2001 Kia Optima
3 recalls and 143 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VIN3 recalls and 143 owner complaints on record for this model year.
This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VINAlmost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Due to an internal leak of brake fluid, a short circuit may occur in the electrical circuit for the ABS/ESC (anti-lock braking system / electronic stability control) system. This may lead to an increase in current and overheating in the fuse box, increasing the risk of the engine catching fire, irrespective of whether the vehicle is parked or being driven. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Due to an internal leak of brake fluid, a short circuit can occur in the electrical circuit for the ABS/ESC (Anti-lock Braking System / Electronic Stability Control) system. This can lead to an increase in current and overheating in the fuse box, increasing the risk of the engine catching fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
MY SON HIT A TRUCK FROM BEHIND AT 35MPH. HE WAS DRIVING MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK WHEN HIT THE BRAKES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SON (DRIVER) HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER IN OUR CAR HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE POLICE REPORT INDICATES THIS INFORMATION AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON NOV 02. I WAS BROADSIDED BY A TRUCK (F150 TYPE VEH.) IN AN INTERSECTION. AS A RESULT, MY ROOF BOWED AND THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE FROM WHEEL WELL TO WHEEL WELL WAS CAVED IN LIKE A HALF MOON. THE FRAME WAS PINNED UP AGAINST THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK BUT RELEASED ME AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMUBULANCE TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES AS DID MY ATTORNEY. ALL WE RECEIVED WAS THE RUN-AROUND FOR APPROX. SIX MONTHS. NO RETURN CALLS, EXCUSES, UNABLE TO GET A RELEASE TO HAVE A KIA AUDITOR LOOK AT THE CAR, ETC. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MY ATTORNEY SENT THEM THE RELEASE TWICE AND STILL NO RESPONSE. CONSEQUENTLY, I DEPLOYED OVERSEAS (MILITARY) AND UPON MY RETURN FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF (DESTROYED). I STILL SUFFER FROM MY INJURIES AND MY ATTORNEY IS STILL HANDLING MY CASE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 75 MPH OR MORE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WAS NOT TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE NOR WAS THERE ANY FATALITY. *AK
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN,VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE. NONE OF THE AIR DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN OFF CENTERED COLLISION THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, EVEN AFTER THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE, AND WINDOW BREAKING. OWNER SUFFERED HEAD INJURY AND CHEST TRAUMA. *AK THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIMINISHED. *SCC
AS I WAS LEAVING MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY CAR DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND FELL ON TOP OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE CAR, WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE SUSPENSION BROKE APART. INSURANCE INFORMED ME OF RECALL SC075 AND NOT KIA. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE OF RECALL AND KIA WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECALL IT, THEY SAY. *TR
I HAVE A 2001 KIA AND ON JULY 5 2009 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND MY TIRE HAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME IT MESSED UP MY BUMPER AND THE HOLE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERS AGREED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS BUT WITH A CHARGE FOR LABOR. ONE MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING 15 MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INCURRED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 7/7/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 15 MPH AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUFFERED NO INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED. UPDATED 05/04/06
DT: ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OWNER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED UP AN INSTRUMENT TO THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON, AND IS ON AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IF IT OWNER PAYS. OWNER DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD PAY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT IN A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER DOES NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF ACCIDENT. *NM *JB
A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, I TRIED TO STOP, BUT I COULDN'T, I HIT HER @ 20 MPH, MY FRONT BUMPER, DEAD CENTER INTO HER LEFT FRONT TIRE. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND HERS DID. I HAVE A 2001 KIA OPTIMA LX. MY FEAR IS, IF THE CAR IS FIXABLE,WILL THE BAGS WORK OR WILL THEY COME OUT ON ME SOMETIME GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE GOTTEN DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHERE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED. NOW THE SAY THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND I DIDN'T GET HIT HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM DEPLOY. WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD BEEN GOING 80 MPH THEY WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED! *JB
WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 3 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT 300-40 MPH HEAD-ON AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
Due to an internal leak of brake fluid, a short circuit can occur in the electrical circuit for the ABS/ESC (Anti-lock Braking System / Electronic Stability Control) system. This can lead to an increase in current and overheating in the fuse box, increasing the risk of the engine catching fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.