The defect
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.
The risk
CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 2001 | 143 | 3 |
| Kia Optima | 2002 | 107 | 3 |
| Kia Optima | 2003 | 141 | 2 |
| Kia Optima | 2004 | 225 | 1 |
Other suspension recalls in 2009
15 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the suspension; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION filed 11 campaigns in all.
| 09V458000 1 Dec 2009 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 09V378000 2 Oct 2009 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD |
| 09V358000 16 Sept 2009 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 09V200000 8 Jun 2009 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 09V123000 16 Apr 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 09V124000 16 Apr 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 09V125000 16 Apr 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 09V119000 9 Apr 2009 | CHRYSLER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009