2001 Kia OPTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

I HAVE TOOK MY CAR IN NUMEROUS TIME FOR THE SQUEKING BRAKES. ALSO, THE THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE NOV OF 2001. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER SHIP ABOUT 10 TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE BRAKES THEY JUST BLOW OUT AND SAY IT IS METTALIC DUST. THAT I NEED TO CLEAR THEM OUT WHEN THE CAR IS WASHED. THE SQUEAK STILL COMES BACK. THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD ME IT IS THE HUMIDITY DOING THIS. THE THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME TODAY. ALSO, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY LO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004952 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007244 at NHTSA ↗

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

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

THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE WEIGHT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A SEAT BELT EXTENDER WAS NOT MADE FOR VEHICLE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009594 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-05-01 (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: 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.

Reported: 2003-03-04 (March 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: 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.

Reported: 2009-05-27 (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: 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.