IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE STATED ENGINE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT CAME LOOSE AND THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED.
2001 Kia Optima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Kia Optima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Optima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
425–50K
1550–75K
1775–100K
22100–150K
10150K+
84 reports with mileage · 59 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
143 reportsTHE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME 500.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS. I DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE I FELL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE. THE DEALER ALSO TRIED TO HAVE ME REPLACE THE TIMING…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME 500.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS. I DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE I FELL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE. THE DEALER ALSO TRIED TO HAVE ME REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AT 60,000 MILES AT THE SAME COST AND THEN LATER REPLACED THE BELT FOR FREE. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, CLOCK SPRING, AIR BAG HARNESS CAMPAIGN, AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT, AND TITIAN PIN PLUG CONNECTOR FOR DSAB. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
DT: ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OWNER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED UP AN INSTRUMENT TO THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON, AND IS ON AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSH…
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DT: ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OWNER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED UP AN INSTRUMENT TO THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON, AND IS ON AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IF IT OWNER PAYS. OWNER DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD PAY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT IN A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER DOES NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF ACCIDENT. *NM *JB
DT: THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. ALSO THE REMOTE IS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 7-2001. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART. THERE ALSO WAS A PROBL…
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DT: THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. ALSO THE REMOTE IS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 7-2001. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART. THERE ALSO WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE GEARS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT SENSOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP RECENTLY REPLACED THE REAR SENSOR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *MR
DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY , 2005 AND THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD SOME REPAIR DONE, INCLUDING THE FRONT BRAKES. HOWEVER REAR BRAKES SQUEALED. DEALER CLEANED REAR BRAKES AND ADJUSTED THEM TWICE. ON LAST TRIP TO DEALER HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY …
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DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY , 2005 AND THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD SOME REPAIR DONE, INCLUDING THE FRONT BRAKES. HOWEVER REAR BRAKES SQUEALED. DEALER CLEANED REAR BRAKES AND ADJUSTED THEM TWICE. ON LAST TRIP TO DEALER HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND CONSUMER WOULD JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAL. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE REAR BRAKE PROBLEM, AND DEALER STATED THEY COULD PUT NEW BACKING ON BRAKES FOR $269, BUT THIS MAY NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
03/06/02 PURCHASED A OPTIMA KIA 2001, STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 2/6/06. PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG, ENGINE, AND LOCKS FROM THE DATE OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. CAR BROUGHT IN FOR AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM 14 TIMES SINCE 2002 TO PRESENT DATE 2005 AND STILL NOT FIXED AS WE SPEAK. ENGINE BROUGHT IN 6 TIMES, AND LOCKS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO…
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03/06/02 PURCHASED A OPTIMA KIA 2001, STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 2/6/06. PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG, ENGINE, AND LOCKS FROM THE DATE OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. CAR BROUGHT IN FOR AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM 14 TIMES SINCE 2002 TO PRESENT DATE 2005 AND STILL NOT FIXED AS WE SPEAK. ENGINE BROUGHT IN 6 TIMES, AND LOCKS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. LAST TIME SERVICE ON AIRBAG WAS 6/5/05 LIGHT BACK ON. KIA KNOWS THIS CAR CAN NOT BE FIXED AND REFUSE TO GIVE ME A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY 11 YEAR OLD SON
DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PCV PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART …
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DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PCV PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID NOT LOCK AND THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED TWICE. *SC *TC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 15 - 20 MPH VEHICLE JUST QUIT IN ITS TRACK. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR RECALL 03V067000. CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DU…
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WHILE DRIVING 15 - 20 MPH VEHICLE JUST QUIT IN ITS TRACK. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR RECALL 03V067000. CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Official recalls
309V183000 · Suspension:front
May 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
03V067000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly
Mar 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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: 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.
01V156000 · Air Bags:side/window
May 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DAMAGE TO THE WIRE HARNESS COULD RESULT IN THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA04030 · Power Door Lock Failure
Opened Nov 4, 2004 · Closed Nov 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
PE04050 · Power Door Lock Failure
Opened Jul 7, 2004 · Closed Nov 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.