Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2001 Kia optima has 19 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
19
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2012 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE ... |
| Feb 16, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE EN... |
| Dec 3, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING 15 - 20 MPH VEHICLE JUST QUIT IN ITS TRACK. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DE... |
| Nov 2, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TA... |
| Apr 13, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICL... |
| Mar 18, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICAT... |
| Feb 17, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE | WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE CON... |
| Oct 13, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2001 KIA OPTIMA WITH APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT KIA DEALERSHIPS SIN... |
| Mar 28, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DEFECT #2032 ENGINE FAMILIES 1KMXV02.5D01 IMPROPERLY MADE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS DIDN'T MEET... |
| Mar 11, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DRIVING AND CAR JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE IS SEIZED. GETTING A HARD TIME FROM DEALERSHIP B... |
| Feb 7, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE.*JB |
| Jan 6, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | NHTSA#14716-02-V-040-000: KIA/CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ... |
| Dec 9, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID NOT LOCK AND THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED TWICE. *SC *... |
| Sep 17, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS I... |
| Jun 26, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVI... |
| May 13, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT | I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW CAR ON AUGUST 31,2001. I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS 9 MONTHS AFTER... |
| Mar 6, 2002 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 03/06/02 PURCHASED A OPTIMA KIA 2001, STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 2/6/06. PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG, ENGIN... |
| Sep 20, 2001 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING FROM 20 MPH. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTE... |
| Jan 1, 1970 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB |