Recalls for 2002 Kia Optima

3 recalls found.

All Kia Recalls

Various Vehicles, Edinburgh Castle Entrance

Over the past several decades, what has been noteworthy in the automotive industry is the rise of Asian automakers, often at the expense of European and American ones. The UK once had a strong domestic automotive industry, but mismanagement has made many storied British brands either a shadow of their former selves, or worse yet, extinct. This batch of six cars parked at the Edinburgh Castle car park are all Asian.

The closest vehicle to me is a Kia Optima (Kia K5 within South Korea); this particular example is an estate (station wagon) version which is well suited for Europe. Due to European preference for smaller vehicles, the Kia Optima was pretty much the largest saloon or estate I could easily find within the UK, and the only one that was sold in both the UK and the US without major differences.

Behind the Optima is a very popular SUV: the Nissan Qashqai. The Qashqai, many of which were built in Sunderland, England, is responsible for making Nissan the most popular automotive brand in the UK; it is often nicknamed "Qashqow" for contributing heavily to Nissan's profits. The Qashqai is a popular global model, though for the US market, it was renamed the Rogue Sport.

On the other row, from left to right, are: a Mazda3, a Toyota Yaris, a Kia Sportage, and an MG SUV. MG ("Morris Garage") is one of those storied British brands of the past that had gone extinct, but came back to life by having its intellectual property bought out by China; currently owned by SAIC, MG's SUVs, many of them electric, are a common sight on UK roads, even though virtually all of them are now made in China.

DEFECT #1 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Posted on: 2004-04-20
Description
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.

Consequence
Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Corrective Action
Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve.  Owner notification began june 25, 2004.  Owners should contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Notes
Kia recall no.  Sco38.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

DEFECT #2 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Posted on: 2003-03-17
Description
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.

Consequence
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.

Corrective Action
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.

Notes
Kia's recall number is sc021.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

DEFECT #3 - SUSPENSION:FRONT

Posted on: 2009-05-27
Description
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, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.  Road salt applied in these states during the winter months may result in progressive, internal corrosion of the front subframe.  Over time, such subframe corrosion near the connection to the lower control arm can lead to wheel misalignment and/or other noticeable stress in steering, or accelerated abnormal tire wear.

Consequence
Corrosion of the front subframe could lead to separation, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Corrective Action
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.

Notes
Kmc's recall campaign no.  Sc075.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .