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

Wheels complaints

5 reports

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100,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016

StructureWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS A…

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NHTSA ODI #10894500

138,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010

StructureSuspensionWheels

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA ON NORTH INTERSTATE 65 TO INDIANA, IN FOUR LANE TRAFFIC MY KIA RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NEARLY CAME OFF DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUB-FRAME AND LOWER WHEEL CONTROL ARM CAUSING SEPARATION. MY HUSBAND AND I COULD HAVE BOTH BEEN KILL ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE. I LOVED MY CAR AND I PRAISE THE KIA, NOW THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ME OR OTHER PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY. THEY WANT FIX MY CAR BUT MOST OF THE STATES AROUND MY STATE IS DOING SO, THEY ARE THOUSANDS OF RECALLS ON ALL OTHER CAR'S I AM SENDING A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL KY OR KIA IS ALLOWING VEHICLE IN KY NOT BE IN THE RECALLS. TELLS ME PEOPLE IN KY JUST DON'T MATTER TO KIA OR KY , WE ARE PEOPLE TO, AND THIS CAR WOULD HAVE LAST ME A LIFE TIME I AM SURE IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPEN. JUST BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE SYSTEM , EVEN THOUGH 2001 - 2004 KIA OPTIMA HAS BEEN RECALL KY LAGS BEHIND AND DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ME. MY CAR IS JUST JUNK NOW AND I CAN NOT BUY ANOTHER. I WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HOW THEY ARE TREATING ME I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298148

138,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010

StructureSuspensionWheels

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA ON NORTH INTERSTATE 65 TO INDIANA, IN FOUR LANE TRAFFIC MY KIA RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NEARLY CAME OFF DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUB-FRAME AND LOWER WHEEL CONTROL ARM CAUSING SEPARATION. MY HUSBAND AND I COULD HAVE BOTH BEEN KILL ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE. I LOVED MY CAR AND I PRAISE THE KIA, NOW THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ME OR OTHER PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY. THEY WANT FIX MY CAR BUT MOST OF THE STATES AROUND MY STATE IS DOING SO, THEY ARE THOUSANDS OF RECALLS ON ALL OTHER CAR'S I AM SENDING A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL KY OR KIA IS NOT ALLOWING VEHICLE IN KY NOT BE IN THE RECALLS. TELLS ME PEOPLE IN KY JUST DON'T MATTER TO KIA OR KY , WE ARE PEOPLE TO, AND THIS CAR WOULD HAVE LAST ME A LIFE TIME I AM SURE IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPEN. JUST BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER. WAS NOT IN THE SYSTEM , EVEN THOUGH 2001 - 2004 KIA OPTIMA HAS BEEN RECALL KY LAGS BEHIND AND DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ME. MY CAR IS JUST JUNK NOW AND I CAN NOT BUY ANOTHER. I WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HOW THEY ARE TREATING ME I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298143

100,000 miles · Jul 5, 2009

StructureWheelsCrash

I HAVE A 2001 KIA AND ON JULY 5 2009 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND MY TIRE HAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME IT MESSED UP MY BUMPER AND THE HOLE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275814

99,000 miles · Oct 17, 2008

StructureWheels

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHE DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND SUBFRAME WERE CORRODED AND CRACKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …

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NHTSA ODI #10245808

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.

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

EA04030 · 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.