Structure. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 19 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 reports4 fire reports10 injury reports

Equipment complaints

3 reports

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86,020 miles · Dec 10, 2008

Air BagsEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

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AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE FROM A AUTO DEALER BETWEEN JULY 2 AND JULY 5 ...THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE AUDIO RECEIVER SWITCH FROM RADIO TO CD ON ITS OWN,DOORS LOCKS ON ITS OWN,RPM RUNS TO 4000 GOING 45MPH AFTER A HARD JERK ASSUMING THAT I WAS HIT BY A OTHER CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THAT 2 HARD JERKS WHILE DRIVING,,(THEY DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOYED) CAN NOT PUMP GAS DUE TO FUEL KEEPS OVER FLOWING WHEN ITS BARELY EMPTY ....ITS BEEN A LIVING ?!@#$% AND I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE CAR....IS IT LEGAL FOR A DEALERSHIP TO SELL A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251412

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2007

EquipmentPower TrainStructure

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2002 KIA OPTIMA SUB FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HER THERE WAS A SPOT ON THE SUB FRAME WHERE THE CONTROL ARM MOUNTS TO THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD RUSTED OUT AND IT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *KB THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITION RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME IS WHAT CAUSED THE RUST TO OCCUR. THE SPEED SENSOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10203843

52 miles · Jan 7, 2005

Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior LightingCrash

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA, MY STEREO,HEADLIGHTS,DASHLIGHTS WOULD CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, THE INSTRUCTED ME TO GET A NEW BATTERY. I DID, AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1RST,2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I COULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME BECAUSE MY HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, I HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO MY CAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO SLAM INTO ME. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY, I TOOK THE RISK OF GOING TO THE STORE, AND ONCE AGAIN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY CAR HITTING A NEAR BY GARBAGE CAN AND DENTING THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT INTO KIA OF TACOMA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET A TUNE UP. NOT LIKING THAT ANSWER, I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA OF PUYALLUP..THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND WANT ME TO COME PICK THE CAR UP AND DRIVE IT AROUND AGAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TOO, AND THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECAL ON THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO MY LIFE, AND OTHERS AROUND ME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS RIGHT AWAY BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEBODY THEIR LIFE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105909

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.

04V180000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Apr 12, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA 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.

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.