2002 Kia Optima recalls and problems

The 2002 Kia Optima has 3 recalls and 107 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is structure.

Pictured: a 2001 model; the 2002 may differ in details. Photo: 2001 Kia Optima by BS105, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2002 compares

Lowest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Lowest complaint count among 20 Optima model years — 19th most.

3recalls

107complaints

15crashes

4fires

11injuries

85,000median 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> .

Fuel System

Apr 12, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V180000 · 25,803 vehicles

Problem: Some passenger vehicles May contain a fuel tank assembly valve that May not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage May occur.

Original NHTSA wording

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began June 25, 2004. Owners should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Kia recall no. Sco38.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Latches/locks/linkages12

Engine11

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

Complaints by year filed

2002 vs. other Kia Optima years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Kia Optima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2002 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 2002 Kia Optima?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention structure (30), suspension (21), air bags (19). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.