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Car Forum / Kia Cars / May 2005Optima ?
Hey guys I am considering an 03 Optima (US) and was just wondering if anybody on here had any warnings or praises about them. Thanks -T I think the only OPTIMA I would consider is the SE. Drove one in Los Angeles. They are overpriced new but a bargain used. My friend paid $11000 for a 2001 SE 2 weeks ago. Has all the bells and whistles and only 13k miles. > Hey guys I am considering an 03 Optima (US) and was just wondering if > anybody on here had any warnings or praises about them. Thanks > > -T > Hey guys I am considering an 03 Optima (US) and was just wondering if > anybody on here had any warnings or praises about them. Thanks > > -T Have an 02. Absolutely love the car. One warranty trip for "check engine light" which was faulty fuel cap. Another for broken radiator hose clamp. Car now has 30,000 miles. Definitely would buy another. Rich > Hey guys I am considering an 03 Optima (US) and was just wondering if > anybody on here had any warnings or praises about them. Thanks > > -T I bought a demo off the show room floor, I have just put 1000 miles on it, only problem I had was during the Chicago winter, the rear view mirror popped off. Took it back to the dealer, and it was replaced. So far, this is a great car with no other problems. > > Hey guys I am considering an 03 Optima (US) and was just wondering if > > anybody on here had any warnings or praises about them. Thanks [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > popped off. Took it back to the dealer, and it was replaced. So far, this > is a great car with no other problems. Have an 02 Optima with 40K on it now. Bought it new. Have had four problems, all under warranty: 1. Check engine light came on. Defective Fuel cap. 2. L/F power window regular had to be replaced. 3. Defective radiator hose clamp. 4. L/R power window regular had to be replaced. Because of where I was when it happened, I've been to three different Kia dealerships in two states. Excellent SAME DAY service. Would definitely buy another one. Rich > Have an 02 Optima with 40K on it now. Bought it new. Have had four > problems, all under warranty: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Rich I have a 01 Optima with 67k on it. '03 is a reworked model so my stuff may not be applicable but.... Under warranty: I have had all window regulators replaced, drivers side twice. New clutch at 17k new fuel tank sensor at 22k new highpressure power steering line at 61k outside driverside rearview mirror twice.(1 vibrated / 2 would not defrost) In all cases, problems were diagnosed and parts were ordered so everything was a two trip deal. With the exception of the power steering line, I haven't had any trouble in the past year. The only thing I have had to pay for was replacing the ignition wires at about 41k. That ran me about 30 bucks for some ngk's. Two years ago, I would've advised RUN, DON'T WALK. Lately it seems all the kinks have been worked out and I would say it's a great deal for the money > > Have an 02 Optima with 40K on it now. Bought it new. Have had four > > problems, all under warranty: [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Two years ago, I would've advised RUN, DON'T WALK. Lately it seems all the > kinks have been worked out and I would say it's a great deal for the money Seems to be a real issue with window regulators, eh? When I enquired at the dealer with the latest window issue, the service rep responded "We see a few come through here." After reading your list, guess I'll get ready for the other two to go! Still love the car, though. Rich 2001 SE. Yes one window regulator. $25 at KIA if you want to do it yourself. Also, new window tracks at 25K miles. Windows wouldn't close all the way. That took care of the problem. ALSO: 1)Turbo Speed Sensor - Trans would kick down into 3rd and wouldnt shift into 3rd. $262 installed. This is a big ripoff but what can you do. Part alone is $100 and can be done relatively easily. 2) Wires, plugs and fuel filter @ 92K miles. This is normal maintaenance stuff but the car just started missing one day. The plenum must be removed in order to replace plugs & wires. This is a one day job. Do it youself, it will save you 200-$300 3) One light on stereo went dead. 4) Battery dead @ 42 months 5) Tires are great. 93000 miles and still going 6) Check trans fluid at 40000 miles as it will be black. Easy drain and change. Do it at two consecutive enginge oil changes to make sure its completely drained from the torque converter. 7) fuel gage read low last winter. Can back to life in summer. Leave it alone. Sounds hard to change. 8) Brakes went 72K before replacing pads. Could not get rotors off 9) Flapping noise 50% of time when passanger window or sun roof is down. Can't find cause. Usually when cold. 10) Chrome trim came loose over drivers rear ealy on. Replaced by dealer. Even with all this stuff. I like the car. With 93K miles, the car still drives solid as new. The one big problem, the turbo speed sensor is something I haven't heard too many or no posts on. Perhaps just a freak thing. Be aware though. I still need to change the timing belt. Looks pretty complicated but I will probably take it on. You can buy a belt on e-bay for $42. Dealer would charge $500 minimum. I'll let you know how it goes. > 1)Turbo Speed Sensor - Trans would kick down into 3rd and wouldnt shift > into 3rd. $262 installed. This is a big ripoff but what can you do. Part > alone is $100 and can be done relatively easily. I had to change a Solenoid. Sucked paying about the same you did but I was still in "don't work on this car" mode. That's over. > 2) Wires, plugs and fuel filter @ 92K miles. This is normal maintaenance > stuff but the car just started missing one day. The plenum must be removed > in order to replace plugs & wires. This is a one day job. Do it youself, it > will save you 200-$300 What were the symptoms? Just today I start the car and its dogging out pretty bad. Car vibrates when giving it gas, almost stalls while in D at a stop. Haven't changed wires, plugs yet and its at 71K. > 3) One light on stereo went dead. > 4) Battery dead @ 42 months [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > 7) fuel gage read low last winter. Can back to life in summer. Leave it > alone. Sounds hard to change. Mine (2001 SE) reads lower than actual as well. > What were the symptoms? Just today I start the car and its dogging out > pretty bad. Car vibrates when giving it gas, almost stalls while in D at a > stop. Haven't changed wires, plugs yet and its at 71K. That's most definately timing and/or MAF realted. The stalling is likely the EGR/recovery system as well(they tend to die pretty quickly after one goes. If one is bad, the computers can compensate pretty well, but if both die, the car is nearly undriveable. > > What were the symptoms? Just today I start the car and its dogging out > > pretty bad. Car vibrates when giving it gas, almost stalls while in D at a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > can compensate pretty well, but if both die, the car is > nearly undriveable. Well, it wound up being just the plugs and wires. I don't know what the deal with Kia or whoever put the last plugs in but the gaps were considerably out of spec. This may explain why it drives better than before. Right now at 73K it runs great. don't do it buy a hundia instead
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