2002 Kia Optima recalls and problems

The 2002 Kia Optima has 3 safety recalls and 107 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

107

Crashes / fires

15 / 4

Injuries / deaths

11 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2002 Kia Optima vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2002 Kia Optima recalls

Recall 09V-183: Suspension

Reported May 27, 2009 · 36,538 vehicles affected · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

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.

Recall 04V-180: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Apr 12, 2004 · 25,803 vehicles affected · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Problem: Some passenger vehicles may contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.

Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began june 25, 2004. Owners should contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Recall 03V-067: Electrical System

Reported Mar 4, 2003 · 11,501 vehicles affected · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

2002 Kia Optima problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Structure	33
Suspension	22
Air Bags	20
Electrical System	17
Latches/Locks/Linkages	12
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	10
Steering	8
Engine and Engine Cooling	7
Power Train	6
Wheels	5
Fuel System, Gasoline	4
Engine	4

Most reported parts

Structure › Frame and Members — 13
Structure › Body — 10
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields — 6
Air Bags › Frontal — 3
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch — 3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor — 3
Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 3
Suspension › Front — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 85,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2002 Kia Optima complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Structure · reported Nov 13, 2025

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" but it is not and will not open creating a hazard if in an accident there is no way to get to safety. In researching online this is a common problem and there is a part in the lock mechanism that gets stuck so the door does not unlock and cannot open. It appears it has been reported…

Suspension · at 111,000 miles · reported Nov 14, 2022

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 the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V183000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Structure · at 160,000 miles · reported Jan 28, 2021

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 associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 09v183000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Structure · at 143,605 miles · reported Oct 11, 2019

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 was absolutely impossible to control it on the road. Had it looked at and at the bottom control arm that bolts to the subframe had rusted out and the right side was on the verge of doing the same! The fl and fr tires, that I had gotten brand new 5 months ago, were wore down to the…

Air Bags · at 219,000 miles · reported Oct 23, 2017

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 the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 219,000.

Other Kia Optima years

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 200320022001

Compare all Kia Optima years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Kia Optima have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2002 Kia Optima: 09V-183 (suspension), 04V-180 (fuel system, gasoline), 03V-067 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Kia Optima?

Owners report structure problems most often (33 reports), followed by suspension (22). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 85,000 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.