2002 Honda Accord vs 2002 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 | 2002 Honda Accord | 2002 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,050 | 107 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 197 | 20 |
| Investigations | 7 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 129 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 18–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 89,660 mi | 85,152 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 478 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 273 | 19 |
| Structure | 75 | 30 |
| Electrical System | 69 | 14 |
| Suspension | 32 | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 46 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 39 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 33 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Shifting problems | 89 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 73 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 64 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 54 | 28 |
| Stalling | 50 | 13 |
| Airbag warning light | 33 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 16 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 0 |
2002 Honda Accord
2002 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.