2001 KIA Optima problems
Owners have filed 231 complaints about the 2001 KIA Optima with NHTSA. Structure accounts for 16% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of air bags at 13.4%.
Complaints231
Crashes26
Fires0
Injuries18
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Structure 16.0% · 37
Air bags 13.4% · 31
Suspension 12.6% · 29
Engine and engine cooling 10.8% · 25
Electrical system 8.7% · 20
Latches/locks/linkages 6.9% · 16
Power train 5.2% · 12
Service brakes, hydraulic 5.2% · 12
Severity
Of those complaints, 26 describe a crash and 18 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the KIA Optima in this data, 2001 sits 11th by complaint volume. 2013 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 11 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 78,500 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2001 KIA Optima. While performing an oil change on the vehicle, the mechanic noticed that the frame was rusting. The manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer to see if they could repair it under warranty. The contact feels that it is unsafe for rust to form on a vehicle that was manufactured in 2001. The current and failure mileages were 83,000. Structure · reported at 83,000 miles
Kmc's recall campaign no. Sc075 the sub frame on our KIA Optima 2001 has rusted through this caused the lower control arm and strut to collapse inward pinning the wheel at 45 degree angle and damaging the tire. The car is undrivable. KIA says they will only honor the damages in a northern state.... That uses road salt but we live on the gulf coast that is also a slat hazard area. Structure · reported at 113,000 miles
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. Structure · reported at 210,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…