KnownCarProblems2016 Kia Optima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 759 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Optima, most often about the engine (58% of complaints, typically around 91,000 miles). It is 4th of 20 Optima model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2016 Kia Optima problems
Engine
443 complaints · 58%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
On july 26 2019 I took my 2016 Kia Optima in the valley hi Kia for a product improvement campaign and performed a software update to the ecu. On 7/29/19 my vehicle mil light began to blink and the car went into limp mode was on the highway going 65mph. Took to the dealer where they replaced the wiring harness. On…
My oil pressure light continues to turn on and off even after replaced parts! Burning at least 2 quarts of oil per week! Brake lights stop working if headlights are on! Had to start using super to eliminate a rattle while accelerating uphill! Engine shakes!!
Other or unspecified
121 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles.
Upon filling up the car the gas nozzle never shuts off until gas (a lot of gas) is pouring out of the tank. Even trying to fill it up on your own holding the handle it pours out when full. Leaves gas every where down the car spraying the person putting the gas in. Ruining the paint on the car.
I have had the steering go out multiple times - reported it to Kia where I lease from and a local shop. Just happened again today (11/25/19) - it has happened at least 3 times in the last year - I have had it towed to the place I leased from as well. Also, twice now - while driving the engine shuts off. Very scary. As…
Electrical
104 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument panel.
On the evening of may 17, I needed a jump after work. I went home, turned off my car but was unable to start it again so I replaced the battery. I thought I had fixed the problem until the next day when I was driving 65mph on a local interstate with my daughter in the car, all my dash lights came on, I lost navigation…
All 4 of my windows will not go up or down. This happened within weeks of each other. There is no cheap solution. Kia wants $150 deposit and I was quoted $225 per window. This is insane. I am driving a car where the windows are all wedged up which is a safety hazard. I am not the only one with this problem. Are there…
Transmission
74 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: driveline.
Was traveling to dallas, texas from waco, texas on 10/05/2019. The transmission in my vehicle went out. The vehicle surged erratically multiple times, while the car was slowing down, speed limit was 75mph, with barriers on both sides (no shoulder on either side. Of interstate 35 north) my vehicle got down to about…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16v705000 (power train) at greenway Kia of franklin (5026, 1413 murfreesboro rd, franklin, tn 37067, ([phone]). The driveshaft was replaced during the repair, but the vehicle was leaking fluid afterwards.…
Fuel system
62 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
While driving the car the fuel consumption in the motor would bog the engine down to where it would barely go over 40 MPH on the highway. At this time the engine trouble indicator light would come on and not go off. I immediately took it to the local Kia dealership in mt. Hope, wv.. The mechanic changed out the sensor…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact pulled over and the drove the vehicle back to her residence. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer. The…
Lights
47 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
While driving during the day the lights randomly go off by themself while in auto mode. I've always let it go until I was driving at night and the headlights went out also while in auto mode. If you switch to manual it works properly, but in auto it's totally random. It is very dangerous when this happens at night on…
While in motion the headlights turn on by themselves at random times during the day. Abs warning light, bsd warning light, and traction control warning light all came on at the same time. On the way to the dealership they all went off. The technician said he sees that the warning light were on, but their computer is…
Body and structure
40 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
We have owned the car about 2.5 years. 2 days ago I took it through a touch less car wash. Today I noticed the antenna cover/ shark fin is missing. I'm not sure if it came off during the wash or when I was driving. It appears the plastic screw holes have all broken off. The circuit board for the antenna is exposed.…
As driving the driver's door popped open (as not fully closed) and the open door light appeared on a dash. This has happened twice while driving. Once during normal driving and on the second occasion when I hit a pothole. I also noticed when opening the door, it doesn't open as smoothly. As I pull the door handle, the…
Visibility and wipers
38 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, sun/moon roof assembly, glass, side/rear, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the sunroof fractured without impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the sunroof needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact learned of a lawsuit regarding the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the driver's side window was not functioning. After which, all the windows in the vehicle failed to operate as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Kia Optima recalls
Doors and locks: latch
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.
Full defect summary
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."
Engine
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: axle shaft
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2016 Kia Optima
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Optima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (443 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); other or unspecified (121 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles); electrical (104 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Optima have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 24, 2023 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Kia Optima?
- It is 4th of 20 Optima model years by number of complaints, with 759 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.