Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Structure complaints

42 reports

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27,000 miles · Aug 8, 2009

Structure

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RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM KIA JUNE15,2009, POSSIBILITY OF CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. I CALLED MY DEALER WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WAS TOLD NO PARTS IN THEY WOULD CALL ME. ON AUG. 03 I CALLED THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD STILL NOT PARTS. I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CALLED BACK WITHIN TWO DAYS TO LET ME KNOW WHY NO PARTS HOWEVER IT WAS THE SAME NO CALL. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR MAY BE FAULTY AND I CAN GET NO SERVICE OR HELP. IF IT IS A RECALL WHY CAN I NOT GET HELP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. KIA MOTORS AMERICA INC. GAVE NO REPLY AND THE DEALER STILL SAYS NO PARTS. ON AUG 15TH IT WILL BE TWO MONTHS AND NO HELP. THANK YOU (THIS IS FROM A RECALL LETTER TO ME). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279759

5,500 miles · Dec 2, 2005

Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

MOTOR MOUNTS AND PULLEYS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TIME TO THE SHOP IN LESS THAN A MONTH. THE PULLEYS AND MOUNTS ARE BOUND TO CAUSE OTHER DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10144213

Official recalls

09V183000 · 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.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.