5.3

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,861 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2001 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #6

Sep 092008

Optima

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. While attempting to make a turn around a bend at 45 mph, the contact overcorrected the turn. She turned the vehicle back in the other direction and overcorrected again. She was two feet from driving off the road. The vehicle was driven to a mechanic and it was discovered that the engine cradle was corroded and rotten in half. The current and failure mileages were 90,000.

- Rochester, PA, USA

problem #5

Oct 182007

Optima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,900 miles
Purchased Oct,15,07. Within 3 day we had it up to dealer were purchases 1) for windows not going up or down all the time. 2) light on radio and heater do not work. 3) the car had no power and would go from 1st gear to 3rd gear and would stay that way until car turned off. 4)had to replace speed shift sensor. 5) brakes. Got looked in car several times and could not get out. Sometimes they work most of the time they don't. 6). Antenna broke off for no reason. Went out on day barely touched it and it feel off. 7) on Feb 9th car would not start for 4 days for no reason had towed from own house to garage were they know believe it has a cracked head or blown head gasket. This car only has 89,000 miles and should not have all these problems already. There needs to be something done I have a 3yr old and a 7 yr old. I fear for there lives and mine.. I don't even want this car anymore and have had it for only 4 months. Please help if U have any advice. Don't buy a Kia. Also this car came with a 90 day warranty from harry's auto sales and they kept telling me for 3 month there was nothing wrong and only would reset computer until I took it to another garage and they found out differt. They told us head gasket. Harry said noooooo. When warranty ran out then they informed me I need a head gasket. They said I would have to pay for it cause warranty out. That sounds like a lemon. Please help me find legal advice.

- Titusville, PA, USA

problem #4

Dec 092002

Optima 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The driver's side door did not lock and the timing belt and tensioner was replaced twice.

- Samson, AL, USA

problem #3

May 132002

Optima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,264 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased my brand new car on August 31,2001. I started having electrical problems 9 months after I bought it. I now have a list of problems from electrical to check engine light, fuel sensors, 2 new batteries etc. I have a long long list of repairs that nobody can seem to fix. I am told the problem has been fixed and then my check engine light comes back on and I am told there are additional problems. Meanwhile, I have been stranded on the highway due to these problems, I have had to be towed out of my own driveway to due the electrical problems. I have tried numerous times to tell Kia corporation that I do not feel safe driving this vehicle any longer and nobody is listening. The general manager of the dealership I bought the vehicle from even agrees and feels this car to be very unsafe and dangerous to drive. I have tried to talk to joe petazoni(spelling) who is supposed to be a Kia representative that would decide what to do, he has been no help at all. I feel that Kia corporation should buy back my vehicle because of all the unsafe issues I have had. I feel I bought a lemon and if I can't get anywhere with the company, I will be forced to contact the states attorney's office regarding this lemon of a vehicle!!!!! I have left messages for debbie wojciechowskii and she will not return my calls. I have told the people at 800-333-4-Kia how unsafe I feel and nobody puts that information into the system.

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

problem #2

Feb 202003

(reported on)

Optima

  • miles
The vehicle failed to start, the dealer replaced the battery, however the problem recurred.

- New Castle, DE, USA

problem #1

Feb 072003

Optima

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
There was a problem with the engine.

- Houston, TX, USA

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