2002 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
168 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Kia Optima, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 117,177 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2002 Kia Optima has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2002 sits among all Optima years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2002 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after he replaced all four tires, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an alignment; however, the mechanic was unable to perform an alignment due to the subframe corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Optima
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 136 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 91,400 miles. Half of those reports fall between 59,000 and 133,313 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI,…
Fix: KMC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
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.
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…
Technical service bulletins
20 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2002 Kia Optima. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2002 Optima TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Kia Optima reliable?
The 2002 Kia Optima drew 168 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2002 Kia Optima problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Kia Optima are body & structure (33 complaints), suspension (22), and airbags (20).
At what mileage do 2002 Kia Optima problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Kia Optima problems around 91,400 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 59,000 and 133,313 miles.
Does the 2002 Kia Optima have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Kia Optima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.