2016 Kia Optima problems, complaints & recalls

2016 Kia Optima recalls (5)

• Recall 23V594000Aug 24, 2023319,436 vehicles
  LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 18V907000Dec 19, 201871,653 vehicles
  ENGINE · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 17V007000Jan 6, 20171 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 16V705000Oct 3, 201612,214 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 16V231000Apr 21, 201617 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

• DP22003Opened Sep 12, 2022Closed Dec 12, 2023

  Loss of Motive Power

  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 complain…

• DP21003Opened Nov 12, 2021Closed Jun 20, 2023

  Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  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 b…

• EA19001Opened Apr 19, 2019Closed Sep 19, 2024led to recall 20V024

  Electrical overstress

  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.  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.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount…

NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings

Recent 2016 Kia Optima complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Oct 7, 2026NCFireElectrical System

   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 components appeared melted or burned. The vehicle had not been involved in a collision. Based on the damage, I believe an electrical or wiring failure may have caused the fire,…

   NHTSA complaint #11769490 · source
2. Filed Sep 24, 2026CATowedEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   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 contact was initially informed that the vehicle was safe to drive; however, the engine failed to start after several attempts. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer…

   NHTSA complaint #11766692 · source
3. Filed Aug 25, 2026FLCrashElectrical SystemLightingTransmission & Drivetrain

   Vehicle was purchased in 2023. AC blower failure occurred for the first time in June 2024 and was repaired by PepBoys. On 4/2/2025 the ve3hicle had an active recall event when the engine seized on the highway because of a faulty oil pump/filter, Engine was replaced 4/17/2025 under that recall. Kia advised at the time that the wiring harness should be replaced due to electrical issues at the time but said that there was no recall for that work. At the time, there were no…

   NHTSA complaint #11759385 · source
4. Filed Aug 21, 2026CABrakesElectrical SystemEngine

   While driving at highway speeds on the freeway in San Diego, the engine of my 2016 Kia Optima catastrophically seized without warning. I instantly lost all power steering, brake assist, and electrical power, creating an immediate life-threatening emergency. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealer. Corporate Techline and the dealership are refusing to perform the mandated settlement rod bearing test and are falsifying paperwork to deny the safety remedy.

   NHTSA complaint #11758646 · source
5. Filed Aug 20, 2026CAElectrical System

   Blower motor is drawing excessive electricity, which in turn burns the fuse and junction pin, which in turn can start a fire in the car. Kia of Irvine suggested redoing all electrical wiring in the car, but that will not solve the issue. As soon as you turn on the AC, the blower motor will use so much electricity and amperage, so the blower motor fuse and junction pins on the fuse box starting to burn. Wanting to charge almost $7000 to fix this issue, which is double the…

   NHTSA complaint #11758353 · source
6. Filed Aug 13, 2026VAVisibility & Wipers

   Window falls into the door. The rear two windows have been repaired 3 times. They are currently both broken again along with the front drivers side. I currently have three windows being help up by tape. They are taped to the frame of the door to stop the window from falling into the door. I don't know why this wasn't a recall. I see there is a TSB BOD300. The dealership repaired once but never informed me about the known defect.

   NHTSA complaint #11756816 · source
7. Filed Aug 5, 2026FLEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   The engine assembly completely seized and the vehicle is currently stored at an independent repair shop . While traveling at high speed on Interstate 4 on July 24, 2026, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of power and stalled in live traffic, creating an immediate threat of a high speed rear end collision. An independent service center officially confirmed the engine seizure after a dealership failed to perform an inspection during an eight hour wait, and no…

   NHTSA complaint #11754979 · source
8. Filed Jul 29, 2026MDEngine

   engine failure, i was driving home from work and i went to accelerate from 0 to 20 miles and the car hesitated and didn't want to move. I took the car to the dealer three days later and it was confirmed that i needed a new engine. I was told by the dealership i was outside of my warranty but i just found out that i was covered up to 120k miles. No lights came on at the time and there wasn't any prior warnings to this happening. I had just put oil into the car two days…

   NHTSA complaint #11753609 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology