY BY FREEWAY. I AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN THIS CAR BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF WE WILL BE PROTECTED AS WE SHOULD BE. THE FIRST TIME THAT IT BROKE DOWN WAS A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, AND WHEN I HAD THE THROTTLE REPLACED THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVEN DO THE REPAIR CORRECTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO REV UP WHEN STOPPED. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THE ISSUES I HAVE. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 4, 2009
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
Exterior lighting, Jan 26, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE LOW BEAM BULBS CONSTANTLY BLOW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUSTER CONNECTORS FAILED AND THEY CLEANED THE CONNECTOR AND REPLACED THE BULBS. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED WITH AN ORIGINAL WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT WERE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, THEY WOULD CONSIDER ASSISTING WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Air bags, Jan 12, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES; HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSTIC FAILS TO PRODUCE AN ERROR CODE EACH TIME. THE FAILURE ALWAYS RECURS AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD DEVELOP A PROPER REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 02/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 20, 2008
IN OCTOBER OF 2006 WE BOUGHT A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. SHORTLY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS AIR IN THE TANK AND JUST TO OPEN THE TANK AND LET THE AIR OUT. THEY SAID THE SENSOR WOULD GO OFF IN ABOUT 60,000 MILES. WE THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING THE TANK UP AND THE SENSOR CONTINUED TO COME ON. WE KEPT DOING WHAT THE DEALER SAID TO DO. ON 13/14 OF OCTOBER, 2008 WE STARTED SMELLING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS FUMES AND IT CONTINUED. ON OCTOBER THE 17TH, 2008 I FILLED MY GAS TANK UP AND STARTED DOING ERRANDS WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE FUMES WERE REALLY BAD AND MY GAS TANK WAS DWINDLING AND WENT HOME. WE NOTICED THAT THE GAS WAS COMING OUT VERY QUICKLY, BUT STOPPED AT A HALF OF A TANK. WE CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD UP THAT OUR WARRANTY WAS UP, BUT WE COULD HAVE IT TOWED, BUT THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND EMPTY THE TANK BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND THEY WOULD NOT TOW IT. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE DID WHAT THEY SAID TO DO AND THERE WAS A LOCK, SO IT COULD NOT BE SEEPING. WE CALLED KIA BACK AND AFTER TELLING THEM THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE,SO THEY CAME AND TOWED IT. THEY ARE REPLACING THE TANK, BUT WERE CHARGED ALMOST 1000.00. MY CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. *TR