Major Problems with 2001 Kia Optima Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2001 Kia Optima

2001 Kia Optima AIR BAGS Victims: 3

2001 Kia Optima AIR BAGS Victims: 1

Browse 2001 Kia Optima complaints by category

Problems with FRAME AND MEMBERS, FRONT and AIR BAGS are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Kia Optima owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE car hesitated once or twice upon acceleration could not recreate problem. 1 week ago while trying to pull out of...	21 ~ 101596 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION was driving vehicle 75mph when front end locked up. transmission dropped to 2nd gear and caused steering to lock up....	17 ~ 87279 miles
AIR BAGS this vehicle was involved in an off centered collision that resulted in vehicle being totaled. none of the four air...	15 ~ 21981 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES i have took my car in numerous time for the squeking brakes. also the thermostat has been replaced for the...	11 ~ 18692 miles
SUSPENSION i don't have the exact dates of these repairs as my car is at the dealership right now being looked...	10 ~ 132962 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN a/c condensation build up on the inside of car had at dealer 2 times before they fixed .#2 replaced right...	10 ~ 30591 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the vehicle would down shift and loose power while driving the electrical system would operate intermittently. mr the transmission jumped	9 ~ 10968 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 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	7 ~ 14859 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving the vehicle and applied the brakes the pedal goes to floor resulting in extended stopping. dealer replaced the	7 ~ 24286 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving another vehicle ran into consumer's vehicle at 300-40 mph head-on and none of the front air bags deployed.*ak...	7 ~ 23786 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING there was a problem with the engine.*jb...	6 ~ 17861 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL during spring/2002 noticed hesitation of car during attempts to pass other cars on the highway. hesitation/delay worsened over the next...	6 ~ 31500 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE the front frame and many components of my 2001 kia optima have completely rusted out. it currently has 50 000...	5 ~ 98600 miles
WHEELS tl*the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. while driving at an unknown speed the contact felt the vehicle pulling to...	5 ~ 115000 miles
CRANKCASE (PCV) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM i have took my car in numerous time for the squeking brakes. also the thermostat has been replaced for the...	5 ~ 29800 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES vehicle transmission slips while driving.*mr the air condition auto check light and automatic door locks do not remain unlocked trapping	5 ~ 28580 miles
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE while driving at any speed the check engine light appeared on the dashboard intermittently. the consumer took the vehicle to...	4 ~ 86425 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT a/c system takes 15 minutes to start blowing cold air and even then air is not as cold as it	4 ~ 21750 miles
STRUCTURE subframe rust through. i discovered a fist sized hole during an oil change on the passenger side of our 2001	3 ~ 93406 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS i was involved in a crash on nov 02. i was broadsided by a truck (f150 type veh.) in an...	3 ~ 35667 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING consumer states the vehicle stalled out without warning. the dealer has been notified. please provide additional information.*jb...	3 ~ 18000 miles
ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving vehicle will die out due to alternator not producing enough power to charge battery resulting in loss of	3 ~ 6160 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS 01 v 156 000/side air bag wire harness: reporting dealer ( performance kia nicholasville ky phone # 1-800/203-8445 or 859/887-4737)	3 ~ 50333 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE power locking mechanism for doors operate erratically. consumer cannot unlock driver's side door without locking all of doors at the	3 ~ 1667 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER a/c condensation build up on the inside of car had at dealer 2 times before they fixed .#2 replaced right...	3 ~ 15000 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING a/c condensation build up on the inside of car had at dealer 2 times before they fixed .#2 replaced right...	3 ~ 6167 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING driver noticed that the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. vehicle was taken to the dealer...	2 ~ 43500 miles
BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS > GASOLINE > ENGINE vehicle stalled 3 times while driving on the highway. vehicle was towed to a dealership who indicated that the timing...	2 ~ 61000 miles
POWER TRAIN the air bag light came on. the consumer was informed if the air bag light was on the air bags...	2
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY the air bag light came on. the consumer was informed if the air bag light was on the air bags...	2
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT i don't have the exact dates of these repairs as my car is at the dealership right now being looked...	2 ~ 4132 miles
SEAT BELTS the seat belt was not long enough to accommodate weight consumer was informed a seat belt extender was not made	2
EQUIPMENT i have took my car in numerous time for the squeking brakes. also the thermostat has been replaced for the...	2 ~ 7000 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT i have took my car in numerous time for the squeking brakes. also the thermostat has been replaced for the...	2
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM this vehicles electrical system continues to fail along with nonworking lights air conditioner lock failure battery and altrenator failure. car...	2 ~ 9241 miles
MODULE > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM power door locks would lock and unlock by themselves trapping the driver. the engine would stall. both would occur intermittently/simutaneously....	2 ~ 2500 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS consumer state while traveling at 40 mph in result of rear ending another vehicle driver side seat belt did not	2
STEERING got in car to go home noticed car steering was terrible as if i was on ice in the middle...	1 ~ 191000 miles
ENGINE tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken for a routine oil...	1 ~ 105000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER the front frame and many components of my 2001 kia optima have completely rusted out. it currently has 50 000...	1 ~ 50000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. the contact stated that the vehicle surged forward while it was stopped....	1 ~ 175000 miles
TIRES i have a 2001 kia optima with only 62 000 miles. car was pulling to right thought i needed an...	1 ~ 62000 miles
SEATS tl*the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. while the vehicle was parked the contact observed that the front driver's seat...	1 ~ 35000 miles
LOWER ARM > CONTROL ARM > FRONT on november 3 2007 my wife and daughter brought our 2001 kia optima to atlantic kia in lindenhurst ny for...	1 ~ 79000 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS purchased oct 15 07. within 3 day we had it up to dealer were purchases 1) for windows not going...	1 ~ 8900 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM purchased oct 15 07. within 3 day we had it up to dealer were purchases 1) for windows not going...	1 ~ 8900 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM purchased oct 15 07. within 3 day we had it up to dealer were purchases 1) for windows not going...	1 ~ 8900 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE when i first brought the car and drove it the lights became dim in the inside and the headlights. the...	1 ~ 87000 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION since purchasing my 2001 kia optima i have had nothing but difficulty. i purchased an extended warranty at the dealership...	1 ~ 14000 miles
DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC dt: consumer purchased vehicle in february 2005 and the brakes squealed when vehicle was bought. consumer took vehicle to dealer...	1 ~ 69353 miles
ANTI-THEFT DEVICES > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT my wife & i own a 2001 kia optima with power locks. twice the power locks have failed. the first...	1
ANTILOCK > SERVICE BRAKES, AIR i have took my car in numerous time for the squeking brakes. also the thermostat has been replaced for the...	1
RETRACTOR > FRONT > SEAT BELTS i was involved in a crash on nov 02. i was broadsided by a truck (f150 type veh.) in an...	1
ANCHORAGE > FRONT > SEAT BELTS i was involved in a crash on nov 02. i was broadsided by a truck (f150 type veh.) in an...	1
WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES > FRONT > SEAT BELTS i was involved in a crash on nov 02. i was broadsided by a truck (f150 type veh.) in an...	1
INFLATOR MODULE > DRIVER SIDE > FRONTAL i was involved in a crash on nov 02. i was broadsided by a truck (f150 type veh.) in an...	1
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i have had a ongoing problem with the premature wearing of the front brake pads. this problem causes vibrating and...	1
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY intermittently windshield wipers become inoperable obstructing the driver's view. dealer has inspected the vehicle and could no correct the problem.	1
TRUNK LID > BODY > STRUCTURE inside trunk release was failing to operate. dealer was notified and made repairs. feel free to provide any further	1
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle dies while driving won't restart turn key and no response dash light coe on but northing from starter will	1
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while applying brakes there is a loud squeaking noise coming from wheels. dealership is aware of problem.*aki...	1
SWITCH/WIRING > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY windshield wipers do not work in snow must be repaired ofter .windows regulators need to be replaced however dealer that...	1
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL when car is started after it has sat for extended amount of time and put in drive car hesitates and	1
FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER approximately 2 months after purchase the gas dial would not read full even when the tank was practically overflowing with...	1
FAN/MOTOR > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY blower motor stopped operating vehicle taken to dealer on two occasions before correction was made. feel free to provide any	1
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ongoing problem with premature wear of front brake rotors and pads causeing problem with pulsating and vibration when brakes are	1
CONTROL MODULE > ANTI-THEFT > IGNITION while driving 40-50 mph door locks engaged numerous times then vehicle stalled. vehicle has been at dealer since then. safety	1

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