2016 Kia Optima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (283) · Power Train (58) · Exterior Lighting (40)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Optima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
281 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Latches/Locks/Linkages:trunk Lid:latch 2023-08-24 · campaign 23V594000 · 319,436 vehicles
Defect: 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 2018-12-19 · campaign 18V907000 · 71,653 vehicles
Defect: 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 2017-01-06 · campaign 17V007000 · 1 vehicles
Defect: 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 2016-10-03 · campaign 16V705000 · 12,214 vehicles
Defect: 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 2016-04-21 · campaign 16V231000 · 17 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (226)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-08 · CS2312_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Engine 2026-04-04 · SC340_TSB_R5 · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: theta ii 2.4l gdi emissions: ecm logic improvement (sc340 revision 5) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information to
Engine 2026-03-17 · SC340_OWNR_JF&JFA_104 · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (sc340 flight 104 ) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting a voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) for certain 2016-2020 my optima
Engine 2026-03-06 · SC340_TSB_R4 · Emissions
technical service bulletin: voluntary emissions service campaign: theta ii 2.4l gdi emission secm logic improvement (sc340 rev 4) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin p
Structure:body 2026-02-19 · TSB_CS2312_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Engine 2025-12-19 · SC340_OWNR_JF103 · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (sc340 flight 103 / jf) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting a voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) for certain 2016-2020 my op
Showing the 6 most recent of 226 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-22 · Structure:body“component: power window / door description: all four power window regulators failed on my 2016 kia optima sxl within 16 months - from june 2025-oct 2026. the failure mode is identical on all four doors: the plastic drum gear in the regulator separates or breaks, causing the window glass to drop into the door and become completely inoperable. the v…”
2026-10-15 · Visibility/Wiper“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 accidents. with my observation the glass looks like there a…”
2026-10-10 · Power Train“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 act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2026-10-07 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“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 ha…”
2026-09-28 · Electrical System“3 times windows different ones has stopped rolling up/down. 3 motors purchased and installed.…”
2026-09-24 · Fuel System, Gasoline“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…”
2026-08-25 · Power Train · 💥 crash“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 …”
2026-08-21 · Service Brakes“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…”
2026-08-20 · Electrical 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 …”
2026-08-13 · Visibility/Wiper“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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.