2002 Kia Optima Complaint Log

THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA REGARDING THE SUBFRAME. THE CORROSION UNDER MY CAR IS DEVASTATING. NHTSA NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THIS CORROSION PROBLEM IS EXTENSIVE AND AFFECTS MORE THEN THE SUBFRAME. KIA IS INSISTING THAT I PAY FOR THE DAMAGE THEY WILL CAUSE WHEN THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WILL AFFECT THOUSANDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE WAS VERY RUSTY. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT HAS NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING BECAUSE THE A-ARM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,400. UPDATED 05/19/09 *BF UPDATED 05/20/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CRADLE, OR SUBFRAME, UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTING OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ANY MAJOR BUMP COULD CAUSE THE DRIVETRAIN TO COLLAPSE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD COLLAPSE AND SEPARATE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,304. UPDATED 05/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE OIL INSPECTION A MECHANIC DISCOVERED CORROSION ON THE FRAME. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD COLLAPSE, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE REPAIR WAS A NON-WARRANTY ITEM, THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,304. *LJ UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB

WAS LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE. AFTER CLIMBING OUT WINDOW, WAS LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE. THE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK WITH KEY THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN DOOR IT LOCKS ITSELF, EVEN WITH KEY STILL IN DOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN BY MANUAL USE OF LOCKS EITHER. *TR

OUR 2002 KIA OPTIMA EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH I THOUGHT COULD BE CORRECTED WITH A BASIC FRONT END ALIGNMENT. REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED US THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALIGNED BECAUSE THE SUB-FRAME HAD RUST DAMAGE. THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD A "GOLF SIZE" HOLE IN IT AND THE WELDING JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES AND WAS ALWAYS WELL MAINTAINED. OIL CHANGES AND INSPECTIONS WERE PERFORMED AT KIA DEALERSHIPS AND THE DEFECT WAS EITHER NOT DETECTED OR NEVER REPORTED TO US PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER AND KIA MOTORS WERE CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE; KIA DID REPLACE THE SUB-FRAME UNIT (EST COST $1,500) BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE COST FOR LABOR ($655). I BELIEVE A BIGGER PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO PREVENT INJURY TO DRIVERS. REVIEWING PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, THIS SAME DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THREE VIN #'S. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR DOOR LOCKS FOR THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS USED IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE THE FRONT PASSENGER ACTUATOR WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

2002 KIA OPTIMA, WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND IT HAS 2 FIST SIZE RUST HOLES IN FRAME ONE EACH SIDE BY A-ARMS, DUE TO THESE DEFECTS TIRES WEARING QUICKLY AND NEEDS AIR CONTINUALLY TO BE PUT IN THEM. HANDLING WORSENING AND MAKING THUMPING NOISE IN FRONT END, CAN NOT DRIVE OVER 35-40 MPH. CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. READ WHERE HYUNDAI AND KIA ARE MADE BY SAME COMPANY AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 TO 2002 MODELS. FEEL THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE RIGHT BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. NEED INFORMATION ON WHO TO CONTACT AND HOW TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE FROM A AUTO DEALER BETWEEN JULY 2 AND JULY 5 ...THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE AUDIO RECEIVER SWITCH FROM RADIO TO CD ON ITS OWN,DOORS LOCKS ON ITS OWN,RPM RUNS TO 4000 GOING 45MPH AFTER A HARD JERK ASSUMING THAT I WAS HIT BY A OTHER CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THAT 2 HARD JERKS WHILE DRIVING,,(THEY DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOYED) CAN NOT PUMP GAS DUE TO FUEL KEEPS OVER FLOWING WHEN ITS BARELY EMPTY ....ITS BEEN A LIVING ?!@#$% AND I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE CAR....IS IT LEGAL FOR A DEALERSHIP TO SELL A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *TR

I TOOK MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA IN FOR A TUNE UP, THEY FOUND A BROKEN WATER PUMP, 5 CRACKS IN THE MANIFOLD. IT TOOK KIA 3 TIMES TO FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR IT STILL HAD A PROBLEM TOOK IT BACK TWICE BEFORE THEY FOUND IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM THIS CAR IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

2002 KIA OPTIMA -- WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE DOORS EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH KEY FOB AND ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR IT IMMEDIATELY LOCKS AND DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IT LOCKS FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST APPROXIMATELY APRIL OF 2005 WITH THE EXCEPTION IT ALSO INCLUDED THE DRIVER DOOR. HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF WINDOW TO EXIT VEHICLE. *TR

ROTTED SUB FRAME ON 2002 KIA OPTIMA. KIA DOES NOT WANT TO CONSIDER THIS THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

2002 KIA OPTIMA SUB FRAME IS ALL RUSTED OUT DEALER SAYS TOTAL SUSPENSION IS ABOUT TO FAIL NEED TO BE REPLACED THIS IS THE ONLY THING ON THE CAR THAT IS RUSTED OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED HER INSURANCE AGENCY'S WEBSITE AND NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE KIA DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V067000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY) DOES NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY STOPPED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

2002 KIA OPTIMA SUB FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HER THERE WAS A SPOT ON THE SUB FRAME WHERE THE CONTROL ARM MOUNTS TO THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD RUSTED OUT AND IT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *KB THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITION RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME IS WHAT CAUSED THE RUST TO OCCUR. THE SPEED SENSOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB

I PURCHASED A LOW MILEAGE KIA OPTIMA TWO YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT DEPLOYED. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER SERVICE DEPT @ GWINNETT PLACE KIA IN DUUTH GA WHO AT NO CHARGE MADE THE LIGHT GO OFF. DRIVING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THEY AGAIN CORRECTED WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WAS MAKING THE LIGHT APPEAR, ASSURING ME JUST BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IT WILL DEPLOY AND IT IS FINE. TWO MORE TIME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FOR NO REASON AGAIN THE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR AND AGAIN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE LAST TIME 9 MONTHS AGTO WHEN THEY INSTALLED A NEW AIRBAG AS THEY ADVISE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON AGAIM REASSURING ME JUST BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS ON THE AIRBAG WOULD STILL DEPLOY. I WAS FRUSTRATED AT THAT POINT AND ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT WAS ON A FEW DAYS LATER AGAIN, I FELT ASSURED I WAS IN NO DANGER AND PLANNED TO TRADE IN THE CAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. NOW IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC WHOM I TRUST AND WHO IS A TEACHER OF AUTO MECHANICS AT A LOCAL COLLEGE, HE INFORMED ME TODAY THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND, ASSURING ME THIS IS REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVENMENT AND I AM NOT SAFE; AS LONG AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOW FEARFUL KIA HASL ARGUED WITH ME THAT DESPITE THE RECORDS OF THE MUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE SOUGHT HELP FROM THEM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE CAR IS NOW OVER THE 50K WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $50.00 TO JUST LOOK AT IT AND FROM THERE WILL CHARGE ME LIKE ANYONE ELSE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. I'M A SINGLE MOM WITH KIDS AND NEED TO BE SAFE. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER KIA PRODUCTS AGAIN AND AM CONSIDERING HIRING AN ATTORNEY TO INTERVENE FOR ME TO RESOLVE THIS. THEY NEVER "FIXED" THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH AND NOW WANT ME TO PAY?

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE I10 IN HOUSTON, TX CAR STALLED/WOULD NOT START. TOWED CAR TO GAS STATION AND HAD IT JUMPED. DID NOT HELP. TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THIS PART WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE IN KIA OPTIMAS IN 2001 AND 2002. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PART ONLINE I FOUND THAT THE NHTSA RECALLED THE 2001 AND 2002 OPTIMAS BECAUSE, AND I QUOTE FORM THE NHTSA WEBSITE" 2001-02 W/V6: TWO SEAERATE RECALLS FOR IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. DEALERS WILL REPLACE AFFECTED PARTS. *AK I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AFFECTED IN THE RECALL. I FIND IT A BIT IRONIC, AND I AM NOW FILING THIS COMPLAINT THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE WHERE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN THE FIRST ACCIDENT, IN 2003, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IN THE SECOND OF THESE ACCIDENTS WHICH WAS MORE SEVERE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER. IN THE BOTH ACCIDENTS, THE OCCUPANT WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS HOWEVER THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM AIR BAG SENSOR OF THE VEHICLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. THIS WAS CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY AN APPEARANCE OF WHITE SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SEAT BELT HARNESS AREA ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED SURFACE GOING APPROX. 40 MPH, MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. I SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISING AND BURNING SCABS ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AND CURRENTLY HAVE A SCAR THERE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AND MUST BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED MULTIPLE COMPONENTS, BUT THESE ATTEMPTS HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE COMPONENTS INCLUDE; CLUSTER PANEL, KNUCKLE ON STEERING WHEEL, KEY SUBSET, BOX ASSEMBLY PANEL JUNCTION, IGNITION SWITCH, AND ETACS ASSEMBLY.

2002 KIA OPTIMA LX, VIN#: [XXX] W/ APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. MY FIRST WARRANTY CLAIM: THE REPLACEMENT OF MY TIMING BELTS. ON 9/1/2006, MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I HAD A TOW TRUCK MY CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, BRONX AUTOMOTIVE GROUP INC. D/B/A, TOYOTA OF THE BRONX. THE MANAGER AGGI SARATIS ENDED UP IN AN DISPUTE WITH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS REGARDING ACKNOWLEDGMENT WARRANTY AND ADVISED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM HIS PREMISE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST AVAILABLE SERVICE SHOP. THE REPAIR WAS A REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT. MY VEHICLE HAD 51,720 MILES AT THE TIME OF REPAIR. THE TIMING BELT IS UNDER WARRANTY UP TO 60,000 MILES. I PAID THE TOTAL INVOICE FROM BRONXDALE AUTO REPAIR CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $603.40. I FAXED A COPY OF THE INVOICE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ON 9/7/2006. I HAVE TWO WITNESSES, TOW TRUCK DRIVERS, WHO WILL CONFIRM THAT THE SERVICE TEAM WAS UNPROFESSIONAL.A TECH MADE A COMMENT TO ME STATING "I DO NOT SPEND ANY MONEY HERE" SO WHY WOULD I EXPECT TO CLAIM ANY WARRANTY. I DISAGREE.I PAID FOR THIS CAR! MY SECOND WARRANTY CLAIM IS THE REPLACEMENT OF MY TRANSMISSION.ON 3/10/2006, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO SERVICE BECAUSE MY CAR COULD NOT MANEUVER IN REVERSE.MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME HAD 45,147 MILES. ON 3/13/2006, SERVICE ADVISED ME THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND SINCE THEY HAVE NO SERVICE RECORDS, THIS WOULD NOT BE CLAIMED AS A WARRANTY.I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO MY MECHANIC AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE.THE INVOICE TOTAL WAS $1,920.40. MY MECHANIC FURTHER ADVISED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A PRODUCT QUALITY DEFECT ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER. IN FACT, THERE IS OVER A PAGE AND A HALF OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ITEMS!I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF A RECALL. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WARRANTY ACKNOWLEDGED AND I FEEL THAT THE SERVICE TEAM IS HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNSKILLED.CONSIDERING THAT I HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE 60,000 MILES IS SUSPICIOUS. *NM *JS

KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INC. REF: VIN# KNAGD12693513835 COMPLAINT CASE NUMBER K1056698 FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INC. NOT HONORING PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY & UNSCRUPULOUS BUSINESS PRACTICES. THE TIMING BELT FOR 2002 KIA OPTIMUM SERVICED A YEAR TO THE DAY IT LEFT ME ON THE ROAD SIDE. IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE THE CAR BROKE DOWN. NEW YEARS HOLIDAY WEEKEND SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOLGER KIA OF CHARLOTTE NC CLOSED. UNABLE TO REACH THEM UNTIL TUESDAY JANUARY 3RD, 2006,RETURNED HOLIDAY WEEKEND. TOLD WARRANTY EXPIRED DECEMBER 31ST, 2005. THAT MY WARRANTY FOR THE PARTS & LABOR WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED. PLEASE SEE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT DATED DECEMBER 31ST, 2004 EXACTLY 365 DAYS FROM WHEN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. BANK STATEMENT SHOWS MY CHECK CARD CLEARED $601.87 ON JANUARY 3RD 2005. I WAS INSTRUCTED ALL PARTS & LABOR WOULD BE HONORED FOR ONE YEAR. I RETURNED THE CAR TO FOLGER KIA ON FEBRUARY 22ND 2005 CONCERNS THE CARS TIMING MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SET. ON THE INVOICE THAT I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RPM'S WERE OVER THEIR ORIGINAL SETTINGS BY 1000 RPM. NO MENTION OF TEST DRIVE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM LISTED ON INVOICE DECEMBER 31ST, 2004. TECHNICIAN STATED ALL READINGS WERE NORMAL. THIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PREMATURE WEAR & BREAKING OF TIMING BELT. I WAS INSTRUCTED JANUARY 3RD, 2006 BY JEFFREY STEPHENS TO CONTACT THE KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT GUS THE SERVICE MANAGER FOLGER KIA'S REQUESTED TO HONOR MY PARTS & LABOR WAS DECLINED BY A MR. BOB STRICKLAND. KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INC., THEIR CUSTOMER NOTE FOLGER KIA ACCEPTED MY MONEY ON JANUARY 3RD 2005. THE CAR WAS WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO SERVICE ON MONDAY 01-02-2006 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD MY LOCAL FOLGER KIA BEEN OPEN FOR BUSINESS ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 31ST ,2005 MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOWED THEIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD LOOK IN TO THE MATTER. SUSANNE FARRAR 12016 ALABASTER COURT CHARLOTTE, NC 28269 704-488-8039. *NM

2002 KIA OPTIMA AIRBAG DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED GOING 35 MILES PERHOUR WHILE IN A RIGHT HAND CURVE. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT HIT THE LEFT SHOUDER CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO TURN THE WHEEL MORE AND GO OFF THE ROAD. THERE WHERE NO IMPACTS ON ANY PART OF THE CAR .WE ARE LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT OTHER THAN A STRAINED NECK AND A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. KIA RECALLED SOME 2001 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM .*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35MPH. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING APPLIED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG STARTLED THE CONTACT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED IN REACTION TO THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A CURB, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE OIL PAN WAS RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/ACTUATOR WAS SET TOO HIGH CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY PREMATURELY.

RECALL ON FUEL CUT VALVE WAS INSTALLED AT 33,000 MILES ON VEHICLE - AT 77,000 VEHICLE FAILED - FOUND OUT FROM ANOTHER DEALER (GREYSTOKE) THAT RECALL FUEL CUT VALVE HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN HE LOCKS THE DOORS ON VEHICLE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK.*AK

ST: 8TH OF 2004 THE BATTERY STARTED TO DIE,\. DEALER TOLD CALLER TO SHUT THE ALARM SYSTEM OFF WHEN NOT DRIVING. VEHICLE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY KIA, AND REPORTED NO PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY. HOWEVER, BATTERY HAD TO BE CHARGED NUMEROUS TIMES IN DRIVEWAY. ON MAY 2005 THE LOCKS BEGAN TO GO ON AND OFF, AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE BATTERY, BUT DEALER REPORTED THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. 05/05/05 AS CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND ALL SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON, AND LOCKS CAME ON AND OFF, AND CAR SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN FOR REPAIR.*AK

I ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN THIS CAR AND THIS PAST THURSDAY I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS IN THERE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WENT TO LEAVE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MOTOR IS LOCKED UP. I ALSO HAVE HAD A POPPING NOISE IN MY GAS PEDAL WHEN IT IS FIRST DROVE IN THE COLD. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES LIKE JUMPING WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN GOING FAST SAY 50 MPH. *AK

2002 KIA OPTIMA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND TIMING BELT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE STILL MAKES A NOISE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA, MY STEREO,HEADLIGHTS,DASHLIGHTS WOULD CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, THE INSTRUCTED ME TO GET A NEW BATTERY. I DID, AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1RST,2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I COULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME BECAUSE MY HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, I HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO MY CAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO SLAM INTO ME. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY, I TOOK THE RISK OF GOING TO THE STORE, AND ONCE AGAIN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY CAR HITTING A NEAR BY GARBAGE CAN AND DENTING THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT INTO KIA OF TACOMA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET A TUNE UP. NOT LIKING THAT ANSWER, I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA OF PUYALLUP..THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND WANT ME TO COME PICK THE CAR UP AND DRIVE IT AROUND AGAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TOO, AND THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECAL ON THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO MY LIFE, AND OTHERS AROUND ME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS RIGHT AWAY BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEBODY THEIR LIFE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AFTER HITTING A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL/SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER HAD A DIABETIC EMERGENCY AND COLLAPSED AT THE WEHEL. *JB

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

DT: 2002 KIA OPTIMA LX. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS WILL START TO FLICKER, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80-90 DEGREES AND AT LONG DISTANCES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE, THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, AND THE MAIN COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE POWER WENTOUT ON 7-14-05. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO RUN A STOP SIGN , AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING BOTH VEHICLES TO BE TOTALED. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AS A RESULT OF THE POWER OUTAGE, AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL FAILED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED BOTH BATTERIES TO PREVENT FIRE FROM HAPPENING. WHEN THEY DID THIS IT DELETED ALL THE CODES THAT WOULD HAVE TOLD DEALER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE COMPUTER, THEY STILL WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE PURCHASE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE KIA MANUFACTURER AT LEAST TEN TIMES, COMPLAINT NUMBERS FOR THE FIRST WAS 24306, ON 7-18-03, AND THE LAST WAS ON 9-13-04, COMPLAINT . 56482. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THEY SAID THEY WANTED A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED . AS A RESULT, A CHILD WAS TRAPPED INSIDE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOORS LOCKED.*AK VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND STARTING TO SLIP OUT OF PARK AN ROLL WHILE CHILD WAS TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC

MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30TH 2004. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND, A SCHOOL BUS DRIVING EAST BOUND MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER. SHE HIT THE BUS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IT WAS A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. THANK GOD FOR SEAT BELTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING SMELL WAS DETECTED, THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PULLING INTO A SERVICE STATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER AND AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. *JB

ROTORS WARPED, NOT WORN OUT, WARPED COMPLETELY AROUND 55,000 MILES. CAR HAS A 60,000 MILEAGE/5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND KIA WILL NOT HONOR IT. CONTACTED LANGHORNE KIA SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THEY LASTED SO LONG. I WAS INFORMED THAT KIA CHANGED THE WAY THEY MAKE THE ROTORS AND THAT THE NEW ROTORS HEAT QUICKLY CAUSING THEM TO WARP WHEN THE MILAGE IS USUALLY UNDER 30,000 MILES.*AK

I PURCHASED MY OPTIMA USED IN MAY 2004. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE, I EXPERIENCED A HESITATION IN THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER OF PURCHASE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEREFORE, APPARENTLY THEY CAN'T FIX IT EITHER. SINCE THEN, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALER SHOPS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM 4 OR 5 TIMES. WITH THE SAME RESULT: THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE FOURTH TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE I CALLED CUSTOMER CARE, THEY DID CHECK ALL THE CONNECTORS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT NO CODES CAME UP FOR THE CAR AT ALL, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THERE WERE 4 CODES THAT CAME UP: THE SAME 2 TWICE. ONE SET WAS ON 'HOLD' AND THE OTHER SET HAD JUST OCCURRED THAT DAY. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER, WHO'D HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND STILL COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FIFTH TIME I TOOK IT IN (IN DEC 2006), THE MECHANIC FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT MY WARRANTY RAN OUT 2,000 MILES BEFORE THIS. NOW THEY WON'T FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT MIGHT GET FIXED UNDER WARRANTY IF I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 60,000 MILES. I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT EVEN MATTERS IF THE PROBLEM STARTED AT 48,000 MILES. PLUS, IN ALL THE CONTACT I HAVE HAD WITH ANY OF THESE PEOPLE, NOT A SINGLE ONE EVER RECOMMENDED OR REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS MODEL CAR TO ANOTHER PERSON; NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE TECH'S WHO ARE RUDE AND UN-INFORMATIVE TO CUSTOMERS. *JB

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES TO CHEST/BREAST BONE/LUNGS/HEART/LOWER ABDOMINAL, AND LEFT LEG. *AK *LA

DOOR LOCKS DON'T LOCK CONSISTENTLY. THE MASTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDOWS ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WIRING TO THE DRIVERS' SIDE BODY LIGHTS BLOWS THE FUSE. FUSES LAST ONLY A FEW DAYS. *JB

BOTH FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. YOU CAN HERE THE MOTOR BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING. *JB

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDS TO DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONSUMER INDICATES THAT SHE HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG EQUIPMENT ON 2002 KIA OPTIMA. *MR A LARGE PIECE OF RUBBER HAD COME OFF THE TIRE OF A SEMI-TRUCK AND WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID HITTING IT, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A WALL DIVIDER. *SCC *JB

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT OFF MASS PIKE, I WAS DOING ABOUT 30-35 AND SO WERE THE OTHER CARS, I BRAKED TO CONTINUE TO SLOW - THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT STOP AND I PANICKED KNOWING THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AND FINALLY MADE IMPACT INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *JB