2001 Kia Optima vs 2001 Mercury Sable
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 Kia Optima | 2001 Mercury Sable |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 143 | 430 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 25 | 106 |
| Investigations | 2 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 32 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 19–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 83,000 mi | 65,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Mercury Sable |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 28 | 204 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 61 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 27 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 23 |
| Structure | 35 | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 33 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 26 |
| Power Train | 12 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 42 | 21 |
| Airbag warning light | 16 | 0 |
| Stalling | 13 | 15 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 7 |
2001 Kia Optima
2001 Mercury Sable
Compare all Kia Optima vs Mercury Sable 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.