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Kia Motors America, Inc. was hit with a class action lawsuit in a California federal court, alleging that its Kia Optimas made in model years 2001 through 2006 are made with defective door locks that pose a potential safety hazard.
The Kia class action lawsuit was filed on Wednesday by plaintiff Colleen Davison, who owns a 2003 Kia Optima. She claims that in June 2013 problems began to develop with her Optima with both the driver’s side door and the passenger’s door in the front of the car.
Her first problem was that couldn’t unlock the doors with the key fob while outside of the vehicle and “merely touching the door handle would trigger the doors to lock, preventing” her from entering the vehicle, and she was required to open her door manually with the key, the Kia Optima class action lawsuit explains.
Now, Davison claims that the car won’t unlock from the inside and it must now be unlocked from the outside.
“On more than one occasion, as a result of the door lock defect, Ms. Davison was locked into the vehicle and could only exit by climbing over the front seat into the back of the vehicle and exiting the rear door,” the Kia class action lawsuit says.
“After having been trapped in the front of the vehicle, Ms. Davison could no longer take the risk of locking her vehicle while driving,” it adds.
When Davison called her local Kia dealership in Olympia, Washington, she was told that since the warranty that came with the car had expired, she would have to pay $500 to have the door lock problem fixed, she explains in her class action lawsuit.
However, she could not afford the repair at the time and continued to drive the vehicle with the door lock problems for a few more months until unlocking the doors grew more difficult.
“By September, Ms. Davison was unable to unlock her front doors by any method . . . which meant that her vehicle could no longer be locked (either when driving or when it was parked and left alone,” the Kia Optima defective door lock class action lawsuit states.
“At this point her Kia Optima posed an unreasonable safety hazard. A vehicle door lock that will not unlock on demand poses a clear and definitive safety risk to vehicle occupants who may need to egress the vehicle quickly in the even of a crash, vehicle fire, or other emergent circumstance,” according to the Kia class action lawsuit.
Davison was able to have the driver’s side door lock repaired in February 2014. However, the passenger side door still doesn’t work properly.
The class action lawsuit cites “hundreds of Kia owners complaining about the same problem” on internet forums as well as complaints filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Davison is seeking to represent a nationwide class of Kia Optima owners of model years 2001-2006.
The Kia Optima class action lawsuit is charging the automaker with violating the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and violating California’s Unfair Competition Law.
The plaintiff is represented by Michael D. Braun of the Braun Law Group, P.C. and by Roy A. Katriel of The Katriel Law Firm.
The Kia Optima Defective Door Lock Class Action Lawsuit is Colleen Davison v. Kia Motors America, Inc., in the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California in the Southern Division.
UPDATE: The Kia Optima Defective Door Lock class action lawsuit was dismissed on June 29, 2015.
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30 thoughts onKia Optimas Have Defective Door Locks, Class Action Says
i just bought a Kia Optima last Thursday, I had no idea there were problems with the door locks at the time. Everything was working smoothly with it but now the doors are not wanting to unlock. My daughter and also my son are both having babies in the next couple months, does Kia think it would be acceptable if my grandchildren were in the care and something happened and i couldn’t get the doors unlocked and opened to get them out? It is a defect on their parts they should have to recall the parts and fix them all at no charge. It is a danger to everyone that has a Kia. Other car name brands have to fix defects on their vehicles why is Kia not having to fix theirs?
I am the person who brought this lawsuit against Kia motors for the door lock issue. Unfortunately, the judge dismissed the suit the second time my lawyers appeared in court because I am not from California, and that is the state that the lawsuit was filed in. My lawyers have searched unsuccessfully for a Kia owner from California who could be the plaintiff, because they realize that this lawsuit has merit, and Kia should be forced to fix this safety issue.If anyone out there is, or knows of someone from California that would be willing to be the plaintiff, please call the law firm that is mentioned in the above case. They will represent you, and it will not cost you anything except some of your time. This is an important issue, so please, if you can help, call that law firm. Thank you, Colleen Davison
Thank you for sharing your story! We wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of justice!
It’s happening to me in NH. This needs to be remedied!
I have this problem as well it must be the electrical system .had drvers door repaired the it locked agai. Trunk hasvbeen locked for 2 years, ignition key insert had to br replaced. Passenger door is still locked had to climb from back seat to get to drivers seat.car dealer drilled out drivers lock now anybody can see i have no door lock.have not driven my car in2 years. Have to make several trips to do grocery shopping can buy anything heavy as i am 74 years of age have contacted irvine as well as Korea no one seems.i to want to help this old lady on socialsecurity as have never received any courtesy reply.i had a previous kia sephia and loved itbthat is why i purchased the optima. I am stilk paying insurance in the event something should happen whike its in my drive way.aas i am a senior i would like to be able to visit friends without them having to give me a ride.as i do use a cane and cant walk very far. I am fortunate that i live across the street from a grocery store, butbi feel likebi am being held hostage without a car. Hopefuuly Kia will help all of us who are having problems.i would like to be as Martin Luther King said “free at last thank God almighty im free at last”
I have a 2010 Kia Optima. The back passenger door can not be opened from inside or outside. It will not unlock by pushing the lock manually or pushing the buttons. The door can not be opened. This terrifies me as I have children that need to ride in the back seat.
My daughter bought a 2006 Kia optima and the passenger side front door is locked shut. I got open and took apart and got working again. However, after working fine 40 or 50 times, it is now locked shut again. Really frustrating and they need to handle their issues.
I have a 2006 optima and have the same issue. I cannot lock the car or I am stuck in the car I have had people go through my car while parked in lots. My local dealership will not do ANYTHING about it except say yep it’s a problem but we can’t help.
Same here 06 optima. I don’t have money to spare on something I did not break, or for anything not listed as maintenance or possible problems anywhere in the owners manual. Dealing with lock problems almost 3 years. Anybody getting replies on here?
I have a 2004 Optima and have been living with this problem for the last year. I took it to Kia to have it fixed and was told they would have to break the door and replace it with a new one at a charge of nearly $1,000. While I continue to live with this problem. I would like to know how to join this suit or get my car fixed at no charge!
This is a big problem with Optima cars. I dont know why Kia didnt recall these cars sooner.
I have a 2006 kia optima and the passenger door lock is stuck and the door doesn’t open un less I mess with the key and door handle at the same time. Is kia motors fixing this problem?
I just bought a 2004 Kia Optima on May 1, 2015. Two months later I now have the same exact problem with the doors locking as so many others have. This is a safety issue. What do I do now?