10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,867 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 #3

Aug 272002

Optima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,600 miles
The air bag warning light came on 7 times while driving. Dealership replaced the driver's side seat that contained the side air bag because it was faulty, and installed a new air bag control module. Also, they reprogrammed the air bag sensor several times, but the light still came back on. Vehicle was involved in 2 frontal collisions in which the air bags did not deploy.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #2

Jun 022004

Optima 6-cyl

  • 8,000 miles
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.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #1

Mar 042003

Optima 6-cyl

  • miles
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags did not deploy.....

- Daly City, CA, USA