2001 Kia Optima LX from North America - Comments

My clutch blew after 30,000 miles.

This cost me over a thousand dollars to replace.

Since I've been driving manual vehicles for the past decade with no experience of a clutch keeling over in such a premature manner.

The driver side power window is inoperable.

The ABS light is constantly coming on.

The car runs smoothly on the highway.

However, it leaves a lot to desire in the line of performance and emergency performance.

The driver side window had a mind of its own when the weather started to heat up.

It refused to seal properly, perhaps because of the heat, but if so that is unusual.

This left an annoying whistling sound when in transition.

I also have a 2002 KIA Optima with a standard transmission. Mine clutch went out as well right at 32,000 miles. I am currently disputing it with KIA as they say its not a warranty issue. The problem wasn't just the clutch lining (a wearable part not covered under warranty), but that failure was 'catastrophic', i.e., the pressure plate and flywheel had to be replaced as well, as there was 'heat stress fractures' in the flywheel.

I also have a 2001 Kia Optima. I purchased in November of 2001 and have had nothing, but problems. The car has been in the service department at least a dozen times. The problems have ranged from small things (gas door not opening) to large things (springs coming out of the seats and the battery will not stay charged). I think Kia should really take a long look at there 2001 Optimas'. There are too many with a large amount of problems.

I too own a 2002 Optima LXI with a standard transmission. The clutch plate blew out at 42,000 miles. KIA is not warranting the clutch, but the entire clutch, flywheel, pressure plate and throw out bearing had to be replaced at a cost of over $1,800.00. I have had a number of issues with the Optima including paint problems. KIA has not covered either of these problems in warranty. They leave themselves loop holes within the warranty language so as to escape responsibility. I have had exceptionally poor response from the KIA customer help line as well. The regional representatives will not return phone calls or answer correspondence.

I have a 2001 Optima and have been very pleased. 1/2 the price of similar car from Toyota or Honda and does everything they do.

My car has been to the shop a few times, but it has 52,000 miles. My last car was a Toyota and it was in the shop a similar number of times in the same time and mileage.

The Kia is very comfortable, it's quiet, and gets 24 1/2 mpg week after week.

I've had some paint problems and Kia fixed all, but one and it was out of the warranty period. I had same kind of problems with Toyota.

Service department has been really great to me also. All in all a great value. I will buy another one.

Weird car... kinda has a mind of its own. It has a sport shift transmission that won't go into auto drive and sometimes at 65mph it likes to slam into 2nd gear for about 30-60 seconds and then I can shift agian.?.?other than that is a fun car to drive very luxurious for korean car... very surprised. We call it the mini jag.