One problem related to water pump has 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.
I took my 2002 kia Optima in for a tune up, they found a broken water pump, 5 cracks in the manifold. It took kia 3 times to find the problem. After I picked up the car it still had a problem took it back twice before they found it was a sensor problem this car is not a safe vehicle.