2001 Kia Optima: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Feb 26, 2013 · Suspension · 82,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. The vehicle was previously included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v183000 (suspension). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The technician did not find corrosion of the frame at that time and did not perform any repair. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to pull to the sides. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated the sub frame was fractured on the front passenger side destroying the axel and tie rods. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

Filed Aug 15, 2011 · Suspension · 126,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. The contact stated after having his vehicle aligned the front passenger side sub framed collapsed. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the sub frame and the control arm were corroded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in recall the federal safety agency campaign id number: 09v183000 (suspension:front). The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 126,000.

Filed Jul 19, 2010 · Suspension · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH he felt the vehicle vibrating and the steering wheel was loose. The dealer stated that the tie rods, ball joints and stabilizer links needed to be replaced but the only failure the manufacturer will be liable for is the subframe, even though this was the cause of the other faulty parts. The dealer also stated that the vehicle should not be driven. Kia also informed the contact that there was a recall for the subframe, the federal safety agency campaign id number: 09v183000, suspension front; however, they would only repair the subframe. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unknown.

Filed Feb 19, 2010 · Body · 113,000 miles · TX

Kmc's recall campaign no. Sc075 the sub frame on our kia optima 2001 has rusted through this caused the lower control arm and strut to collapse inward pinning the wheel at 45 degree angle and damaging the tire. The car is undrivable. Kia says they will only honor the damages in a northern state.... That uses road salt but we live on the gulf coast that is also a slat hazard area.

Filed Jan 4, 2010 · Body, Suspension · 138,000 miles · KY

While driving my 2001 kia optima on north interstate 65 to indiana, in four lane traffic my kia right front wheel nearly came off due to corrosion of the sub-frame and lower wheel control arm causing separation. My husband and I could have both been kill along with many other people. I loved my car and I praise the kia, now they don't care about me or other people in kentucky. They want fix my car but most of the states around my state is doing so, they are thousands of recalls on all other car's I am sending a letter to the president of the u.s.a. I will not stop until ky or kia is not allowing vehicle in ky not be in the recalls. Tells me people in ky just don't matter to kia or ky , we are people to, and this car would have last me a life time I am sure if this had not happen. Just because my VIN number. Was not in the system , even though 2001 - 2004 kia optima has been recall ky lags behind and does not care about me. My car is just junk now and I can not buy another. I will continue to spread the word about how they are treating me I will never give up.

Filed Jan 4, 2010 · Body, Suspension · 138,000 miles · KY

While driving my 2001 kia optima on north interstate 65 to indiana, in four lane traffic my kia right front wheel nearly came off due to corrosion of the sub-frame and lower wheel control arm causing separation. My husband and I could have both been kill along with many other people. I loved my car and I praise the kia, now they don't care about me or other people in kentucky. They want fix my car but most of the states around my state is doing so, they are thousands of recalls on all other car's I am sending a letter to the president of the u.s.a. I will not stop until ky or kia is allowing vehicle in ky not be in the recalls. Tells me people in ky just don't matter to kia or ky , we are people to, and this car would have last me a life time I am sure if this had not happen. Just because my VIN number was not in the system , even though 2001 - 2004 kia optima has been recall ky lags behind and does not care about me. My car is just junk now and I can not buy another. I will continue to spread the word about how they are treating me I will never give up.

Filed Feb 28, 2009 · Body · 95,200 miles · PA

I have a 2001 kia optima which has had a very bad vibration for a long time. Taken to multiple shops and problem could not be found at any of them. Just recently steering wheel of car became off center and the more I drove it the worse it got. Finally it was taken to a shop to find that the front subframe has broken where the lower control arm mounts to it. Car is now marked as unsafe to drive. Called kia customer service to find out that the car is out only by time not mileage of its corrosion warranty. Kia customer service of no help. Car is very unsafe to drive. L/f wheel is completely loose at lower half and r/f is cracked badly.

Filed Feb 9, 2009 · Body · 56,212 miles · IN

I purchased my vehicle on 10/20/08. Upon purchase, private dealer notified me of a recall on the vehicle. Vehicle was taken in to the local kia dealership on 10/24/08 and recall sc037 was performed. Upon pickup of vehicle, I was notified by kia dealership of recommendations listed on service invoice. On 11/06/08 vehicle was taken to my regular mechanic for inspection and service for items on the recommendation list from kia dealership. Upon lifting the vehicle up in the air to research one of the kia dealerships recommendations a softball size hole was found rusted in the sub frame where the lower control arm is to be attached. When kia dealership was notified about the hole and said they wouldn't have lifted car up. Kia motors america was phoned and told about situation and treatment by kia dealership. Kia motors america told me to take vehicle back in to dealership to have a diagnosis on vehicle and to call back and I was given a name, extension number and a case number. I had to tow the vehicle back in to the kia dealership and they looked at it and said they never saw the hole previously but here's an estimate for us to fix it. I contacted my mechanic and asked what his estimate would be to fix it and how much the part would be, and if this was something that could be gotten from a salvage yard. The local salvage yards were already phoned and the same thing was wrong with those parts and this is a common problem with kia vehicles. I ordered the part from the kia dealership, it is called a crossmember. I have had my mechanic replace it, I have had to get two new tires, a front end alignment and have asked kia motors america to reimburse me for this. They are now saying they have no record of my purchase of the part although I have given them my invoice number. I still have the old part and the originals of all my invoices.

Filed Feb 12, 2008 · Body, Suspension · 56,700 miles · IN

On february 12, 2008 my car began to drive very erratically with snow on the road. It was difficult to keep the car from steering off the road. It wasn't just road conditions. I thought something was broke. I took the car to the shop the same day. Initially the technician stated I need and alignment. I had just got 4 new tires and alignment in december 2007. I stated this condition just started today. The technician when back and inspected the car in more detail. He returned an said that the alignment could not be done to get it within specifications. He took me to the lift where the car was and showed me why the car could not be aligned. The lower control arm assembly was separating from the sub frame or engine cradle of the car, because the frame was completely rusted through. He technician stated this wasn't in a very safe condition. He also noted a 7 years old should not show this type of decay in a major structural component. I asked the technician to get the alignment as close to the manufacturers specification so I return home safe. Internet research shows the replacement part costing $1400. The engine and steering components attached to this part. I will be contacting the local kia dealer for a labor cost estimate. An internet search shows that other owners have experienced this problem.

Filed Nov 6, 2007 · Body, Suspension · 79,000 miles · NY

On november 3, 2007 my wife and daughter brought our 2001 kia optima to atlantic kia in lindenhurst ny for an oil change and wheel alignment. After waiting several hours, my wife was told that the alignment could not be done on the car due to a problem with the tires, and to bring the car back to where the tires were purchased. The tires are 4 months old. She then brought the car to pep boys in patchogue, ny. They said they would inspect the tires and offered to do the alignment. After several more hours, a technician brought my wife to the lift where the car was and showed her why the car could not be aligned. The lower control arm assembly was separated from the frame of the car, because the frame was completely rusted through. The only thing holding the right side of the car up was the tire. The tech then told her that the car should not be driven and asked where the dealer was located. Since the dealer is located about 20 miles from that shop, my wife was told that she could not drive it there, the car was very unsafe. Atlantic kia was notified of this on sunday, november 4th. She was told to call back on monday the 5th. She did, and was given rude and unacceptable treatment from the service manager. She was allowed to drive a hazardous vehicle from the dealer and then in turn was treated very badly. Atlantic kia wants to take no responsibility for the car even though it has been there for other problems in the past.