2002 Kia OPTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10011204 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011204 at NHTSA ↗
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 10048165 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG EQUIPMENT ON 2002 KIA OPTIMA. *MR A LARGE PIECE OF RUBBER HAD COME OFF THE TIRE OF A SEMI-TRUCK AND WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID HITTING IT, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A WALL DIVIDER. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062726 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
BOTH FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. YOU CAN HERE THE MOTOR BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,233 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063181 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066981 · 2004-04-12 (April 12, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDOWS ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070650 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW ON APRIL 30, 2003 - INCIDENT #1: JULY 15, 2003, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MILES PER HOUR EXITING THE MASS PIKE EXIT AT ROUTE 30. ALL TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING TO EXIT - I APPLIED THE BRAKES - WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN - REALIZED THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING - PANICKED - IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. INCIDENT #2: AUGUST 8, 2003, WHEN VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE OWNER OF BUCCI'S AUTO BODY TOOK THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TEST DRIVE. AT ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070650 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V067000 · Electrical System:Starter Assembly
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V180000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2004-04-12 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗09V183000 · Suspension:Front
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗