Recall Details For: 2003 KIA OPTIMA
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER - 09V183000
- RUNNING SEQUENCE NUMBER: 84058
- NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:09V183000
- VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MAKE: KIA
- VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MODEL: OPTIMA
- MODEL YEAR: 2003
- MFR CAMPAIGN NUMBER : SC075
- COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: SUSPENSION:FRONT
- MANUFACTURER THAT FILED DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE REPORT: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
- BEGIN DATE OF MANUFACTURING: 20001006
- END DATE OF MANUFACTURING: 20031119
- VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT OR TIRE REPORT: V
- POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 36538
- DATE OWNER NOTIFIED BY MFR: 20090616
- RECALL INITIATOR (MFR/OVSC/ODI): MFR
- MANUFACTURERS OF RECALLED VEHICLES/PRODUCTS: Kia America, Inc.
- REPORT RECEIVED DATE: 20090527
- RECORD CREATION DATE: 20090527
- REGULATION PART NUMBER:
- FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER:
DEFECT SUMMARY: 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.
CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: 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.
RECALL NOTES: KMC'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. SC075.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO
HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
UNIQUE COMPONENT NUMBER: 000031640000288663000000023
