2001 Kia Optima Electrical Problems

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT DIFFICULTY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM IN CASE I NEEDED REPAIRS. I GOT MY MONEY'S WORTH. BUT THE PROBLEMS I HAD ARE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, LOCKS NOT WORKING, WINDOWS NOT ROLLING UP, PAINT PEELING OFF, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, DECREASED ACCELERATION, HEAT SURGES WHEN GAS PEDAL RELEASED AND PRESSED AND THE LIST GOES ON. IT IS NOT HARD TO FIND OTHER KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE REPAIR THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION IT NEEDS. THERE IS 41,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. COMMON PROBLEMS THAT ARE WIDELY KNOWN AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT KIA MOTOR COMPANY'S EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264297

Incident

Mar 16, 2006

Mileage

14,000 mi

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. . I DON'T EVEN WANT THIS CAR ANYMORE AND HAVE HAD IT FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP IF U HAVE ANY ADVICE. DON'T BUY A KIA. ALSO THIS CAR CAME WITH A 90 DAY WARRANTY FROM HARRY'S AUTO SALES AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME FOR 3 MONTH THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND ONLY WOULD RESET COMPUTER UNTIL I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY FOUND OUT DIFFERT. THEY TOLD US HEAD GASKET. HARRY SAID NOOOOOO. WHEN WARRANTY RAN OUT THEN THEY INFORMED ME I NEED A HEAD GASKET. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT CAUSE WARRANTY OUT. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LEMON. PLEASE HELP ME FIND LEGAL ADVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220313

Incident

Oct 18, 2007

Mileage

8,900 mi

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2001 NEW. I HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. THE ALTERNATOR AND AXLES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2005. THE LOCKS ARE MALFUNCTIONED. THEY AUTOMATICALLY LOCK CAUSING US TO GET LOCKED IN THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. THE CAR STALLS, JERKS WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE CAR FAILED INSPECTION NOVEMBEER 30-EMISSIONS RELATED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED IN OCTOBER. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY REPAIRING THIS CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I PURCHASED IT FROM KIA /BRONX. MY CAR WAS THERE FOR 4 DAYS. THE SERVICE MECHANIC REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND TOLD ME TO PICK UP MY CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED AND I AM STILL UNABLE TO GET IT INSPECTED. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY ARE OF NO HELP. THEY TELL ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER. THEY ALSO KEEP REMINDING ME THAT THE BASIC WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE POWERTRAIN. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THEY MAY ASK FOR MAINTENANCE RECORDS. THE CAR IS CLEARLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON THE 2001 KIAS WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT. THE TWO RECALLS MAY BE THE PROBLEMS MY CAR IS HAVING. I AM CLASSIFYING MY CAR AS A LEMON AND WOULD LIKE HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ID

10177366

Incident

Dec 18, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

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. I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO JOE PETAZONI(SPELLING) WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A KIA REPRESENTATIVE THAT WOULD DECIDE WHAT TO DO, HE HAS BEEN NO HELP AT ALL. I FEEL THAT KIA CORPORATION SHOULD BUY BACK MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE UNSAFE ISSUES I HAVE HAD. I FEEL I BOUGHT A LEMON AND IF I CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THE COMPANY, I WILL BE FORCED TO CONTACT THE STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS LEMON OF A VEHICLE!!!!! I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES FOR DEBBIE WOJCIECHOWSKII AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. I HAVE TOLD THE PEOPLE AT 800-333-4-KIA HOW UNSAFE I FEEL AND NOBODY PUTS THAT INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10082360

Incident

May 13, 2002

Mileage

8,264 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFT LEVER POPPED OUT. THE WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT AND THE SEAL ON THE GAS CAP WAS DEFORMED, THERE WAS A RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR ASH TRAY, THE FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A TANGLE WIRE IN THE DRUM, THERE WERE ENGINE/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND CRANK SENSORS, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE CONSOLE LID WAS LOOSE DUE TO CRACKED SCREW HOLES, THERE WAS A BODY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE REGULATOR, THERE WAS POOR SOUND IN THE RADIO DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT. *SC THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10071812

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

MY WIFE & I OWN A 2001 KIA OPTIMA WITH POWER LOCKS. TWICE THE POWER LOCKS HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME, THE LOCKS FAILED IN THAT THEY WOULD UNLOCK BY REMOTE AND IMMEDIATELY LOCK BACK PREVENTING ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE. BY KEY, ONE DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE THE OTHER HAD TO BE OPENED FASTER THAN THE CAR COULD RE-LOCK ITSELF. THE SECOND TIME IT FAILED CONCERNED ME GREATLY. THE DEALER, PARAMOUNT KIA OF HICKORY, HAD REPAIRED THE LOCK PARTS AND SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE & THAT IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE LOCKS FAILED AGAIN TRAPPING ME IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. DESPITE ANY EFFORT ON MY PART, THERE WERE ONLY TWO WAYS OUT OF THE CAR: CLIMBING OVER THE SEATS TO ANOTHER DOOR OR BY HAVING MY WIFE MANUALLY UNLOCK THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WITH HER KEY WHILE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE WHILE SHE HELD THE KEY IN THE UNLOCK POSITION, SHE HAD TO OPEN THE DOOR. AS SOON AS SHE RELEASED HER GRIP ON THE KEY, THE DOOR WOULD LOCK AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK & I WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION HAD IT NOT HAPPENED TWICE TO THE SAME CAR. I CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FAULTY PART AND WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE TRAPPED IN AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY CONTACT INFORMATION APPEARS BELOW. LEE TRAXLER 103 LOVERS LANE MORGANTON, NC 28655 828-437-1360 *LA

NHTSA ID

10073292

Incident

May 20, 2004

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE TRANSMISSION DROPPING TO 3RD GEAR WHEN GOING UPHILL. *LA THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DRIVE UPHILL IN 3RD GEAR. THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND LATCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR REMAIN UNLOCK, THE WINDOW MADE A CHATTERING NOISE WHEN IT WAS ROLLED DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10059685

Incident

Oct 29, 2003

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES OF THESE REPAIRS AS MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW BEING LOOKED AT AGAIN AND I AM GOING TO GET A HISTORY WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR, HERE ARE THE ISSUES I'VE HAD SINCE SPRING/SUMMER OF LAST YEAR. WE HAVE LOST TIME, MONEY, WAGES AND POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS! 1. AIR CONDITIONER SEEMED VERY COOL, BUT NOT COLD. CHECKED TWO OR THREE TIMES, EACH TIME SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WAS FINE. 2. CAR DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART WITHOUT A JUMP 3 TIMES. CALLED TOWING TWICE. SERVICE COULD NOT "RECREATE THE PROBLEM." THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. FOURTH TIME (CURRENT) CAR HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED ONCE A MONTH, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN WHEN ENTERING/EXITING THE CAR, WINDOWS ROLLED UP/DOWN SLOWLY, BLOWER ON AIR WENT UP AND DOWN WITH ENGINE SPEED, LIGHTS BEHIND CONSOLE GO OUT AND COME ON PERIODICALLY, CLOCK LOSES TIME, HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN USING POWER, RADIO FLASHES ON AND OFF. TODAY TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP. HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET RENTAL FEES. STILL WAITING ON RESULT. 3. LOUD RATTLING UNDERNEATH CAR PERIODICALLY. 4. WHISTLING IN ENGINE 5. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY. 6. ANTENNA BROKE AND THEN FELL OFF. 7. SUSPENSION VERY POOR. 8. WHEN PURCHASING CAR, DEALER STATED AIR BAG RECALL HAD BEEN FIXED ON CAR. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE, FOUND ANOTHER RECALL ON THE CAR, CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THE AIR BAG REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN MADE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 17 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY IN CONTACT WITH LEMON LAW LAYWERS IN INDIANA TO GET TOTAL REFUND FOR CAR. ONLY PHYSICAL PROBLEM RIGHT DRIVER DOOR PANEL FROM SMALL NON-FAULT ACCIDENT, NO INTERNAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

10070065

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.*MR CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES AND REPAIRS AND THE RESULTS DIDN'T WORK. ONCE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR ONE AND A HALF HOURS BECAUSE THE DOORS LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR SHUTTING DOWN. THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A REFUND. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10040222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029655

Incident

Jul 17, 2003

Mileage

20,000 mi

THIS VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FAIL ALONG WITH NONWORKING LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONER, LOCK FAILURE, BATTERY AND ALTRENATOR FAILURE. CAR HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR SAME PROBLEMS MORE THAN 5 TIMES. CAR HAS HAD (THAT I KNOW OF) 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. ONCE THE LOCKS ON THE CAR FAILED AND I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. LOCKS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY RELOCK FASTER THAN YOU COULD OPEN THE DOOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025993

Incident

Jul 22, 2002

Mileage

18,481 mi

MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA HAS BECOME THE MODERN AGE , THIS VEHICLE HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THE POWER LOCKS SHUTS OPEN AND LOCKS ON IT'S OWN, THE VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE WHEN CROSSING A HIGHWAY ON OUR STREET. VEHICLE STALLS AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING OF GAS PEDAL. WHEN CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS AND YOU ARE IN THE VEHICLE THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT OPERATE CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LOCKED IN VEHICLE. I WAS RECENTLY LOCKED IN MY VEHICLE WITH MY DAUGHTER FOR EXACTLY 4 HOURS WHEN THE POWER FINALLY RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. I CONTACTED KIA MOTORS CORP. AND WAS SIMPLY NOT TAKEN SERIOUS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I HOPE THAT YOU FOLLOW UP WITH MANUFACTURES POSSIBLE DEATH TRAP AND THAT NO LOSES THEIR LIFE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023272

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

Mileage

6,950 mi

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008783

THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT, AND LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. MR THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID

8022593

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

Mileage

9,500 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED RPMS CHANGING WHILE SET ON ONE SPEED. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018314

VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING, WON'T RESTART TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE, DASH LIGHT COE ON BUT NORTHING FROM STARTER, WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A WHILE, AC STOPS BLOWING.*AK

NHTSA ID

764690

Incident

Jul 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL DIE OUT DUE TO ALTERNATOR NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO CHARGE BATTERY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

8014133

Incident

May 17, 2002

POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES TRAPPING THE DRIVER. THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. BOTH WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY/SIMUTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

894665

Incident

Jul 10, 2001

Mileage

5,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE THEN. SAFETY THEFT PROTECTION LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS ON BACKORDER, ACCORDING TO DEALER. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COMMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

893400

Incident

Jul 27, 2001