AI Damage2016 KIA Optima: common problems
Owners of the 2016 KIA Optima filed 760 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 185 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 760
- involving a crash
- 27
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 185
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 56% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 426 complaints (56% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 28.
- Electrical system: 104 complaints (14% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 55.
- Powertrain: 74 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 53 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Exterior lighting: 47 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 11 complaints
- 2.4 L · hybrid · 4 cylnamed in 11 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speednamed in 3 complaints
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speednamed in 3 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 760 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 426 | 4 | 28 |
| Electrical system | 104 | 7 | 55 |
| Powertrain | 74 | 2 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 53 | 0 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 47 | 2 | 2 |
| Structure | 41 | 4 | 8 |
| Visibility | 38 | 0 | 9 |
| Vehicle speed control | 29 | 2 | 1 |
| Engine and cooling | 24 | 0 | 42 |
| Steering | 24 | 2 | 14 |
| Service brakes | 24 | 2 | 5 |
| Air bags | 24 | 13 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 9 | 0 | 11 |
| Seats | 9 | 2 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
Unknown the airbags didn't deploy when the car hit other driver from behind.
They even caused the ac to go power retarded and wouldn't work half the time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Happened on the freeway my car shut off and steering wheel locked up. It almost caused multiple crashes as other people got out of their cars to try and help me move my car out of the freeway. I take very good care of my car and maintenance was up to date. I still owe over 9k on the car and it only had 130k miles.
Pulled into neighborhood, put foot on pedal to accelerate, and car took off. Would not stop. Went b/w 80-100 mph on it's own, before my mother drove off an embankment, and flipped her car end over end. Nearly killing her, as well as her dog. Currently hospitalized.
Steering wheel locked causing vehicle to hit curb and damage wheel well. Veh possibly will need new rim.
The impact of the accident sent me skidding across the highway and none of my frontal airbags activated nor did the seatbelt lock up. This lead me to sustain heavy chest injuries from the impact of the steering wheel. Also the car could not be shut off after the accident.
A car accident took place early sunday morning of september 25, 2016 in which the air bag failed to deploy resulting in severe injuries. Kia was contacted and informed that a accident had taken place in a new vehicle that was purchased, and the airbag did not deploy, although it had passed the inspection at the…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 59 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Optima has 323 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 760, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made…
- 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…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 102 / 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…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 101 / 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…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain…
NHTSA lists 185 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA Optima?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 760. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (25%), oil leak or consumption (16%), windows, sunroof (15%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 KIA Optima?
NHTSA lists 185 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 KIA Optima from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.