The 2003 Kia Optima has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 62,341 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the latches/locks/linkages. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION09V1830002009-05-2736,538 affected
Defect
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,…
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.
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.
Complaints by component
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
49
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
20
STRUCTURE:BODY
13
AIR BAGS
10
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
10
SUSPENSION
8
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
3crashes4injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
4
Total complaints190
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving on the roadway, I was almost to a four way intersection, as I was going to get into the left turn lane, I turned the steering wheel slightly to the left as the steering wheel turned but the car almost did little adjusting to turn into the left turn lane. As this occurred you could…”
“While driving on the roadway, I was almost to a four way intersection, as I was going to get into the left turn lane, I turned the steering wheel slightly to the left as the steering wheel turned but the car almost did little adjusting to turn into the left turn lane. As this occurred you could…”
“While driving on the roadway, I was almost to a four way intersection, as I was going to get into the left turn lane, I turned the steering wheel slightly to the left as the steering wheel turned but the car almost did little adjusting to turn into the left turn lane. As this occurred you could…”
“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:…”
“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:…”
“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…”
“At 24,000 miles my vehicle started locking doors when temperatures reach 32 degrees or lower. Vehicle outside on city street or driveway. When temperatures get to 32 degrees, doors lock and do not unlock to allow access. If you are inside of car it locks you inside of car, as well as out of car.…”
“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: [REDACTED], for a routine oil change and safety inspection, there it was informed by the technician of severe corrosion and cracks…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Kia Optima as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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