2001 KIA Optima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Optima years
- Fewer complaints than other years 16th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 KIA Optima. That ranks 16th out of 20 Optima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (35 complaints, 24%), typically at around 99,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 7 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 143owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 KIA Optima problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 35 | 24% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 28 | 20% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 27 | 19% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 17% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 12% | 9,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 15 | 10% | 18,481 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 8% | 11,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 8% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 5% | 50,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5% | 94,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | 9,251 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 175,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | 191,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 62,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 KIA Optima recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front
Problem: 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.
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.
Electrical system:starter assembly
Problem: 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.
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.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The side air bag wire harness for the driver position could be mis-routed, which could result in it being pinched or cut by the seat cushion tilt mechanism.
Risk: Damage to the wire harness could result in the side air bag not deploying in an accident.
Fix: Dealers will check for proper routing of the side air bag wire harness and secure it in place with a plastic tie-wrap. If the wire harness is damaged, it will be replaced. Owner notification is expected to begin during may 2001. 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power door lock failure (EA04030) — opened Nov 4, 2004, closed Nov 7, 2005.
- Power door lock failure (PE04050) — opened Jul 7, 2004, closed Nov 4, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My air bag light has been on and I've check everything and my seat belt don't lock when its on and the light to the seat belt goes off contented, I've tried to go to the dealer to have them fix my airbags and senses I don't have recall on it they won't fix it ,The air bag is very important and so…
My airbag light on and I've check the fuses in it,Not it,,, My AC,. The drivers door lock , Oxagen senser Crank Shaft,
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for scheduled maintenance, when the vehicle was placed on the lift, the mechanic noticed that the sub frame was severely rusted and the determined that the vehicle should not be driven…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. While driving 15 mph, the front passenger side wheel completely detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
I took my car for a state safety inspection and was told the engine cradle was beginning to show rust. I took it to a second provider who confirmed that this was the case. After doing some research i found that rusting of the subframe had been recalled but not for the state i live in (virginia).
Other KIA Optima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 151 | 0 |
| 2019 Optima | 212 | 1 |
| 2018 Optima | 232 | 2 |
| 2017 Optima | 256 | 3 |
| 2016 Optima | 759 | 5 |
| 2015 Optima | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2014 Optima | 589 | 7 |
| 2013 Optima | 1,386 | 9 |
| 2012 Optima | 920 | 5 |
| 2011 Optima | 594 | 5 |
| 2010 Optima | 75 | 1 |
| 2009 Optima | 116 | 1 |
| 2008 Optima | 144 | 3 |
| 2007 Optima | 167 | 2 |
| 2006 Optima | 155 | 2 |
| 2005 Optima | 144 | 0 |
| 2004 Optima | 225 | 1 |
| 2003 Optima | 141 | 2 |
| 2002 Optima | 107 | 3 |
| 2001 | 143 | 3 |
See all KIA Optima problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 KIA Optima?
Owners most often report structure, suspension, air bags problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 35 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 KIA Optima?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 KIA Optima a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Optima model years, the 2001 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.