2005 Kia Optima Latches/Locks

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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