Brake Disc Rotor problems of the 2002 Kia Motor Optima

Three problems related to brake disc rotor have been reported for the 2002 Kia Motor Optima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Kia Motor Optima based on all problems reported for the 2002 Optima.

1 Brake Disc Rotor problem

Failure Date: 10/10/2004

When braking vehicle vibrated severely. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the front brake rotors and pads needed to be replaced due to excessive wear.

2 Brake Disc Rotor problem

Failure Date: 07/19/2004

Rotors warped, not worn out, warped completely around 55,000 miles. Car has a 60,000 mileage/5 year bumper to bumper warranty and kia will not honor it. Contacted langhorne kia service dept. And was told that I was lucky that they lasted so long. I was informed that kia changed the way they make the rotors and that the new rotors heat quickly causing them to warp when the milage is usually under 30,000 miles.

3 Brake Disc Rotor problem

Failure Date: 02/16/2003

I bought a used kia Optima 2002 in January of 2003. It had about 23000 miles on it. We took a trip to lake tahoe in Feb. 2003 and on the ride home every time I braked comming down the mountain the car would jerk and shake violently. When we got home I took the car into the dealer and they repaired it for me after I pleaded and argued with them. Less than 8 months later the same poblem started happening again so I took my in and they automaticaly placed the blame on me. They told me that I must be driving my car way to hard and don't know how to properly apply the brakes. That came from the service department manager. They then told me that thay are not reasponsible for repaires that are caused by bad driving. We'll here it is less than four months later and I'm about to pay another $700 for a problem that is not my fault and my brakes are the worst yet. Oh and by the way the last time that I had my car fixed they refused to show me the parts that they took off my car. Said that it is unusual to show the parts to the owner. I find that strange. Someone needs to refresh them on the laws. When I purchased my car I also purchased a 5 yr bumper to bumper warrenty which is good until 82000 miles and my car know has 47000 and about to go through its third complete brake job.




Safety Ratings of Optima Cars
Fuel Economy of Optima Vehicles
Optima Defect Investigations