2016 Kia OPTIMA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Kia OPTIMA has 1064 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 13.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (42% of all complaints), specifically: when starting from a dead stop, the car hesitates up to 6 or 7 seconds. i think it has stalled, then it starts again by its self. this is extremely dangerous when pulling out into an intersection. it does this constantly.. ⚠️ 33 fire reports filed.
1064
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
13.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
445 complaints- • WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE RPMS DRASTICALLY INCREASED TO 6 OR 7. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITIO
- • FROM A DEAD STOP DRIVING AROUND, RELEASING THE BRAKE PETAL FROM A STOP AND GETTING READY TO GET GOING, THE CAR SHUTTERS A BIT AND/OR BOTH THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA STALL. HESITATION TO GET GOING.. DOES IT IN ALL 3 DRIVE MODES. DEALERS SAYS NPF.. OF COURSE AND SAID MAYBE QUALITY OF GAS, I U
“WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
120 complaints- • SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN AUG2016 BRAND NEW WHEN I GIVE IT GAS THE VALVES PING AND PEAK EXTREMELY BAD NOT MATTER WHAT FUEL I USE ALSO THE AC KEEPS LOOSING POWER IT WILL BLOW FINE THEN IT ALMOST GOES OFF WHILE STILL DRIVING THE SAME SPEED. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE A MISS OR HESITATION IN
- • THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES RUMBLING/RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. IT IS SPORADIC BUT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM SOMETHING RELATED TO THE TIRES. IT IS HARD TO TAKE FOR A DIAGNOSE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING VIBRATING UNDER THE HOOD. I CHECKED AND E
- • ON WEDNESDAY MORNING DRIVING TO MY WORK THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WAS A BIG SOUND ,THIS EXPLOSION TERRIFIES ME AND THANKS GOD I DIDN'T LOST IT THE CONTROL OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY I DROVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE TO STOP THE CAR AND TRYING FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.I SAW BIG HOLE AT THE SUNROOF ,I DID NOT KNOW
“SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN AUG2016 BRAND NEW WHEN I GIVE IT GAS THE VALVES PING AND PEAK EXTREMELY BAD NOT MATTER WHAT FUEL I USE ALSO THE AC KEEPS LOOSING POWER IT WILL BLOW FINE THEN IT ALMOST GOES OFF WHILE STILL DRIVING THE SAME SPEED. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE A MISS OR HESITATION IN ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
100 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 15 HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FI
- • PURCHASED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA EX WITH THE PREMIUM PACKAGE WITH LESS THAN 30 ODOMETER MILES IN APRIL 2017 FROM A KIA DEALER (VIN [XXX]). AT 4200 MILES THE CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. SCREEN FLASHED "ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM - POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION
- • MY OPTIMA SEEMS TO HESITATE OR STUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT REMINDS ME OF A GEAR SLIPPING BUT MY CAR ONLY HAS 11,145 MI ON IT SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S POSSIBLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING OBSERVATION FOR MONTHS NOW. I'VE ALSO HAD ONE OF MY MIRRORS NOT GO BACK TO NORMAL POSITION AFTER I MO
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 15 HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
71 complaints- • WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY.
- • FROM A DEAD STOP DRIVING AROUND, RELEASING THE BRAKE PETAL FROM A STOP AND GETTING READY TO GET GOING, THE CAR SHUTTERS A BIT AND/OR BOTH THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA STALL. HESITATION TO GET GOING.. DOES IT IN ALL 3 DRIVE MODES. DEALERS SAYS NPF.. OF COURSE AND SAID MAYBE QUALITY OF GAS, I U
- • THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM A HESITATION DURING TAKE OFF. ACCORDING TO KIA THIS HESITATION COME FROM A 7 SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION(DCT). WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER TO FEEL A SHUDDER SENSATION. THIS VEHICLE HAS A DOUBLE CLUTCH. I HAVE TAKEN MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA DEALERS FOR REPAIR TO THIS PR
“WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
61 complaints- • PURCHASED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA EX WITH THE PREMIUM PACKAGE WITH LESS THAN 30 ODOMETER MILES IN APRIL 2017 FROM A KIA DEALER (VIN [XXX]). AT 4200 MILES THE CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. SCREEN FLASHED "ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM - POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION
- • SHUTTER/HESITATION UPON TAKE OFF. I SIGNED MY LEASE ON 9/29 AND WAS AT THE SERVICE DEPT FIRST OF 7 TIMES ON 10/4. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD TO "LEARN THE WAY I DRIVE" THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH MY CAR. SINCE THEN THE DEALER HAS "RESET" THE TRANSMISSION, CHANGED FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACED TRA
- • TAKATA RECALL CAR STARTS TO STALL AND IDLE WHEN ON THE ROAD AND IN TRAFFIC. CAR STARTS TO BACK UP AND REVERSE WITHOUT NOTICE OR WARNING. ENGINE, BATTERY COMES ON AUTOMATICALLY AND I HAVE TO TURN OFF IGNITION AND RESTART VEHICLE.
“PURCHASED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA EX WITH THE PREMIUM PACKAGE WITH LESS THAN 30 ODOMETER MILES IN APRIL 2017 FROM A KIA DEALER (VIN [XXX]). AT 4200 MILES THE CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. SCREEN FLASHED "ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM - POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 1064 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN AUG2016 BRAND NEW WHEN I GIVE IT GAS THE VALVES PING AND PEAK EXTREMELY BAD NOT MATTER WHAT FUEL I USE ALSO THE AC KEEPS LOOSING POWER IT WILL BLOW FINE THEN IT ALMOST GOES OFF WHILE STILL DRIVING THE SAME SPEED. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE A MISS OR HESITATION IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 15 HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia OPTIMA — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 1064
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 33
- Crash reports
- 21
- Injury reports
- 15
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Kia OPTIMA