2003 Kia OPTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
141 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
84,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 141 complaints (34.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.5% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 49 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 10 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages: 49; Electrical System: 20; Structure:Body: 13; Air Bags: 10; Structure:Body:Door: 10; Suspension: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 9; 2004: 9; 2005: 8; 2006: 7; 2007: 8; 2008: 5; 2009: 9; 2010: 16; 2011: 16; 2012: 12; 2013: 10; 2014: 12; 2015: 8; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004562 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STARTS. *JG PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007273 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020412 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
THE DESIGN OF THE LARGE OVER VIEW MIRROR, ONLY ALLOWED THE CONSUMER TO SEE HALF OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *JB THE FRONT WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY TO THE RIGHT WAS BLOCKED BY THE FRONT REARVIEW MIRROR DUE TO LARGE SIZE OF THE MIRROR AND INABILITY TO LOWER THE DRIVERS SEAT ENOUGH AND ALMOST HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BLOCKED THE VISIBILITY OF THE RIGHT HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND DID NOT SEE THE VEHICLE TRAVELING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT UNTIL IT WAS IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020418 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC SWITCH TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR USE THE MANUAL SWITCH. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH WAS USED, THE HIGH BEAMS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. ALSO, THE POSITION OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SIZE/HEIGHT OF THE DRIVER SEAT LIMITED FRONT VIEW ON THE RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PASSING VEHICLE AS HE WAS GOING INTO THE DEALERS LOT AND COULD NOT SEE IT UNTIL IT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021932 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
THE LOCATION OF THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR AND SUN VISOR IS OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SEAT CANNOT BE LOWERED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021935 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL OPERATED HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT ARE ENGAGED VEHICLE'S HIGH BEAMS ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040353 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044891 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC DETECTED BOTH FRONTAL UPPER BALL JOINTS CRACKED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044891 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V180000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2004-04-12 (April 12, 2004)
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗09V183000 · Suspension:Front
Reported: 2009-05-27 (May 27, 2009)
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. OVER TIME, SUCH SUBFRAME CORROSION NEAR THE CONNECTION TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN LEAD TO WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND/OR OTHER NOTICEABLE STRESS IN STEERING, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.
Consequence: CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: KMC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗