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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

143 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

81,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 143 complaints (14.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1812.6%
Transmission and shifting149.8%
Engine operation149.8%
Steering behavior139.1%
Electrical and battery issues128.4%
Fuel system concerns10.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure:Frame And Members
21
Air Bags
17
Suspension:Front
17
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
10
Suspension
10
Electrical System
9
Air Bags:Frontal
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Frame And Members21
Air Bags17
Suspension:Front17
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission10
Suspension10
Electrical System9
Air Bags:Frontal7

Structure:Frame And Members: 21; Air Bags: 17; Suspension:Front: 17; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Suspension: 10; Electrical System: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
15
75,000 to 99,999
17
100,000 to 149,999
22
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,99915
75,000 to 99,99917
100,000 to 149,99922
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 10

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 59 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
5
2002
22
2003
24
2004
13
2005
8
2006
8
2007
3
2008
10
2009
16
2010
8
2011
6
2012
8
2013
2
2015
5
2016
2
2018
1
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20015
200222
200324
200413
20058
20068
20073
200810
200916
20108
20116
20128
20132
20155
20162
20181
20231
20241

2001: 5; 2002: 22; 2003: 24; 2004: 13; 2005: 8; 2006: 8; 2007: 3; 2008: 10; 2009: 16; 2010: 8; 2011: 6; 2012: 8; 2013: 2; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2018: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10002152 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)

NHTSA#14716-02-V-040-000: KIA/CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55MPH ENGINE STALL, BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WONT HONORING THE WARRANTY, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002152 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002737 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

I HAVE HAD A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE PREMATURE WEARING OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES VIBRATING AND PULSATION WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES.THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME, MY HUSBAND WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK A SECOND TIME. THE REPLACED THE ROTORS BUT CHARGED ME A $35.00 FEE. IT HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002737 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003331 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)

MY VEHICLE HAS SPENT MORE THAN 35 DAYS IN A KIA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP INCLUDING TRANSMISSION REPAIRS SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. I HAVE CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS MORE THAN SIX TIMES. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND A LIABILITY TO OTHERS AND MYSELF WHILE IT IS ON THE ROADS. SOME OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD, BUT HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ARE 1. KEYS WOULD NOT OPEN TRUNK 2. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD MALFUNCTION AND LOCK ITSELF. MANUAL RELE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003331 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026957 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE AIR CONDITION, AUTO CHECK LIGHT AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT REMAIN UNLOCKED TRAPPING THE DRIVER.*TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026957 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023272 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)

MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA HAS BECOME THE MODERN AGE , THIS VEHICLE HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THE POWER LOCKS SHUTS OPEN AND LOCKS ON IT'S OWN, THE VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE WHEN CROSSING A HIGHWAY ON OUR STREET. VEHICLE STALLS AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING OF GAS PEDAL. WHEN CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS AND YOU ARE IN THE VEHICLE THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT OPERATE CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LOCKED IN VEHICLE. I WAS RECENTLY LOCKED IN MY VEHICLE WITH MY DAUGHTER FOR EXACTLY 4 HOURS WHEN THE POWER FINALLY RETURNED AND I …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023272 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005580 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

AUTO; KIA; OPTIMA ...................TIME AND CHAIN ,GEAR WEARS OUT ,DUE TO COLD WEATHER, LOOSING BRAKES AND STEERING WHEN THE MOTOR STOPS RUNNING ,WHEN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005580 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008783 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008783 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041657 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)

2001 KIA OPTIMA WITH APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT KIA DEALERSHIPS SINCE PURCHASE IN JAN 2002 (USED). SINCE JUNE 2003 CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR NUMEROUS RECALL ITEMS. CAR HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY LIT. ENGINE SURGES OR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE THEN SURGES. VERY HIGH RPM WITH NO ACCELERATION. ENGINE COILS MISFIRE. DIFFICULTY STARTING OCCASIONALLY. AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF FREQUENT TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE AREA, (JUNE-OCTOBER 2003) SERVICE MANAGER CALLS TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041657 at NHTSA ↗