2001 Kia Optima recalls and problems

The 2001 Kia Optima has 3 recalls and 143 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is structure.

How the 2001 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 20 Optima model years — 16th most.

3recalls

143complaints

15crashes

0fires

7injuries

82,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Suspension

May 27, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V183000 · 36,538 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Corrosion of the front subframe could lead to separation, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Kmc's recall campaign no. Sc075.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Electrical System

Mar 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V067000 · 11,501 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Kia's recall number is SC021.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Air Bags

May 1, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V156000 · 16,231 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Damage to the wire harness could result in the side air bag not deploying in an accident.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine26

Latches/locks/linkages15

Service Brakes14

Power Train12

Equipment7

Vehicle Speed Control7

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE

EA04030 · opened Nov 4, 2004 · closed Nov 7, 2005

Summary

INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MALFUNCTION WITH A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT PATTERN OF COMPROMISE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.FAILURE OF THE SUBJECT DOOR LOCKS MAY IMPEDE NORMAL EGRESS OF A VEHICLE OCCUPANT BUT DOES NOT ENTRAP THE OCCUPANT.COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY DATA DOCUMENT THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM, BUT THESE MALFUNCTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A HISTORY OF DEMONSTRATED SAFETY RELATED IMPLICATIONS.DETAILS REGARDING THIS INVESTIGATION ARE CONTAINED IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE

PE04050 · opened Jul 7, 2004 · closed Nov 4, 2004

Summary

THIS PE DISCLOSED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED INCIDENTS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-030) TO FACILITATE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE MATTER, INCLUDING EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.

2001 vs. other Kia Optima years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2001. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2001 Kia Optima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2001 Kia Optima, the latest from May 27, 2009 (suspension). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Kia Optima?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention structure (35), suspension (28), air bags (27). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.