Complaints
168
Crashes
28
Fires
5
Injuries
17
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Kia Optima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#118 complaints
SUSPENSION
Avg mileage:137,752 mi
#213 complaints
AIR BAGS
Avg mileage:73,267 mi
Crash-related:8
#313 complaints
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Avg mileage:97,794 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Kia Optima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 18 | — | — | 137,752 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 13 | 8 | — | 73,267 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 13 | — | — | 97,794 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 10 | 1 | 1 | 140,356 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 9 | 1 | — | 66,549 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 9 | — | — | 88,568 mi | |
| STEERING | 6 | 1 | — | 120,725 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 6 | — | — | 128,766 mi | |
| WHEELS | 5 | 1 | — | 138,651 mi | |
| ENGINE | 4 | — | 1 | 130,400 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 4 | — | — | 126,784 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 | 3 | — | 5,800 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 | — | — | 59,000 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 | — | — | 87,898 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 3 | — | — | 16,169 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 | — | — | 67,010 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 | — | — | 41,889 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 | — | — | 110,612 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 2 | 1 | — | 37,300 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 2 | — | — | 72,500 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 2 | — | — | 73,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 | 1 | — | 20,026 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 | — | — | 36,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 | — | — | 73,110 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 | — | — | 94,049 mi | |
| PARKING BRAKE | 2 | — | — | 54,850 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 | 1 | — | 47,662 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 | 2 | 1 | 25,092 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 | — | — | 82,549 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 | — | — | 60,233 mi |
Other Kia Optima Years
Wider context: See the full Kia Optima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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