Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My airbag light on and I've check the fuses in it,Not it,,, My AC,. The drivers door lock , Oxagen senser Crank Shaft,
I purchased my brand new car on August 31,2001. I started having electrical problems 9 months after I bought it. I now have a list of problems from electrical to check engine light, fuel sensors, 2 new batteries etc. I have a long long list of repairs that nobody can seem to fix. I am told the problem has been fixed and then my check engine light comes back on and I am told there are additional problems. Meanwhile, I have been stranded on the highway due to these problems, I have had to be towed out of my own driveway to due the electrical problems. I have tried numerous times to tell Kia corporation that I do not feel safe driving this vehicle any longer and nobody is listening. The general manager of the dealership I bought the vehicle from even agrees and feels this car to be very unsafe and dangerous to drive. …
When I first brought the car and drove it, the lights became dim in the inside and the headlights. The radio turned off and on, took it to dealer 4-5 times for problem and they could find nothing wrong. The car doesn't pick up spend when going over hills not even little ones. The gas needle does not read full even when the tank is practically overflowing with gas. Reading a full tank of gas happens every once in a while. Check engine light comes on . Have taken to shop and was told that my spend sensor is going out and that is why the car is going from 1st to 3rd gear and skips 2nd altogether I've only had the car for one year the warrinty is gone and I was never offered the extended warrinty and really didn't think of it since the car was only 4 yr old. …
Purchased oct,15,07. Within 3 day we had it up to dealer were purchases 1) for windows not going up or down all the time. 2) light on radio and heater do not work. 3) the car had no power and would go from 1st gear to 3rd gear and would stay that way until car turned off. 4)had to replace speed shift sensor. 5) brakes. Got looked in car several times and could not get out. Sometimes they work most of the time they don't. 6). Antenna broke off for no reason. Went out on day barely touched it and it feel off. 7) on feb 9th car would not start for 4 days for no reason had towed from own house to garage were they know believe it has a cracked head or blown head gasket. This car only has 89,000 miles and should not have all these problems already. There needs to be something done I have a 3yr old and a 7 yr old. I fear for there lives and mine. . …
2001 Kia Optima with approximately 57,000 miles has been regularly maintained at Kia dealerships since purchase in jan 2002 (used). Since June 2003 car has been serviced for numerous recall items. Car has had many problems since then. Check engine light continuously lit. Engine surges or stalls while driving. Car fails to accelerate then surges. Very high RPM with no acceleration. Engine coils misfire. Difficulty starting occasionally. After four months of frequent trips to dealership service area, (June-October 2003) service manager calls to tell owner to contact insurance company because there is sand/sugar in gas tank that has caused all of these problems. They claim the car falls out of warranty because of this. Customer disagrees that sand/sugar is cause because problems have persisted for four months. Car currently in shop for past 10 days. …
Driving and car just died with no warning. Engine is seized. Getting a hard time from dealership because we do our own maintenance. Rep approved taking the engine apart to see what problem is. Dealer put 3 gallons of antifreeze in and it went right out the tailpipe. Oil changed and antifreeze checked a week before incident. Want me to pay $7 a day rental and put me in a rio or spectra. I have an Optima not a little matchbox car. I should get a free loaner because top tech is out and it May take longer than usual to do repairs, if repairs are approved.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for a routine oil change when she was advised that there was a hole in the engine cradle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where they stated that the engine cradle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 105,000 and the current mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Kia Optima. While attempting to make a turn around a bend at 45 MPH, the contact overcorrected the turn. She turned the vehicle back in the other direction and overcorrected again. She was two feet from driving off the road. The vehicle was driven to a mechanic and it was discovered that the engine cradle was corroded and rotten in half. The current and failure mileages were 90,000.
Vehicle stalled 3 times while driving on the highway. Vehicle was towed to a dealership, who indicated that the timing belt disintegrated, and the crankshaft position sensor went out. The recall 03V067000 wa sissued on the crankshaft position sensor but only for vehicles equipped with a v6 engine. This vehicle was equipped with a v4 engine.
While driving 15 - 20 MPH vehicle just quit in its track. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer, where consumer was told that this vehicle was being recalled for the crank shaft position sensor recall 03V067000. Consumer then contacted the manufacturer, who indicated that this vehicle is not included in the recall due to VIN.
Engine complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2001 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2001 Kia Optima, 18% of the model year's 143 complaints. The component named most often is engine (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Kia Optima engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2001 Kia Optima, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Kia Optima engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 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.