2001 Kia Optima Engine

DEFECT #2032 ENGINE FAMILIES 1KMXV02.5D01 IMPROPERLY MADE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS DIDN'T MEET DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATIONS. EPOXY FLOWED BETWEEN GAPS IN CASES AND CONTACTED THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD RESULT CRACKED CIRCUIT BOARD CAPACITOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE CRADLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE STATED ENGINE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT CAME LOOSE AND THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED.

DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PCV PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

DRIVING AND CAR JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE IS SEIZED. GETTING A HARD TIME FROM DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE DO OUR OWN MAINTENANCE. REP APPROVED TAKING THE ENGINE APART TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM IS. DEALER PUT 3 GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE IN AND IT WENT RIGHT OUT THE TAILPIPE. OIL CHANGED AND ANTIFREEZE CHECKED A WEEK BEFORE INCIDENT. WANT ME TO PAY $7 A DAY RENTAL AND PUT ME IN A RIO OR SPECTRA. I HAVE AN OPTIMA NOT A LITTLE MATCHBOX CAR. I SHOULD GET A FREE LOANER BECAUSE TOP TECH IS OUT AND IT MAY TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL TO DO REPAIRS, IF REPAIRS ARE APPROVED.*JB

VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING FROM 20 MPH. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE TIMING BELT DISINTEGRATED, AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WENT OUT. THE RECALL 03V067000 WA SISSUED ON THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V6 ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A V4 ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 15 - 20 MPH VEHICLE JUST QUIT IN ITS TRACK. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR RECALL 03V067000. CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

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. *LA

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE.*JB

NHTSA#14716-02-V-040-000: KIA/CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55MPH ENGINE STALL, BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WONT HONORING THE WARRANTY, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB