2016 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
70/100
#4 most-complained of 11 Optima years
The 2016 Kia Optima has 754 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 70, ranking 4th worst out of 11 model years. Engine problems dominate at 60% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 87,250, and the year carries 5 recalls, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Optima years.
- Complaints
- 754
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 27 / 19
- Injuries / deaths
- 21 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 24 city / 34 hwy
Top 2016 Kia Optima problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine450 (60%)
- Electrical System140 (19%)
- Other122 (16%)
- Transmission & Powertrain73 (10%)
- Fuel System62 (8%)
- Structure & Body51 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers36 (5%)
- Brakes33 (4%)
- Steering24 (3%)
- Airbags23 (3%)
What owners report
- Engines reportedly stall or surge to 6,000-7,000 RPM while driving, sometimes with a burning smell and oil leaking.
- Vehicles have caught fire after being parked, with owners describing flames erupting minutes after the engine was shut off.
- Engines reportedly smoke and then catch fire while driving at highway speeds, in some cases fully destroying the vehicle.
- Frontal airbags reportedly fail to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and rear-end collisions with injuries.
- Electrical systems reportedly cut out unpredictably, with the engine, radio, and interior lights shutting off and restarting on their own.
- Owners report a loud explosion sound from under the hood when pressing the ignition button, followed by unexpected vehicle movement.
2016 Kia Optima recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V594000Aug 24, 2023Structure & Body319,436 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.
- NHTSA 18V907000Dec 19, 2018Engine71,653 vehicles
Engine
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.
- NHTSA 17V007000Jan 6, 2017Airbags1 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.
2016 Kia Optima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 28 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Kia Optima reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2016 Optima ranks 4th worst among 11 model years with a complaint index of 70, earning a Caution verdict relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Kia Optima?
- Engine complaints make up 60% of all reported issues (450 of 754 complaints), including stalling, surging RPMs, and fires, with a median failure mileage of 87,250.
- Does the 2016 Kia Optima have engine fire recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Optima, including one covering fuel pipe inspection tied to prior engine replacements and one for a front axle driveshaft that may crack.
- How does the 2016 Optima compare to other years?
- The 2016 Optima's complaint index of 70 is worse than 2017 (20), 2018 (30), 2019 (40), and 2020 (10), but better than 2013 (100), 2015 (90), and 2012 (80).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Kia Optima?
- EPA rates the 2016 Optima at 28 MPG combined (24 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300.