2001 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 143 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 15 involved a crash. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, frontMay 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.
CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Campaign 09V183000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, starter assemblyMar 4, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 AND 2.7 LITER V6 ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CKP) CASES DID NOT MEET DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATIONS.
INTERNAL GAPS WITHIN THE CASES ALLOWED EPOXY TO CONTACT THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN CRACKING OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD CAPACITOR. A DAMAGED CKP CAPACITOR COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALLING.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CKP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 03V067000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowMay 1, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS FOR THE DRIVER POSITION COULD BE MIS-ROUTED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN IT BEING PINCHED OR CUT BY THE SEAT CUSHION TILT MECHANISM.
DAMAGE TO THE WIRE HARNESS COULD RESULT IN THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT.
DEALERS WILL CHECK FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THE SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS AND SECURE IT IN PLACE WITH A PLASTIC TIE-WRAP. IF THE WIRE HARNESS IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 01V156000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
28 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Structure, Nov 6, 2007
ON NOVEMBER 3, 2007 MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER BROUGHT OUR 2001 KIA OPTIMA TO ATLANTIC KIA IN LINDENHURST NY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL HOURS, MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT THE ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE ON THE CAR DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, AND TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRES ARE 4 MONTHS OLD. SHE THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO PEP BOYS IN PATCHOGUE, NY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE TIRES AND OFFERED TO DO THE ALIGNMENT. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, A TECHNICIAN BROUGHT MY WIFE TO THE LIFT WHERE THE CAR WAS AND SHOWED HER WHY THE CAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR, BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR UP WAS THE TIRE. THE TECH THEN TOLD HER THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND ASKED WHERE THE DEALER WAS LOCATED. SINCE THE DEALER IS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES FROM THAT SHOP, MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT THERE, THE CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE. ATLANTIC KIA WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. SHE WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK ON MONDAY THE 5TH. SHE DID, AND WAS GIVEN RUDE AND UNACCEPTABLE TREATMENT FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. SHE WAS ALLOWED TO DRIVE A HAZARDOUS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND THEN IN TURN WAS TREATED VERY BADLY. ATLANTIC KIA WANTS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. *TR
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Equipment, Jan 15, 2004
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES OF THESE REPAIRS AS MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW BEING LOOKED AT AGAIN AND I AM GOING TO GET A HISTORY WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR, HERE ARE THE ISSUES I'VE HAD SINCE SPRING/SUMMER OF LAST YEAR. WE HAVE LOST TIME, MONEY, WAGES AND POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS! 1. AIR CONDITIONER SEEMED VERY COOL, BUT NOT COLD. CHECKED TWO OR THREE TIMES, EACH TIME SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WAS FINE. 2. CAR DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART WITHOUT A JUMP 3 TIMES. CALLED TOWING TWICE. SERVICE COULD NOT "RECREATE THE PROBLEM." THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. FOURTH TIME (CURRENT) CAR HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED ONCE A MONTH, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN WHEN ENTERING/EXITING THE CAR, WINDOWS ROLLED UP/DOWN SLOWLY, BLOWER ON AIR WENT UP AND DOWN WITH ENGINE SPEED, LIGHTS BEHIND CONSOLE GO OUT AND COME ON PERIODICALLY, CLOCK LOSES TIME, HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN USING POWER, RADIO FLASHES ON AND OFF. TODAY TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP. HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET RENTAL FEES. STILL WAITING ON RESULT. 3. LOUD RATTLING UNDERNEATH CAR PERIODICALLY. 4. WHISTLING IN ENGINE 5. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY. 6. ANTENNA BROKE AND THEN FELL OFF. 7. SUSPENSION VERY POOR. 8. WHEN PURCHASING CAR, DEALER STATED AIR BAG RECALL HAD BEEN FIXED ON CAR. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE, FOUND ANOTHER RECALL ON THE CAR, CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THE AIR BAG REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN MADE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 17 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY IN CONTACT WITH LEMON LAW LAYWERS IN INDIANA TO GET TOTAL REFUND FOR CAR. ONLY PHYSICAL PROBLEM RIGHT DRIVER DOOR PANEL FROM SMALL NON-FAULT ACCIDENT, NO INTERNAL DAMAGE.
Suspension, Jul 26, 2001
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 75MPH WHEN FRONT END LOCKED UP. TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO 2ND GEAR, AND CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO SKID. NOTHING WAS HIT WHEN VEHICLE SKIDDED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE SAFE MODE SENSOR WIRE CAME LOOSE.*AK