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Kia Optima 2001

The 2001 Kia Optima has a 2.4 L engine. It gets 20 MPG combined (18 city, 24 highway), per the EPA. 3 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Midsize Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Illustration of a typical sedan. Not a photo of the Optima.

Specs

Engine
2,400 cc
4
Cylinders4
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Body styleMidsize Cars

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Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
18 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Emissions
276 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

3 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
SUSPENSION:FRONT 09V183000 · 2009-05-27 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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

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 03V067000 · 2003-03-04 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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.

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 01V156000 · 2001-05-01 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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

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.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 2024-01-26 · NHTSA

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 2023-11-28 · NHTSA

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 2018-10-29 · NHTSA

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 …

STRUCTURE,WHEELS 2016-08-09 · NHTSA

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 CO…

STRUCTURE 2016-08-02 · NHTSA

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 2015-12-15 · NHTSA

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 …

SUSPENSION 2015-11-24 · NHTSA

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 MANUFACTURE…

STEERING 2015-09-28 · NHTSA

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 S…

STRUCTURE 2015-09-17 · NHTSA

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. …

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2015-09-03 · NHTSA

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.

AIR BAGS 2013-11-12 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V156000 (AIR BAGS) BUT AS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1…

SUSPENSION 2013-02-26 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT FIND CORROSION OF THE FRAME AT THAT TIME AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPRO…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2001 Kia Optima have?
The 2001 Kia Optima has a 2.4 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2001 Kia Optima?
It gets 20 MPG combined (18 city, 24 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2001 Kia Optima have recalls?
3 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Suspension (2009-05-27).
What are the common problems of the 2001 Kia Optima?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Suspension.

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