Manufacturer: HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI)
Manufacturer Id: 1034
Model: Optima
Model Year: 2001
Plant City: Whasung
Plant Country: South Korea
Seat Belts All: Manual
Valve Train Design: Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2006
VISIBILITY
ON MY 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY SUN VISOR MECHANISMS HAVE BROKEN INTERNALLY, AND WOULD NO LONGER REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION, WHICH HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN AT LEAST ONCE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BROKEN AT LEAST TWICE. THE FIRST 2 TIMES, THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED ENTIRELY UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, ON THE 3RD TIME, I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL A NEW ONE MYSELF. (PURCHASED ONLINE FOR $80 SHIPPED FROM A DEALER.) THIS DEALER OFFERS THE NEW SUN VISOR REPLACEMENT FOR A FAIR PRICE, DUE TO REPEATED REQUESTS, BUT MANY OTHER PARTS VENDORS, INCLUDING DEALERS AND SALVAGE YARDS, CHARGE OVER $100 FOR THE VISOR, EVEN IF USED AND TAKEN OFF A WRECKED CAR, AS THEY KNOW IT IS A FREQUENTLY NEEDED REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND REPLACE, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THE WORK MYSELF. *TR
2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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