Most common 2001 Kia Optima problems
Share of the 143 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Optima complaints by model year
Best Optima years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016, 2011. Compare all years →
2001 Kia Optima recalls (3)
Suspension › Front
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Electrical system › Starter assembly
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.
Remedy: 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…
Air bags › Side/window
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The side air bag wire harness for the driver position could be mis-routed, which could result in it being pinched or cut by the seat cushion tilt mechanism.
Remedy: Dealers will check for proper routing of the side air bag wire harness and secure it in place with a plastic tie-wrap. If the wire harness is damaged, it will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2001 Kia Optima:
Power door lock failure
This pe disclosed that the subject vehicles have experienced incidents of the alleged defect in significant numbers.this pe has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea04-030) to facilitate a thorough review of the matter, including evaluation of the potential safety-related consequences.
Power door lock failure
Investigation failed to disclose a malfunction with a clear and consistent pattern of compromise to motor vehicle safety.failure of the subject door locks May impede normal egress of a vehicle occupant but does not entrap the occupant.complaints and warranty data document the deficiencies of the door lock system, but these malfunctions have not been accompanied by a history of demonstrated safety related…
What 2001 Kia Optima owners say
Body & structure all 35 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 30 MPH in the rain, the vehicle swerved to the right. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front end needed to be aligned. The vehicle was not repaired because the front subframe was corroded and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 09V183000 (suspension); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for scheduled maintenance, when the vehicle was placed on the lift, the mechanic noticed that the sub frame was severely rusted and the determined that the vehicle should not be driven. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Suspension all 28 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 30 MPH in the rain, the vehicle swerved to the right. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front end needed to be aligned. The vehicle was not repaired because the front subframe was corroded and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 09V183000 (suspension); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle being inspected by an independent mechanic, the mechanic stated that the axle had fractured due to severe corrosion on the motor mount brackets. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 09V183000 (suspension). The manufacturer was contact and informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 236,000.
Air bags all 27 →
My air bag light has been on and I've check everything and my seat belt don't lock when its on and the light to the seat belt goes off contented, I've tried to go to the dealer to have them fix my airbags and senses I don't have recall on it they won't fix it ,The air bag is very important and so is the seat belt
A lady pulled out in front of me to make a left turn, I tried to stop, but I couldn't, I hit her @ 20 MPH, my front bumper, dead center into her left front tire. My air bags didn't deploy and hers did. I have a 2001 Kia Optima lx. My fear is, if the car is fixable,will the bags work or will they come out on me sometime going down the road. I've talked to the dealer and have gotten different stories on where the sensors are located. Now the say the air bag sensors are right in front of the transmission and I didn't get hit hard enough to make them deploy. Was told that if I had been going 80 MPH they would have deployed!
2001 Kia Optima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 24 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Kia Optima a good car?
Based on 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Optima rates average: 15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Optima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Kia Optima?
The body & structure — 35 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the suspension (28) and air bags (27).
How many recalls does the 2001 Kia Optima have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2001 Kia Optima, the most recent from May 27, 2009 (front). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Optima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016 and 2011. See the full Kia Optima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Kia Optima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.