2016 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 756 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 27 involved a crash and 19 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchAug 24, 2023
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."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 23V594000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 6, 2017
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.
In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 17V007000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftOct 3, 2016
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V705000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalApr 21, 2016
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.
If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
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.
Campaign 16V231000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility, Jan 3, 2022
The contact's grandmother owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the rear driver’s side window inadvertently fell. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and pulled up the window manually. She then inserted a piece of paper in the upper right corner of the window to keep it in place. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The front and rear driver’s side windows and the rear passenger’s side window also inadvertently fell. The contact inserted pieces of paper in the upper right corner of each window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at her expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,500.
Visibility, Oct 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the daytime running headlight would inadvertently blink on and off and turn off. The contact was unable to drive the vehicle at night due to the failure. Also, the rear driver’s and passenger’s side windows were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not replicate the headlight failure. The dealer replaced both rear windows. However, the failure recurred with the front driver’s and passenger’s side windows. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Visibility, Sep 20, 2021
Without heavy use (I don’t often have passengers in the back seat), driver side rear window regulator/motor failed in May, causing the rear window to fall into the door while driving. This is a major safety issue as anything can go through the car - rain or debris. It was roughly $600. This weekend, the same thing happened to another window out of the blue while having my dog in the back who nearly jumped out after it fell into the door. Now, the part is backordered and the Kia dealership has said it could be months before the window can be repaired and they offer no solution on how to keep the window up in the meantime. This is an expensive safety issue and should not be failing in multiple windows. My car only has 65k miles on it.
Visibility, Jul 21, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated the passenger's side and rear driver's side window became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact removed the door panels and noticed that the power window regulator was corroded. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 19, 2021
THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY ROLLED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. CHECKS REVEAL THAT THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE UPWARD/DOWNWARD MOVEMENT WAS INOPERABLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRM THE MOTOR NEEDED CHANGING. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I AM THE ONLY USER OF THE CAR AND THE BACK SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED, THEY STILL CHARGED $650 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE REAR LEFT WINDOW. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO PAY ANOTHER $650, SO I TRIED TO PLACE PAPER IN THE SPACE TO HOLD THE GLASS IN PLACE. NOW TODAY THE RIGHT FRONT GLASS JUST ROLLED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I SPOKE WITH A KIA DRIVER I SAW IN THE PARKING LOT AT WALMART AND HE STATED THAT HE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 9, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT THIRTY MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC I HEARD A BANG AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THANKFULLY THE SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED OR SHARDS OF GLASS WOULD HAVE HIT ME. THE CAR BEHIND ME SWERVED PROBABLY TO AVOID THE GLASS. IT WAS SCARY AND I INITIALLY THOUGHT AN ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND CHANGE THE DESIGN TO PREVENT IT.
Electrical system, Visibility, Aug 28, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WINDOWS STARTED TO ROLL DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS BACK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER RICK CASE KIA LOCATED 14500 W. SUNRISE BLVD, SUNRISE, FL 33323, (954) 715-7580, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE WINDOW REGULATORS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,222.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE WINDOWS TO MOVE UPWARD AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA DELRAY (LOCATED AT 2255 S FEDERAL HWY, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483, 561-637-5500) WHO STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED FOR ALL FOUR WINDOWS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED AUTHORIZATION TO REPAIR THE REAR WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13306734. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Visibility, Jun 14, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GLASS SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. *BF *TR
Visibility, May 22, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCE, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CLASSIC KIA CARROLLTON (2920 N INTERSTATE 35E, CARROLLTON, TX 75007), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,500.
Power train, Visibility, Vehicle speed control, Feb 5, 2018
WHEN THE CAR ENCOUNTERS A HILL AND NEEDS TO DOWNSHIFT, EITHER TO CLIMB OR TO HOLD BACK THE SPEED WHEN IT DESCENDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL REMEMBERS THE DOWNSHIFT AND WILL NOT RETURN TO HIGH GEAR UNTIL A) IT IS MANUALLY OVERRIDDEN, BUT WILL STILL DOWNSHIFT UP TO 2 GEARS, WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED BACK TO AUTOMATIC OR, B) WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO BELATEDLY REACTS TO LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL AND OVERCORRECTS WITH TOO MUCH POWER, RESULTING IN A CRUDE RIDE, AS WELL. THE WORKLOAD IS INCREASED DEALING WITH GETTING THE CAR TO ATTAIN TOP GEAR ON FLAT ROADS, AND IS CREATING UNSAFE CONDITIONS, IN MY OPINION. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THIS ATTENDED TO AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CONTINUE TO NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AS WELL AS INFORM ME I SHOULDN'T BE USING CRUISE CONTROL ON HILLS. MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA DID NOT EXHIBIT THESE ISSUES, NOR ANY OTHER OF MY CARS WHICH HAD CRUISE CONTROL. THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THESE PEOPLE WILL NOT FIX IT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAT DOES ENTER THE FOOT WELL AREA. *JS
Visibility, Mar 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,039.