KIA Optima Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the KIA Optima across 19 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (28). The words owners use most often: “sub frame” (12% of reports).
- 181suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 14mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Sub frame: mentioned in 21 of 181 complaints (12%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 20 of 181 complaints (11%)
- Suspension front: mentioned in 16 of 181 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 137 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 181 complaints, 14 mention a crash, 7 an injury.
KIA Optima suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Optima | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2018 Optima | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2017 Optima | 3 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2016 Optima | 3 | 0% | 31,000 |
| 2015 Optima | 6 | 1% | 29,800 |
| 2014 Optima | 10 | 2% | 112 |
| 2013 Optima | 26 | 2% | 26,000 |
| 2012 Optima | 18 | 2% | 21,000 |
| 2011 Optima | 18 | 3% | 42,350 |
| 2010 Optima | 1 | 1% | 63,000 |
| 2009 Optima | 4 | 3% | 23,233 |
| 2008 Optima | 3 | 2% | — |
| 2007 Optima | 3 | 2% | 128,000 |
| 2006 Optima | 6 | 4% | 51,000 |
| 2005 Optima | 1 | 1% | 98,486 |
| 2004 Optima | 19 | 8% | 68,954 |
| 2003 Optima | 9 | 6% | 132,818 |
| 2002 Optima | 21 | 20% | 126,513 |
| 2001 Optima | 28 | 20% | 121,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front
Model years: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I just bought this car and it runs thru oil fast.
While driving my KIA Optima on the interstate the rear subframe suffered catastrophic structural failure, resulting in the steering wheel going out of alignment, the rear passenger side wheel tilting with the bottom of the tire being far out compared to the top. This resulted in the rear of the…
Pep boys told me in Panama City that this is a recall for Kia and it's a safety issue and my steering is loose I'm taking it to Kia on May 28th to get them to fix it
Had some noise coming from the front of the car, had my mechanic look at it, he said we needed a control arm. When he took off the cover to replace the control arm, he found the sub frame had rotten and was cracking. As I looked online, I saw that KIA had a recall for this issue. When I contacted…
I noticed my oil was not staying in the engine. Oil has been changed but seems not to retain. The car stalled out on February 2nd and would not restart. I believe it is seized. Noticed a very new and recent shake during braking days before it stalled. The fuel seems to show like 42 miles to go…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Optimas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 181 owner complaints about suspension for the KIA Optima. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Optima suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “sub frame”, in 21 of 181 complaints, followed by “control arm” (20).
Other KIA Optima problems
- Engine problems (3,164)
- Electrical System problems (936)
- Steering problems (758)
- Air Bags problems (563)
- Structure problems (559)
- Power Train problems (508)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (381)
- Exterior Lighting problems (359)
See all KIA Optima problems.