2016 KIA Optima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Optima years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 759 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 KIA Optima. That ranks 4th out of 20 Optima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (426 complaints, 56%), typically at around 88,000 miles. Complaints mention 27 crashes, 20 fires, 21 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 759owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 27complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 KIA Optima problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 426 | 56% | 88,000 | “oil consumption” (15%) | $7,400 |
| Unknown or Other | 121 | 16% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System problems | 104 | 14% | 66,500 | “four windows” (7%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 74 | 10% | 50,000 | “oil consumption” (8%) | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 53 | 7% | 72,708 | “oil change” (23%) | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 47 | 6% | 56,650 | — | — |
| Structure | 40 | 5% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 30 | 4% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 4% | 37,028 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 3% | 104,588 | — | — |
| Steering | 24 | 3% | 35,168 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 23 | 3% | 28,581 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 3% | 43,257 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 1% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 1% | 87,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 9 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 1% | 156,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 0% | 41,480 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 0% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 0% | 103,417 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 0% | 67,285 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 156,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 KIA Optima recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) has recalled one 2016 Optima vehicle. In this vehicle, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
Fix: The affected vehicle was remedied on January 10, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC143.
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 13, 2015, to April 23, 2016 and equipped with a 2.4l engine. The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.
Risk: If the driveshaft cracks and separates from the vehicle, it will not be able to move forward. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC139.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in necessitating crashes.
Risk: If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC131.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilities (DP21003) — opened Nov 12, 2021, closed Jun 20, 2023.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Concerning my Optima KIA's OEM front windshield. At certain times of the day when the sunlight is shining on a certain angle it is difficult to see through the windshield due to the glare which creates a visual impairment. There were a quite a few instance's where I almost got into serious…
Severe engine defect (Theta II 2.4L GDI). Sudden total loss of power, metallic knocking, severe oil consumption, and imminent catastrophic failure while driving, creating a high safety risk. Vehicle is currently out of service in [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION…
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2016 Kia Optima, purchased from CarMax in 2024 and financed through CarMax Auto Finance. On or about October 5, 2026, I returned to my parked vehicle and discovered extensive black soot/smoke residue throughout the interior. Wiring and interior…
3 times windows different ones has stopped rolling up/down. 3 motors purchased and installed.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. Soon after the failure, the engine caught fire; however, the fire dissipated independently. The insurance agent was contacted and arrived at the scene to inspect the vehicle. The…
Other KIA Optima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 151 | 0 |
| 2019 Optima | 212 | 1 |
| 2018 Optima | 232 | 2 |
| 2017 Optima | 256 | 3 |
| 2016 | 759 | 5 |
| 2015 Optima | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2014 Optima | 589 | 7 |
| 2013 Optima | 1,386 | 9 |
| 2012 Optima | 920 | 5 |
| 2011 Optima | 594 | 5 |
| 2010 Optima | 75 | 1 |
| 2009 Optima | 116 | 1 |
| 2008 Optima | 144 | 3 |
| 2007 Optima | 167 | 2 |
| 2006 Optima | 155 | 2 |
| 2005 Optima | 144 | 0 |
| 2004 Optima | 225 | 1 |
| 2003 Optima | 141 | 2 |
| 2002 Optima | 107 | 3 |
| 2001 Optima | 143 | 3 |
See all KIA Optima problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA Optima?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 426 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 KIA Optima?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 KIA Optima a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Optima model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.