Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to dulles motorcars located at 107 catoctin cir se, leesburg, va 20175, phone number: [phone], for a routine oil change and safety inspection, there it was informed by the technician of severe corrosion and cracks in the sub frame and the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. The contact stated that the vehicle has been at the dealer for several weeks without repairs being completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V183000 (suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact noticed that the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that an alignment could not be performed because the subframe was fractured. The contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 09V183000(suspension). The contact called bob rohrman Kia (801 sagamore pkwy s, lafayette, in 47905, [phone]) and was informed that the recall repair had already been performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they could not assist since the recall repair had been completed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 168,531.
The frame is rusted through causing the vehicle to be unsafe, though it had a recall for this exact problem and it was only inspected and not replaced. The car was initially taken to a local auto repair shop for an alignment as it pulled to the right, the shop said the frame was rusted so badly that an alignment could not be done. It was determined that a recall had been made for this vehicle. Recall #09V183000. Gurley leep Kia in mishawaka, indiana was contacted and an appointment was made. The technician said the frame was rusted but Kia would not repair the vehicle as the recall had already been made.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the passenger side door failed to unlock from either side of the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also mentioned that the same failure occurred on the driver side door prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 147,433.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while parked, the door lock failed. The contact attempted to use the fobik and could lock the doors, but they failed to unlock. The contact had to unlock and lock the doors manually. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 02/12/16 updated 4/23/18
Drivers side door will not open if locked when closed. Mechanism works fine to lock and unlock when open, however. A part in the lock assembly appears to be rotating too far and getting stuck. As a result, the door cannot be opened if locked when the door is closed or the driver will have to climb out of the passengers side door or through the window.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. When utilizing the interior and exterior front passenger side door handles, they failed to operate properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,526.
My wife noticed the car pulling to the right and called her brother. He looked at the vehicle that evening 12/30/2013. He drove the car pulling onto a highway, the car would not move -- neither forward nor reverse. He pushed the vehicle off the road and the front axle dropped out of the transmission. It was towed and the garage notified us that the front sub-frame had corroded. Online research reveals NHTSA recalled Kia Optima (2001-2004 model years) on May 27, 2009. I called the dealership on 12/31/13 where the car was purchased. The customer service rep said the recall did not apply to our vehicle. The kmc was contacted on 1/2/14. I was informed that the recall was based on "salt usage of 20 states and dc." this interpretation of the NHTSA recall id # 84125 needs direct clarification from the NHTSA. …
All of a sudden, without any extra/abnormal stress, damage or accident... The passenger-side door lock would not engage either from the remote lock/unlock buttons, or same button function available inside the car, and even manually switching the lock while sitting in the passenger's chair fails every-time. The only way to get the door locked or unlocked is to get out of the car and use the key to jiggle the lock until it finally switches to a locked or unlocked position. This issue is not the first I've heard about this vehicle model and year... It is very frustrating and I'm sure it could be a danger to the passenger in the event of a rollover. Or even create a new possibility for theft if the locking mechanism fails to lock the door properly when we leave the vehicle...! Please let me know if this can be resolved without having to pay out of pocket for poor workmanship.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front driver side door failed to unlock. The contact stated that in order to get inside the vehicle, he had to climb over to the driver side. The contact also stated that the "air bag" warning light was illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic and the mechanic was unable to locate a solution to the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Body complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2003 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the body & structure of the 2003 Kia Optima, 18% of the model year's 141 complaints. The component named most often is body (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Kia Optima body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2003 Kia Optima, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Kia Optima body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.