Check Engine Light On problems of the 2001 Kia Motor Optima

The front frame and many components of my 2001 kia Optima have completely rusted out. It currently has 50,000 miles on it and has had many problems since I purchased it. Check engine light is pretty much on every day. I was told it was something to do with the gas cap, although that never really came up as the reason, there was more than that- resulting in multiple repairs. The O2 sensor has gone twice, the brakes have corroded so badly my repairman had to hit them off to remove them. I had to replace all of the brake lines since they all rusted out. The airbag light goes on and stays on and noone can figure out why. The silver trim on the back window has fallen off. The paint comes off in random places making weird spots of primer show. The transmission has almost caused an accident numerous times because the car would not accelerate from a stop. Speed sensor was replaced twice. The same headlight goes out almost monthly and is almost impossible to put in and find in stores. Door locks will lock and unlock on their own, locking me in or out of the car. The windows have very weak motors that barely roll up or down. This is a car I bought from a dealership and am still making payments on it. I have taken excellent care of it. I have brought it in for regular service and have spent more than the car is worth on repairs while still making car payments and keeping full coverage insurance. I am very upset because the frame has rotted out and I was told to junk the vehicle by bill Dodge kia service and then again by the gentleman doing my state inspection today. Kia states there is no recall currently on my VIN #. I find that difficult to understand. I believe this vehicle should be replaced or all the parts that have corroded should be completely replaced free of charge by Kia Motor CO.

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. 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. The air bag light illuminated.

2001 kia Optima with approximately 57,000 miles has been regularly maintained at kia dealerships since purchase in Jan 2002 (used). Since June 2003 car has been serviced for numerous recall items. Car has had many problems since then. Check engine light continuously lit. Engine surges or stalls while driving. Car fails to accelerate then surges. Very high rpm with no acceleration. Engine coils misfire. Difficulty starting occasionally. After four months of frequent trips to dealership service area, (June-October 2003) service manager calls to tell owner to contact insurance company because there is sand/sugar in gas tank that has caused all of these problems. They claim the car falls out of warranty because of this. Customer disagrees that sand/sugar is cause because problems have persisted for four months. Car currently in shop for past 10 days. Dealership service area will not do any more work until insurance people come. Needless to say the customer is not happy.

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.

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.