11 problems related to frame rust 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.
Over a weeks time,I noticed my steering wheel was turned like maybe I needed an alignment and it started pulling to the left so bad that I had to force the steering wheel to the right so I wouldn't wreck into the median on the interstate. I could only go about 45 or 50 mph or it would start shaking the entire car and was absolutely impossible to control it on the road. Had it looked at and at the bottom control arm that bolts to the subframe had rusted out and the right side was on the verge of doing the same! the FL and fr tires, that I had gotten brand new 5 months ago, were wore down to the wire!!! I'm surprised I had the chance to get it home and get it looked at before it rusted all the way through! I was so blessed I didnt have a horrible accident.
The contact owns a 2002 kia Optima. While the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic noticed that the subframe was rusted out and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
My tire had started bending inward at the top, and outward at the bottom. My car started going out of alignment. I took it to a shop, and they found out my sub frame was rusted and worn out. They also found out that the sub frame had been recalled in 2009, but apparently not on my exact vehicle.
Tl- the contact owns a 2002 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving she heard an unfamiliar sound coming from the under carriage. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the sub frame was severely rusted which caused it to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue. The failure and current mileages were not available. Mh.
I have a 2002 kia Optima that the VIN is not one of the vehicles that is covered by your recall NHTSA campaign id number: 09v183000 which states "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. . . ". You have it listed as states with difficult winters and the use of road salt. I live in louisville, ky. Not one of the named states. But. I guarantee you that this same corrosion can be caused by the water coming from the air conditioner running directly onto these parts. The back side of subframe has rust holes in it. This recall needs to be expanded to any and all kia Optimas that have the ac water running there due to manufacture design. I have pictures that I can send to you showing this corrosion. I tried to get it aligned at a kia store and they said "lower control arm bracket on pass side is rusted and broken. Pass side wheel is pushed back and tires on front are angled. " how was the 36,538 vehicles determined ? was it from the state that the car was sold in ?.
My son was driving our 2002 kia Optima and wheel assembly fell off. The whole frame rusted from inside out causing the lower control arm to fall off.
This is concerning my 2002 kia Optima, and the subframe recall that was issued on this car. . The sub frame was replaced due to corrosion but the garage has done something wrong because the grinding noise that is coming from under this car is just ridiculous! I took the car back to the kia dealer who removed the rusted sub frame and replaced it with the new, to find out why its making this horrid noise,OH yes they also forgot to put a bolt in. And still don't know why the part is grinding so. So then I called the kia corporation to let them know that my car is not right and something is wrong. And they did nothing but put it on the computer I was not satisfied. Now I have to take this car to a body shop and pay for this to be repaired out of my pocket. I know there was no problem with this before and no noise going into the shop, I don't expect this to be going on now. I have taken this to 2 body shops one body shop wont touch it because it is a recall, the other will take a look and see, he thinks they broke something removing the subframe. In either case the car needs fixing of a part that was supposed to be covered under a recall! what ever is wrong was cause by this subframe.
Our 2002 kia Optima experienced steering problems which I thought could be corrected with a basic front end alignment. Repair facility informed us that the vehicle could not be aligned because the sub-frame had rust damage. The sub-frame on the passenger side had a "golf size" hole in it and the welding joints were completely rotted through. The vehicle only had 70,000 miles and was always well maintained. Oil changes and inspections were performed at kia dealerships and the defect was either not detected or never reported to us prior to the expiration of the warranty. The dealer and Kia Motors were contacted about the issue; kia did replace the sub-frame unit (est cost $1,500) but would not cover the cost for labor ($655). I believe a bigger problem exist with this defect and a recall should be considered to prevent injury to drivers. Reviewing previous complaints, this same defect has been reported on three VIN #'s.
2002 kia Optima, we have only had the car less than 2 years and it has 2 fist size rust holes in frame one each side by a-arms, due to these defects tires wearing quickly and needs air continually to be put in them. Handling worsening and making thumping noise in front end, can not drive over 35-40 mph. Called kia and they said they would not do anything about this problem. Read where Hyundai and kia are made by same company and this has been a problem with the 1999 to 2002 models. Feel this is their responsibility to make right before something happens and there is an accident. Need information on who to contact and how to get this taken care of.
2002 kia Optima sub frame is all rusted out dealer says total suspension is about to fail need to be replaced this is the only thing on the car that is rusted out.
2002 kia Optima sub frame is rusting out. Customer states that the dealer told her there was a spot on the sub frame where the control arm mounts to the engine cradle had rusted out and it looked as if it had been in an accident, and would not help with the repairs. The mechanic concluded that due to the design of the vehicle, the condensation from the air condition running down the frame is what caused the rust to occur. The speed sensor for the automatic transmission was replaced.