Model year record

2001 Kia Optima

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 231 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V183000

Suspension: front

Component
Suspension: front
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
36,538
Reported to NHTSA
2009-05-27
Owners notified
2009-06-16

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V067000

Electrical system: starter assembly

Component
Electrical system: starter assembly
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
11,501
Reported to NHTSA
2003-03-04
Owners notified
2003-03-28

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V156000

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
16,231
Reported to NHTSA
2001-05-01
Owners notified
2001-05-11

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

DAMAGE TO THE WIRE HARNESS COULD RESULT IN THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Structure: frame and members2195,200 mi
Air bags1753,717 mi
Suspension: front17113,400 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1116,126 mi
Power train: automatic transmission109,500 mi
Suspension10132,993 mi
Electrical system99,500 mi
Air bags: frontal777,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling716 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic714,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine68,900 mi
Vehicle speed control614,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)568,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages514,000 mi
Structure: body5100,000 mi
Wheels5100,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner487,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields479,000 mi
Unknown or other445,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module320,000 mi
Air bags: side/window3151,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator318,481 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline354,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights320 mi
Seat belts3
Structure3100,000 mi
Structure: body: door35,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery218,481 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module25,000 mi
Engine2105,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system287,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys254,000 mi
Equipment214,000 mi
Power train2
Seat belts: front2
Visibility: power window devices and controls2
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module1
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel18,900 mi
Electrical system: ignition1
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module1
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash18,900 mi
Equipment: electrical1
Fuel system, gasoline187,000 mi
Fuel system, other150,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system1
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Seat belts: front: retractor1
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices1
Seats135,000 mi
Service brakes1175,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads18,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum169,353 mi
Steering1191,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm179,000 mi
Suspension: rear114,000 mi
Tires162,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring1

The 2002 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.