2001 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2001 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Chevrolet Malibu | 2001 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 721 | 143 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 377 | 25 |
| Investigations | 4 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 36 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 73,308 mi | 83,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 285 | 17 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 149 | 24 |
| Exterior Lighting | 108 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 78 | 12 |
| Structure | 14 | 35 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 27 |
| Suspension | 20 | 28 |
| Steering | 41 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 66 | 13 |
| Won’t start | 63 | 0 |
| Overheating | 22 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 21 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 42 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 9 |
2001 Chevrolet Malibu
2001 Kia Optima
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu 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.