What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 KIA Optima

Typical pattern

5.1% of complaints about the 2001 KIA Optima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (37 complaints), typically at 8.6 yr or about 95,200 miles.

Complaints
217
Median age at failure
5.5 yr
Median mileage
79,000 n=131
Crash / fire / tow
12% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
37 reports · 95,200 mi
8.6 yr
5.4%
Air bags
30 reports · 81,000 mi
3.1 yr
53.3%
Suspension
28 reports · 122,000 mi
10.6 yr
3.6%
Engine cooling
24 reports · 54,000 mi
3.1 yr
0%
Electrical system
16 reports · 9,500 mi
2.8 yr
0%
Latches / locks
16 reports · 18,481 mi
3.7 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09V183000 2009-05-27
Suspension:front

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 AR

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

03V067000 2003-03-04
Electrical system:starter assembly

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.

01V156000 2001-05-01
Air bags:side/window

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.

In owners’ own words

Structure mileage not reported 7 mo in service
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
Structure 5,000 mi 10 mo in service
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
Structure mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service
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
Electrical system mileage not reported 10 mo in service
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

Other Optima model years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001

How to read this