Your vehicle report
2016 Kia Optima
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 760
- Received Feb 2016 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine burns excessive oil between changes111 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine stalls and loses power while driving91 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Power window regulator fails and window drops69 complaints · 9.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #23V594000Kia 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."
- Recall #18V907000Kia 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Feb 2020
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Aug 2019
- Power window regulator fails and window dropsFirst signal: Mar 2020
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 27 crashes, 20 fires, 21 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 63 |
| 2020 | 60 |
| 2021 | 67 |
| 2022 | 109 |
| 2023 | 162 |
| 2024 | 121 |
| 2025 | 76 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 50 |
| Total | 760 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 111 | 15% | 5.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 91 | 12% | 10.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.5% |
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 69 | 9.1% | 82.7× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Mar 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 40 | 5.3% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 28 | 3.7% | 4.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.9% |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 26 | 3.4% | 1× | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 23 | 3.0% | 1.6× | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 20 | 2.6% | 2.1× | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 18 | 2.4% | 7.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jun 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.3% |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 16 | 2.1% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 16 | 2.1% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 10 | 1.3% | – | NHTSA recall #16V231000 |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 9 | 1.2% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 7 | 0.9% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 7 | 0.9% | – | NHTSA recall #18V907000 |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 7 | 0.9% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 7 | 0.9% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 6 | 0.8% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 6 | 0.8% | – | |
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 5 | 0.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #23V594000August 24, 2023319,436 vehicles affected
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."
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.
NHTSA recall #18V907000December 19, 201871,653 vehicles affected
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #17V007000January 6, 20171 vehicles affected
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V705000October 3, 201612,214 vehicles affected
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V231000April 21, 201617 vehicles affected
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2016 Kia Optima.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN