NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Kia Optima Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 Kia Optima has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 143 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Kia Optima. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2001 Kia Optima owner complaints

Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Kia Optima, describing incidents dated April 27, 2001 to November 28, 2023.

Most-cited components

Structure 35 complaints
Suspension 28 complaints
Air Bags 27 complaints
Engine 26 complaints
Electrical System 17 complaints
Latches/Locks/Linkages 15 complaints

Of the 143 complaints on file, 15 report a crash; across all 143 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11568114 · Filed January 26, 2024
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 is…
ODI #11557242 · Filed November 28, 2023
My airbag light on and I've check the fuses in it,Not it,,, My AC,. The drivers door lock , Oxagen senser Crank Shaft,
ODI #11143646 · Filed October 29, 2018
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…

Read all 143 complaints

Owner-reported

2001 Kia Optima mileage at failure

84 of the 143 complaints on file for the 2001 Kia Optima give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Structure	Median 100,000 miles	Middle half 80,000–125,000 miles	Based on 30 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Kia Optima in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA04-030: POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE
Closed November 7, 2005
Preliminary Evaluation PE04-050: POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE
Closed November 4, 2004

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FRONT SUB-FRAME CORRIOSION

NHTSA #09V183000 · Suspension — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported May 27, 2009 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 36,538 vehicles

Kia campaign SC075 · Owners notified June 16, 2009 · Vehicles built October 6, 2000 – November 19, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

KMC'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. SC075.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

KIA/CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

NHTSA #03V067000 · Electrical System — Starter Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported March 4, 2003 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 11,501 vehicles

Kia campaign SC021 · Owners notified March 28, 2003 · Vehicles built September 9, 2000 – August 17, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

KIA'S RECALL NUMBER IS SC021.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

KIA/SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS

NHTSA #01V156000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported May 1, 2001 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 16,231 vehicles

Kia campaign SC020 · Owners notified May 11, 2001 · Vehicles built October 7, 2000 – March 20, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

DAMAGE TO THE WIRE HARNESS COULD RESULT IN THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 Kia Optima. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

143 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Kia Optima.

Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #11568114

Incident: May 16, 2021 · Filed: January 26, 2024

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 is the seat belt

Air Bags; Unknown or Other; Engine

ODI #11557242

Incident: November 28, 2023 · Filed: November 28, 2023

My airbag light on and I've check the fuses in it,Not it,,, My AC,. The drivers door lock , Oxagen senser Crank Shaft,

Structure

ODI #11143646

Incident: October 26, 2018 · Filed: October 29, 2018

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. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TT *JB

Structure; Wheels

ODI #10894500

Incident: August 6, 2016 · Filed: August 9, 2016

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 WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Structure

ODI #10892357

Incident: July 30, 2016 · Filed: August 2, 2016

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).

Suspension; Structure

ODI #10810535

Incident: October 21, 2015 · Filed: December 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Suspension

ODI #10806436

Incident: November 23, 2015 · Filed: November 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE HAD FRACTURED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKETS. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,000.

Steering

ODI #10778074

Incident: September 26, 2015 · Filed: September 28, 2015

GOT IN CAR TO GO HOME NOTICED CAR STEERING WAS TERRIBLE AS IF I WAS ON ICE IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPT. GOT OUT TO SEE IF I WAS EXPERIENCING A FLAT TIRE NOTICED THE TWO FRONT TIRES WEREN'T LINED UP CORRECTLY. AFTER GETTING TO A GARAGE AND HAVING THE TWO FRONT TIRES REMOVED IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN!!!! IT NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO SO AS OF YET :( SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT ALL THESE 2001 OPTIMAS THAT ARE STILL ON THE STREET IN DESPERATE NEED OF RECALL. I COULD OF EASILY HAVE WRECKED AND INJURED MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE.

Structure

ODI #10764565

Incident: August 27, 2015 · Filed: September 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS LIFTED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS INDEED CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10761158

Incident: July 3, 2015 · Filed: September 3, 2015

THE FRONT K FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED AND MAKES LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS AFFECTED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE, AND CAN CAUSE A ROAD ACCIDENT OR FATALITY.

Other Kia Optima model years

Check your 2001 Kia Optima VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Optima at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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