Major Problems with 2002 Kia Optima Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2002 Kia Optima

2002 Kia Optima AIR BAGS Victims: 2

2002 Kia Optima ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP Victims: 1 Mileage: 44185 miles

2002 Kia Optima RETRACTOR Victims: 1 Mileage: 8000 miles

Browse 2002 Kia Optima complaints by category

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

Problem Category	Number of Problems
SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia optima. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic...	16 ~ 139058 miles
AIR BAGS problems with air bag equipment on 2002 kia optima. *mr a large piece of rubber had come off the tire...	13 ~ 50723 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE 2002 kia optima sub frame is rusting out. customer states that the dealer told her there was a spot on...	12 ~ 80395 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2002 kia optima -- when you unlock the doors either manually or with key fob and attempt to open the...	9 ~ 88568 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE this is concerning my 2002 kia optima and the subframe recall that was issued on this car. . the sub...	8 ~ 122405 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving a burning smell was detected then the air bag light came on. after pulling into a service station...	8 ~ 58230 miles
STEERING tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia optima. the contact stated that the subframe on the passenger side of his vehicle...	6 ~ 100605 miles
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE rotted sub frame on 2002 kia optima. kia does not want to consider this their problem. *tr...	5 ~ 122520 miles
ENGINE i have also been stated as "not included". 2002 kia optima v6 lx. the vehicle shakes my entire body upon...	4 ~ 130400 miles
STRUCTURE there was a safety recall on my 2002 kia optima regarding the subframe. the corrosion under my car is devastating....	4 ~ 95088 miles
WHEELS there was a safety recall on my 2002 kia optima regarding the subframe. the corrosion under my car is devastating....	4 ~ 102750 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION my son was driving our 2002 kia optima and wheel assembly fell off. the whole frame rusted from inside out	3 ~ 110612 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING dt*: the contact stated without warning at various speeds the vehicle stalls. the vehicle will not restart and must be...	3 ~ 19667 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE recall on fuel cut valve was installed at 33 000 miles on vehicle - at 77 000 vehicle failed -	3 ~ 87898 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN i purchased my optima used in may 2004. one month after purchase i experienced a hesitation in the shifting of...	3 ~ 44673 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES door locks don't lock consistently. the master switch has been replaced twice.*ak...	3 ~ 5390 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the air bags did not deploy.jb....ak...	3 ~ 3867 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i bought a used kia optima 2002 in january of 2003. it had about 23000 miles on it. we took...	3 ~ 41889 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia optima. the contact stated that while refueling fuel spilled out of the fuel...	2 ~ 94049 miles
STARTER ASSEMBLY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving on route i10 in houston tx car stalled/would not start. towed car to gas station and had it...	2 ~ 73000 miles
BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS > GASOLINE > ENGINE kia motors of america inc. ref: vin# knagd12693513835 complaint case number k1056698 formal complaint against kia motors of america inc....	2 ~ 73110 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS 2002 kia optima airbag driver's side deployed going 35 miles perhour while in a right hand curve. when the air...	2 ~ 72500 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i always had my oil changed in this car and this past thursday i went to the doctor and was...	2 ~ 18000 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving my 2002 kia optima my stereo headlights dashlights would cut out while driving. i took it in to...	2 ~ 20026 miles
PARKING BRAKE consumer stated the alarm system failed . as a result a child was trapped inside because the vehicle doors locked.*ak...	2 ~ 54850 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY both front windows will not go up or down. you can here the motor but nothing is happening. *jb...	2 ~ 30117 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL when accelerating from a stop vehicle hesitated before acceleration. dealership was notified but did not resolve the problem. *ak...	2 ~ 82549 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC purchased car brand new on april 30 2003 - incident #1: july 15 2003 i was traveling about 30-35 miles...	2 ~ 47662 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC feb. 14 2003 driving a 2002 optima kia and applied brakes hard about 70 mph and car was completly uncontrollable...	2 ~ 25093 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS the air bag warning light came on 7 times while driving. dealership replaced the driver's side seat that contained the...	2 ~ 37300 miles
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia optima. while driving approximately 10 mph and making a left turn the front...	1 ~ 133313 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2002 kia optima driver door will not unlock with keyless entry or from in side of car only after locking...	1
FRONT UNDERHOOD > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia optima. after starting the vehicle flames started to emit from underneath the hood...	1 ~ 220000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES we have had ongoing problems with a 2002 kia optima including tire wear brake problems electrical issues excessive battery wear....	1 ~ 137858 miles
POWER TRAIN while i was driving i had noticed that the car was pulling to the right. i had new tires and...	1 ~ 138227 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING i have also been stated as "not included". 2002 kia optima v6 lx. the vehicle shakes my entire body upon...	1 ~ 100000 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC upon routine inspection of vehicle my repair garage noted that brake lines were quite rusted and stated that they could	1 ~ 129000 miles
LOWER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving 5 mph the contact heard a...	1 ~ 85000 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN there was a safety recall on my 2002 kia optima regarding the subframe. the corrosion under my car is devastating....	1
EQUIPMENT after buying the vehicle from a auto dealer between july 2 and july 5 ...this vehicle began to have many...	1 ~ 86020 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT 2002 kia optima sub frame is rusting out. customer states that the dealer told her there was a spot on...	1
SEAT BELTS dt*: the contact stated that while driving at 40 mph the vehicle was filled with the smell of burning rubber....	1 ~ 121000 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 2002 kia optima experiencing problems with transmission and timing belt.*mr the consumer stated even though the transmission and timing belt	1
SWITCH > HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING while driving my 2002 kia optima my stereo headlights dashlights would cut out while driving. i took it in to...	1 ~ 52 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving my 2002 kia optima my stereo headlights dashlights would cut out while driving. i took it in to...	1 ~ 52 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving my 2002 kia optima my stereo headlights dashlights would cut out while driving. i took it in to...	1 ~ 52 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT while driving my 2002 kia optima my stereo headlights dashlights would cut out while driving. i took it in to...	1 ~ 52 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS when braking vehicle vibrated severely. vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the consumer that the front brake rotors	1 ~ 47000 miles
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING dt: 2002 kia optima lx. there is an electrical problem with the vehicle. the lights will start to flicker and...	1 ~ 44185 miles
EXTERNAL > WARNINGS > BACK OVER PREVENTION consumer stated the alarm system failed . as a result a child was trapped inside because the vehicle doors locked.*ak...	1 ~ 64399 miles
RETRACTOR > FRONT > SEAT BELTS while at a complete stop because of road construction the consumer's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle at 40...	1 ~ 8000 miles
RECLINER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS while at a complete stop because of road construction the consumer's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle at 40...	1 ~ 8000 miles
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM wiring to the drivers' side body lights blows the fuse. fuses last only a few days. *jb...	1 ~ 40000 miles
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE vehicle hesitates when pressing on the gas. it takes approximately 5-10 seconds before the vehicle responds to depression of accelerator	1 ~ 18500 miles
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while slowing down to exit off mass pike i was doing about 30-35 and so were the other cars i...	1
OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL > OTHER > EQUIPMENT while slowing down to exit off mass pike i was doing about 30-35 and so were the other cars i...	1
TREAD/BELT > TIRES consumer stated that while driving at any speed and no warning the front right tire have tread separation causing a	1

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