VehicleVerdict

2002 Kia Optima body & structure problems

The 2002 Kia Optima has 33 body & structure complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

33

Body & Structure complaints

20%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Body & Structure complaints by year

What owners report

A FIRE STARTED INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL FILLING THE CAR WITH HEAVY BLACK SMOKE MY WIFE OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW TO GE RID OF THE SMOKE OUT OF THE CAR. SHE DROVE THE CAR INTO HER BACK YARD AND STARTED SCREAMING FOR HELP SINCE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. HER HUSBAND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · June 19, 2014 · fire

Common questions

How many body & structure complaints does the 2002 Kia Optima have?

NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 2002 Kia Optima body & structure — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.