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
143 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 23, 2002
DURING SPRING/2002 NOTICED HESITATION OF CAR DURING ATTEMPTS TO PASS OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. HESITATION/DELAY WORSENED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IT THEN DEVELOPED HESITATION AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND WOULD AT TIMES STALL OR SUDDENLY "LUNGE" AS ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. THIS BECAME A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN COLD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE WARMED-UP IT SEEMS TO RUN FAIRLY WELL WITH EXCEPTION OF THE HESITATION/STALLING SENSATION WHEN PASSING. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON JULY 18. INITIALLY, THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AN AIR SENSOR OR FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA NOW STATES THE PROBLEM IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM LINKED TO SPRING/SUMMER GAS FORMULATION. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO MAKE SURE THE CAR WARMS UP SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING AND THAT THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY IN THE FALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL RECUR NEXT SPRING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PROVIDED US A RENTAL CAR AT NO CHARGE D/T THE WARRANTY. THEY HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY POLITE. KIA HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT SLOW ON THEIR END COMMUNICATING WITH US BUT POLITE AND CORDIAL. HOWEVER, THE CONCERN REMAINS WITH THE PROBLEM OF KNOWING HOW LONG TO WAIT TO WARM THE ENGINE AND THEN WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR ADAPTING TO THE SPEED THAT IS SOMEWHAT ERRATIC. THE CAR IS OFTEN PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE AND THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR REPRESENTS SOME CONCERN WITH PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES MOVING IN A CONFINED SPACE.*AK
Structure, Aug 13, 2002
INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE WAS FAILING TO OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Visibility, Aug 13, 2002
BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED OPERATING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 13, 2002
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, CAUSEING PROBLEM WITH PULSATING AND VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Structure, Aug 13, 2002
POWER LOCKS ON BOTH DOORS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 25, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB
Electrical system, Jul 24, 2002
VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING, WON'T RESTART TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE, DASH LIGHT COE ON BUT NORTHING FROM STARTER, WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A WHILE, AC STOPS BLOWING.*AK
Air bags, Jul 19, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT 300-40 MPH HEAD-ON AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2002
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL DIE OUT DUE TO ALTERNATOR NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO CHARGE BATTERY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 1, 2002
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM WHEELS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AKI
Power train, Exterior lighting, Equipment, Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2002
A/C CONDENSATION BUILD UP ON THE INSIDE OF CAR HAD AT DEALER 2 TIMES BEFORE THEY FIXED .#2 REPLACED RIGHT HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN1 1/2 YR NO FINGER ON BULBE! #3 AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT ON FIRST START UP TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE AT FIRST #4 GAS GAUGE FROM DAY 1 WOULDN'T READ FULL AFTER 3 TRIP TO SHOP THEY FIXED IT
Vehicle speed control, May 9, 2002
WHEN CAR IS STARTED AFTER IT HAS SAT FOR EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME AND PUT IN DRIVE CAR HESITATES AND DOES NOT MOVE WHEN ACCLERATOR IS PRESSED. HAVE TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH SAY NOTHING IS WRONG.*AK
Equipment, May 9, 2002
A/C SYSTEM TAKES 15 MINUTES TO START BLOWING COLD AIR AND EVEN THEN AIR IS NOT AS COLD AS IT SHOULD BE. I HAVEN TAKEN TO TWO KIA DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH OF THEM SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG.*AK
Air bags, Aug 17, 2001
01 V 156 000/SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS: REPORTING DEALER ( PERFORMANCE KIA; NICHOLASVILLE, KY; PHONE # 1-800/203-8445 OR 859/887-4737) SOLD VEHICLE BEFORE CORRECTING RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK
Electrical system, Structure, Aug 17, 2001
POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES TRAPPING THE DRIVER. THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. BOTH WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY/SIMUTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Electrical system, Aug 3, 2001
WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE THEN. SAFETY THEFT PROTECTION LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS ON BACKORDER, ACCORDING TO DEALER. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COMMENTS. *AK
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
Structure, May 17, 2001
POWER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DOORS OPERATE ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER CANNOT UNLOCK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITHOUT LOCKING ALL OF DOORS AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK