2001 Honda Accord vs 2001 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Honda Accord | 2001 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 920 | 143 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 276 | 25 |
| Investigations | 8 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 142 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 83,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 405 | 27 |
| Power Train | 209 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 78 | 17 |
| Structure | 47 | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 57 | 7 |
| Suspension | 33 | 28 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 43 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 24 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 57 | 16 |
| Rust / corrosion | 46 | 42 |
| Shifting problems | 33 | 0 |
| Stalling | 31 | 13 |
| Check engine light | 31 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 14 | 0 |
2001 Honda Accord
2001 Kia Optima
Compare all Honda Accord vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.