2002 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 87 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 107 complaints (16.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 15.9% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 18 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 13 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 9 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 6 |
Suspension: 18; Air Bags: 13; Structure:Frame And Members: 13; Structure:Body: 10; Electrical System: 9; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 9; Steering: 6; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 20 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 14; 2005: 9; 2006: 10; 2007: 4; 2008: 7; 2009: 9; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 6; 2013: 8; 2014: 8; 2015: 5; 2016: 7; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10028547 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT OFF MASS PIKE, I WAS DOING ABOUT 30-35 AND SO WERE THE OTHER CARS, I BRAKED TO CONTINUE TO SLOW - THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP AND I PANICKED KNOWING THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AND FINALLY MADE IMPACT INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036966 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
FEB. 14, 2003, DRIVING A 2002 OPTIMA KIA AND APPLIED BRAKES HARD ABOUT 70 MPH AND CAR WAS COMPLETLY UNCONTROLLABLE SENDING ME OFF THE ROAD INTO VARIOUS TREES EVENTUALLY HITTING A TREE HEAD ON. CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND COMPLETELY BURNT DOWN. I WAS SENT TO A TRAUMA UNIT AT FOREST GENERAL IN HATTIESBURG MS WITH A PUNCTURED LUNG , SPLEEN REMOVED AND EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE RIBS WHICH I AM PRESENTLY IN PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR AND ON LTD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080067 · 2004-06-28 (June 28, 2004)
VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDS TO DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONSUMER INDICATES THAT SHE HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105909 · 2005-01-07 (January 7, 2005)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 52 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130843 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
DT: 2002 KIA OPTIMA LX. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS WILL START TO FLICKER, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80-90 DEGREES AND AT LONG DISTANCES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE, THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, AND THE MAIN COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE POWER WENTOUT ON 7-14-05. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,185 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157073 · 2006-05-09 (May 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35MPH. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING APPLIED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG STARTLED THE CONTACT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED IN REACTION TO THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A CURB, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE OIL PAN WAS RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/ACTUATOR WAS SET TOO HIGH CAUSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117343 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
2002 KIA OPTIMA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND TIMING BELT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE STILL MAKES A NOISE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174229 · 2006-11-25 (November 25, 2006)
2002 KIA OPTIMA LX, VIN#: [XXX] W/ APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. MY FIRST WARRANTY CLAIM: THE REPLACEMENT OF MY TIMING BELTS. ON 9/1/2006, MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I HAD A TOW TRUCK MY CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, BRONX AUTOMOTIVE GROUP INC. D/B/A, TOYOTA OF THE BRONX. THE MANAGER AGGI SARATIS ENDED UP IN AN DISPUTE WITH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS REGARDING ACKNOWLEDGMENT WARRANTY AND ADVISED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM HIS PREMISE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST AVAILABLE SERVICE SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174229 at NHTSA ↗