Kia Optima 2002
The 2002 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.
Specs
| Cylinders | 4 |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic · 4 speeds |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel (FWD) |
| Body style | Midsize Cars |
For sale in United States
Safety
Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.
Fuel economy (MPG)
🇺🇸 Local dataRecalls
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.
Consequence · Remedy
FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
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.
Common problems
40 reports🇺🇸 Local dataReported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.
locked the car as most people do, then went to unlock the car heard it unlock but the door would not open. I could hear the door sound like it was locking/unlocking like it was stuck. I tried to climb through the passenger side to open the door from the inside and it will not open. The door appears to be "unlocked" bu…
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after he replaced all four tires, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an alignment; however, the mechanic was unable to perform an alignment due to the subframe corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of t…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE HOLES FROM CORROSION DUE TO SUB-FRAME RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE SUB-FRAME TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIAT…
AIR BAG LIGHT ALL OF SUDDEN,AFTER JUST STARTING UP
OVER A WEEKS TIME,I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LIKE MAYBE I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND IT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT SO BAD THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SO I WOULDN'T WRECK INTO THE MEDIAN ON THE INTERSTATE. I COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 45 OR 50 MPH OR IT WOULD START SHAKING THE ENTIRE CAR AND …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…
TL* 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 CONT…
MY 16 YEAR OLD JUST PURCHASED A 2002 KIA OPTIMA SEDAN ON SATURDAY 8/20/2016 FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. VERY FIRST CAR, HIS OWN EARNED SAVINGS. UPON FINALIZING THE PAPERWORK, WE LITERALLY WALKED OUT THE DOOR & IMMEDIATELY WERE UNABLE TO UNLOCK HIS DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, NOT RUNNING, …
2002 KIA OPTIMA DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY OR FROM IN SIDE OF CAR ONLY AFTER LOCKING AND WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES TO HITTING UNLOCK ABOUT 20 TIMES TO GET THE DOOR TO UNLOCK HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN CAR AND CRAWL THREW CAR OR OUT WINDOW. CAR HAS 142000.MILIES
WE OWN A 2002 KIA OPTIMA- FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL- THE RECALL WAS CORRISION TO THE SUBFRAME THAT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL ARM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS INSPECTED IN 2010 AND THE RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OF AT THAT TIME. WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER IN 2014. 2015 WENT TO GET NEW TIRES O…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER SUBFRAME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION INSIDE THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE …
I JUST GOT MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA AND IT JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAVING ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLIGHTLY WANDER TO THE LEFT, I THOUGHT OK.. IT NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT. SO THEN IT STARTED JERKING TO THE RIGHT, SO BAD I GOT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULDN'T CONTROL IT. I PARKED MY CA…
Questions
- What engine does the 2002 Kia Optima have?
- The 2002 Kia Optima has a 2.4 L engine.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2002 Kia Optima?
- It gets 20 MPG combined (18 city, 24 highway), per the EPA.
- Does the 2002 Kia Optima have recalls?
- 3 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Suspension (2009-05-27).
- What are the common problems of the 2002 Kia Optima?
- 40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Suspension.
Other years
Other models by Kia
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