The driver side door will not open from the inside or outside, with or without the key. I've tried everything and can't get it to open. I had to crawl to the passenger side after getting home to get out.
2004 Kia Optima body complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 42, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Sub frame rot leading to poor handling , tire wear, bad engine performance. The rotted supframe is separating from body, causing poor performance. The car is performing poorly at all speeds. Not safe...
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the door lock failed. In addition, the doors would automatically lock once opened with the key fob. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Power door lock locks when unlocking from outside with key. Replaced the door latch. But it still does it. Also the headlights stay on when turning off the car. Have to manually turn off headlight switch.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver side door failed to unlock or open. The contact had to get in and out of the vehicle by using the passenger side door. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. While driving at approximately 20 MPH, the power steering seized. Also, the subframe was fractured. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact believed that the failure was related to the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v183000 (suspension). The approximate failure mileage was 91,700.
I was driving on I-10 westbound, katy tx freeway, travelling about 65 miles per hour. The passenger's side front tire blew out causing the car to go back and fourth between two lanes of traffic. In the process, I was hitting the rubber dividers, damaging the hood of the car and the windshield. The blown tire caused damage to the oil pan, the radiator, and eventually the transmission. I got the car to the emergency lane. The car was towed off the freeway and eventually picked up and transported to a car repair shop. A few days later, the insurance adjuster and the repair shop owner both agreed the car was a total loss. I had to buy a new car.
Driver's door locks and cannot be opened with a key and does not open once inside of the car. The operator essentially is locked in the car. In the event of a crash or fire, the occupant may not be able to easily vacate the vehicle; the only way would be to climb over the console to the passenger compartment or the rear to exit the passenger doors. There have been numerous complaints with no action taken by the manufacturer to remedy the defect and affects multiple manufacturing years. In my opinion it clearly is a safety issue.
Driver side door does not open from inside, even when in 'unlock' position. I drove to work, having no problems opening the door to get into the car, nothing unusual happened during my 15 minute commute. I arrived at work, and was forced to exit the car through the passenger side door. The driver side door will now only open if you use the key and can randomly find the perfect timing of turning the key and pulling the door handle. It is nearly impossible to perform this maneuver from inside the vehicle. Having no ease of access from the driver side front seat of the vehicle poses an extreme safety concern to all those driving similar vehicles. Having performed just cursory research over the past two days, I have come across hundreds of similar accounts from other kia owners. This is obviously a manufacturing defect, and should be handled as a recall.
Driver door will not open even though it indicates the door is unlocked. Despite multiple tries the door will not unlock or open trapping the driver in the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the front driver's side door would not unlock. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
I was on a weekend trip and when I got to my destination I was unable to unlock or open the driver's side door. I had to crawl out the passenger side door. I am back home now. I have tried spraying some lubricant on door latch but I still can not get it to open.
The passenger wheel came off the car as my son was backing out of a parking space at a grocery store. I bought this car new. That part of the car had never been worked on. The car had to be towed to a garage for repair. Kia used glue on life a support nut on a ball joint, where they should have used a cotter pin. I have bought four (4) kias. These cars are still in the family. The kia I drive daily is identical (except being automatic) to the one that the wheel came off.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle emitted a loud pop. Upon inspection, it was found that the sub frame had failed. The contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number 09v183000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
On my 2004 kia optima when I unlock the doors with the key all doors unlock except the drivers door real big safety concern, if I get stuck in my car during an accident an cannot get out I will sue kia motor company for not issuing a safety recall, I have also notice a lot of postings based upon this issue on fixya.com for the 2003-2006 kia optima need attention asap.
The drivers door will not open either from the inside or the outside. The door remains locked as the button and key do not fully unlock it. Using both button and key at the same time, I was able to unlock the door and open it. Dissassembly of the door and latch located the problem to be the door latch mechanism. The door latch is designed to fail as evidenced by the number of complaints listing this part. The lever that is moved into place when the door is unlocked is blocked by the cam that it interfaces with because the cam has rotated beyond the point that it should. This has the potential to trap someone in the car if it should fail at the wrong time.
Drivers side door will not open with the power lock or by key, I have been getting in and out of my car by using the passenger front door. My husband found a way to unlock my driver side door, now I can not lock my car again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to unlock, which prevented access in entering or exiting the vehicle. The contact would have to access the front passenger side door to enter or exit the vehicle. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
Driver door refused to open. I have a disability so this created a huge problem for me. When I put gas in my car (regardless of grade or gas station) my car refuses to start. When I make a u-turn, my car makes loud clicking sound. I had it checked...my axle and every thing else looks fine. No one can establish where the noise comes from. My car has less than 60,000 miles on it, and it should not have all these issues but it does.
Drivers door would not open from inside or out, it happened three times and the started working again.
The drivers door will not open from the outside or the inside. I have to crawl in from the passenger side and then when I want to get out I have to crawl over and exit from the passenger side. Tried to unlock it with my keyless entry and now it doesn't work. Replaced batteries but still not working. My son kept turning the key in the door and finally got it opened. The next time I drove it the same thing happened. I am tired of having to crawl in and out of my car. I always enjoyed driving my kia but not anymore.
Driver side door will not unlock. Neither the key nor the door lock knob on the inside works to unlock the door. Unfortunately, we have been entering and exiting the driver side by entering the car from the passenger side. There are many others who have this problem with all kia models as you can see on the website http://vlane.com/discuss-topic/989/my-drivers-door-is-locked-will-not-unlock . The problem is a safety hazard since once in the driver seat, the driver can not exit the car through the driver door which can prove to be a problem in an emergency. Kia is taking advantage of owners by not addressing the issue. I am afraid for my safety, my family's safety while driving and emphatically plead with you to recall these kia cars to fix the problem.
Tl* the contact owns 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the front passenger door was inoperable. Once locked, it could not be opened from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 93,580.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver side door was defective and would not open from neither the inside or outside of the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that a module inside the door would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85, 960 and the current mileage was 86,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated the drivers side door will not open when it's unlocked. The contact had to enter the vehicle through the passenger side door. The contact was unable to determine what caused the drivers side door to malfunction. The failure was not diagnosed by a dealer nor a local mechanic. The failure mileage was 95,000.
The driver's side door on my 2004 kia optima locks itself back when I open it. I can't get in or out the car because the door will not open. I went to get in the car and it would not open. I've had to climb across the center console to get in the car. This is a safety issue for me because it hurts my back everytime I have to do this. This is my only form of transportation so I need to have this fixed. Did an online search to see what the problem could possibly be and found out that I wasn't the only one with this issue. I feel there needs to be a recall on this vehicle to remedy this issue with so many people complaining about the same thing on the same year,make, and model car. Will check back to see what is being done to resolve these issues. If nothing is being done then will seek other avenues to handle this matter.
As described by others driver side lower ball joint on '04 kia optima broke with 1 sheared bolt and 1 bolt just falling out (rusted with no clean areas) the ball joint had 1 part of the sheared bolt remaining and 1 rusted threaded hole. Dealer offered no help other than to indicate that this was not related to the subframe recall of last august ('09).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the front driver side door would become stuck and he was unable to open the door. The contact would have to exit the vehicle through the passenger side door. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired for the failure four years prior to the most recent recurrence. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 32,000 and the current mileage was 98,000.
I have been refused the repair on my 2004 kia by no less than 3 dealerships about the rusting front end because of lack of rust proofing. It made the car undrivable 4 months ago and I have had no satisfaction. You are going after toyota with both barrels yet you are leaving kia alone and I have had nothing but serious expenses and problems with this car since it was purchased brand new in 2004. I have made several attempts at contacting your office with negative replies. If I do not here from this agency in the near future concerning my issues I will contact the media and seek my restitution through the squeaky wheel getting the grease method and my attempts to have the government assist will be part of that discussion. Please put heat on kia to get aggressive with the recall repairs.
The recall concerning the 01 -04 kia optima subframe causing the car to be unable to maintain alignment is not being honored by dealers. I have made multiple attempts to either contact dealers for an appointment to which they would not return phonecalls or e-mails, or in one case actually got hold of a dealer who told me that at 130,000 miles it was time to replace the subframe and that I would have to pay for it. I have been eating tires and have not been able to keep this car aligned after the first 20,000 miles. I continue to drive this car because I am unable to replace it. I have had to put 2 clutches in it (the first one after 29,000 miles. For the record I have driven standards for 27 years before this and had never had to replace a clutch) and found out after the second clutch (which at no time would kia acknowledge a design flaw or any culpability) that the original clutches were not lasting on these cars and a standard pressure plate clutch had replaced the original under an engineering change instead of a recall. This car is unsafe and kia corporation and any dealer I have attempted to contact so far has refused ever to make good on any aspect of this car. This car and any 01-04 kia optima should have to be replaced by the kia corporation for their blatant disregard to the consumer for their safety and costs. I am going to attempt a media blitz to inform the american public of this blatant disregard and these safety issues in the next few weeks and felt you would want to know in order to get your data in order.
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