KnownCarProblems2002 Kia Optima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Kia Optima, most often about the body and structure (28% of complaints, typically around 125,000 miles). It is 19th of 20 Optima model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2002 Kia Optima problems
Body and structure
30 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 125,000 miles. Parts named most often: frame and members, body.
My son was driving our 2002 Kia Optima and wheel assembly fell off. The whole frame rusted from inside out causing the lower control arm to fall off.
Car was making strange noise. Took to mechanic to have check. It was discovered that the subframe is completely rusted through on passenger side at frame mounts and almost rusted through on drivers side. Mechanic determined that due to the severity of problem vehicle is unsafe to drive and will not allow back on road…
Suspension
21 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 126,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Car was making strange noise. Took to mechanic to have check. It was discovered that the subframe is completely rusted through on passenger side at frame mounts and almost rusted through on drivers side. Mechanic determined that due to the severity of problem vehicle is unsafe to drive and will not allow back on road…
My son was driving our 2002 Kia Optima and wheel assembly fell off. The whole frame rusted from inside out causing the lower control arm to fall off.
Air bags
19 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
2002 Kia Optima airbag driver's side deployed going 35 miles perhour while in a right hand curve. When the air bag deployed it hit the left shouder causing my daughter to turn the wheel more and go off the road. There where no impacts on any part of the car .we are lucky no one was hurt other than a strained neck and…
: the contact stated the driver side airbag deployed without warning while driving 35mph. The driver seat belt was in use at the time of the incident and the brakes were not being applied. The sudden deployment of the airbag startled the contact and the steering wheel was jerked in reaction to the airbag. The vehicle…
Electrical
14 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, starter assembly, 12v/24v/48v battery.
While driving on route i10 in houston, tx car stalled/would not start. Towed car to gas station and had it jumped. Did not help. Towed to a mechanic shop, where I was told that it was the crankshaft position sensor that needed to be repaired. This part was found to be defective in Kia optimas in 2001 and 2002. While…
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Optima. The contact researched her insurance agency's website and noticed a recall for the crank position sensor. The Kia dealer stated that NHTSA campaign id number 03v067000 (electrical system:starter assembly) does not apply to her VIN. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle…
Brakes
12 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
When braking vehicle vibrated severely. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the front brake rotors and pads needed to be replaced due to excessive wear.
Dt: 2002 Kia Optima lx. There is an electrical problem with the vehicle. The lights will start to flicker, and then the vehicle will lose power and shut everything down. When the temperature was around 80-90 degrees and at long distances this problem will happen. The dealership changed the battery twice, the…
Doors and locks
12 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
Was locked inside vehicle. After climbing out window, was locked out of vehicle. The door would unlock with key then when you try to open door it locks itself, even with key still in door. When this happens door will not open by manual use of locks either.
Front door fails to unlock after multiple attempts. Door must be unlocked with a key, using the power locks or manually flipping the door lock doesn't do it, and the key only unlocks it approximately 1 out of every 20 tries. There are multiple complaints about this online, see for instance…
Engine
11 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning lamp illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the crank shaft sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of…
I have also been stated as "not included". 2002 Kia Optima v6 lx. The vehicle shakes my entire body upon braking. Radio turns on and off. Radio goes from cd1 error to fm. Lights flicker, air shuts off. Im almost not able to pump gas anymore. Pump handle continuously clicks off. Its pathetic that I am now afraid to…
Steering
8 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 130,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, linkages.
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 10 MPH and making a left turn, the front driver side control arm, tie rod, and cv axle fractured. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced along with the driver side control…
While I was driving I had noticed that the car was pulling to the right. I had new tires and an alignment done 5-6 weeks prior, so I returned to the shop and they looked at everything and the front end was out of alignment. The shop looked further to see what caused this and found that the right front frame area was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Kia Optima recalls
Suspension: front
Risk: Corrosion of the front subframe could lead to separation, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began june 25, 2004. Owners should contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
Some passenger vehicles may contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.
Electrical: starter assembly
Risk: Internal gaps within the cases allowed epoxy to contact the printed circuit board, which resulted in cracking of the circuit board capacitor. A damaged ckp capacitor could result in engine stalling.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2002 Kia Optima
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Optima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (30 complaints, typically around 125,000 miles); suspension (21 complaints, typically around 126,500 miles); air bags (19 complaints, typically around 49,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Optima have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 27, 2009 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Kia Optima?
- It is 19th of 20 Optima model years by number of complaints, with 107 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.