2003 Kia Optima Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY FOB, KEY OR MANUALLY. YOU ARE LITERALLY LOCKED IN THE CAR AND CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT. THIS IS HORRIBLY DANGEROUS AND IF YOU WERE IN AN ACCIDENT YOU COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. PLEASE HELP GET A RECALL ON THIS PART. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *TR
EL AUTO KIA OPTIMA 2003, EN MLTIPLES OCASIONES HA MARCADO ALTAS TEMPERATURAS. EXISTEN PROBLEMAS PARA PONERLE GASOLINA YA QUE LA BOTA O NO PERMITE QUE SE LE ECHE MS ENTRE OTROS DEFECTOS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY FAILS TO START. WHEN HE TURNS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE FUEL. THE CONTACT HAS TO MAKE THREE TO FOUR ATTEMPTS JUST TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE FAILS IN BOTH COLD AND WARM WEATHER AND HAS OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE PAST THIRTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO TEN MINUTES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR DAYS AND NO CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 58,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
2003 KIA OPTIMA CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND ONTO A CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF BUT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BATTERY CABLES HAD MELTED. *KB *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CHARGING SYSTEM'S WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER BOTH BATTERY CABLES WERE MELTED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, THAT THE DOORS LOCKS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED WITHOUT PRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS FLASHING. PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND THEN LIGHTS/RADIO, AND AIR CONDITIONER WENT OFF. A BURNING SMELL CAME FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG WITH THE CAR. *AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2003 Kia Optima has 7 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.