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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (2)
Suspension: front
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, 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, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.
Risk and remedy
Risk: CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: KMC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Fuel system, gasoline: storage, tank assembly
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Risk and remedy
Risk: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Owner complaints (141)
Owners filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kia Optima (8 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries reported). Among 20 model years of this model, it ranks #17 for the most complaints (median 212).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Latches/locks/linkages | 53 | |
| Electrical system | 25 | |
| Structure | 25 | |
| Air bags | 17 | |
| Suspension | 9 | |
| Power train | 8 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 7 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Kia Optima.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2003 Kia Optima 4-DR | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2003 Kia Optima version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Optima 2.4 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Optima 2.4 L Manual 5-spd | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Optima 2.7 L Automatic 4-spd | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Optima 2.7 L Manual 5-spd | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.