2016 Kia Optima recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• Jun 11, 2025Air bags
  Component: Power Window / Door Description: All four power window regulators failed on my 2016 Kia Optima SXL within 16 months - from June 2025-Oct 2026. The failure mode is identical on all four doors: the plastic drum gear in the regulator separates or breaks, causing the window glass to drop into the door and become completely inoperable. The vehicle had 113,867 miles on it at the time of the first failure. This is a known design defect, not wear-and-tear. Kia issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD300 (March 2021) specifically addressing "Window Regulator Drum Gear Replacement" for 2016-2017MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced September 1, 2015 through July 31, 2016. The bulletin confirms…
• Aug 1, 2025Visibility/wiper
  Concerning my Optima KIA's OEM front windshield. At certain times of the day when the sunlight is shining on a certain angle it is difficult to see through the windshield due to the glare which creates a visual impairment. There were a quite a few instance's where I almost got into serious accidents. With my observation the glass looks like there are thousands of microscopic pits like a light sandblasting embedded within the lamination and not the surface of the glass. It seems prominent at night also. This seems like a manufacture defect. This puts a safety risk for me and others. The dealer and manufacture will not do anything about it do to out of warranty. This appeared about a year ago…
• Aug 14, 2026Engine
  Severe engine defect (Theta II 2.4L GDI). Sudden total loss of power, metallic knocking, severe oil consumption, and imminent catastrophic failure while driving, creating a high safety risk. Vehicle is currently out of service in [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
• Oct 6, 2026 · fireElectrical system
  I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2016 Kia Optima, purchased from CarMax in 2024 and financed through CarMax Auto Finance. On or about October 5, 2026, I returned to my parked vehicle and discovered extensive black soot/smoke residue throughout the interior. Wiring and interior components appeared melted or burned. The vehicle had not been involved in a collision. Based on the damage, I believe an electrical or wiring failure may have caused the fire, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle was inspected by police and the tow operator, and it was determined to be a total loss. An insurance claim has been filed, and the vehicle should be available…
• Sep 19, 2023Electrical system
  3 times windows different ones has stopped rolling up/down. 3 motors purchased and installed.
• Dec 10, 2025Fuel system, gasoline
  The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. Soon after the failure, the engine caught fire; however, the fire dissipated independently. The insurance agent was contacted and arrived at the scene to inspect the vehicle. The contact was initially informed that the vehicle was safe to drive; however, the engine failed to start after several attempts. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where a mechanic discovered that the knock sensor was inoperable and had caused the fire. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) and…
• Aug 4, 2026 · crashExterior lighting
  Vehicle was purchased in 2023. 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. Kia advised at the time that the wiring harness should be replaced due to electrical issues at the time but said that there was no recall for that work. At the time, there were no electrical failures of steering, brakes, all power etc. Nor did we know that those were a possibility. The wiring harness quote was $7,000, over the cost of the vehicle. It was decided to continue repairing the electrical…
• May 2, 2026Engine
  While driving at highway speeds on the freeway in San Diego, the engine of my 2016 Kia Optima catastrophically seized without warning. I instantly lost all power steering, brake assist, and electrical power, creating an immediate life-threatening emergency. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealer. Corporate Techline and the dealership are refusing to perform the mandated settlement rod bearing test and are falsifying paperwork to deny the safety remedy.

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• DP22003 · opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023Loss of Motive Power
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003)…
• DP21003 · opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023Throttle control system vulnerabilities
  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52…
• EA19001 · opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024Electrical overstress
  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal,…