10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,026 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Kia Optima:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #2

Apr 102004

Optima 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
Wiring to the drivers' side body lights blows the fuse. Fuses last only a few days.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #1

Jan 012005

Optima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52 miles
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.

- Lakewood, WA, USA