Kia Recall 03V-067: Electrical system – starter assembly

Affected: 2001–2002 Kia Optima. Filed with NHTSA on March 4, 2003, covering about 11,501 vehicles.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Recall details

NHTSA campaign03V-067 (03V067000)
Manufacturer numberSC021
ManufacturerKia America, Inc.
ComponentElectrical system › Starter assembly
Report dateMarch 4, 2003
Owners notifiedMarch 28, 2003
Vehicles affected11,501
Initiated byManufacturer

Vehicles covered

Owner complaints about the electrical system

Frequently asked questions

Is the recall 03V-067 repair free?

Yes. Kia dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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.

How do I know if my car is included?

Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 11,501 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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.