10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,535 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Kia Optima drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #36

Mar 052022

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My steering wheel will randomly lock in the middle of road while driving. I have to forcefully turn wheel to be able to pull of off the road meanwhile the there is on coming traffic. I have been told my car is having misfire and an engine knock code P1326 I have also got other codes and was told it could be a factory malfunction.

- Mesilla Park , NM, USA

problem #35

Jan 102022

Optima

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #34

Dec 142021

Optima

  • miles
#1Headlights & break lights going out often. Bulbs can-??t be replaced anymore due to wiring burnt ( 1 headlight ) Took it in and they didn-??t even look at it. Have do Documents to back that up #2 Engine light coming on, diagnostic testing indicated spark plugs need to be replaced. Had to do this two times with oil on plugs Took it in and they NEVER look at the spark plugs #3 car burning excessive amount of oil anywhere from 1 quart a week to 3 1/2 quarts after driving 600 miles. Took it into the shop for oil consumption testing only to be told that their warranty would not cover it and it needs a new engine. I have a 10 year or 100,000 mile warranty on my car! and at the present time I only have 88496 miles on my car I have documentation to back up my claim, I have been a loyal Kia owner for 18 years and they have absolutely treated me horrible in regards to this saying that it was lack of maintenance and they never checked the issues that led up to their findings. They indicated that there was sludge in my engine but could never prove or show me anything that they did to document the sludge and trying to blame it on me. This car is a safety hazard as I am aware of mini other Kia optima-??s dad have either caught fire or repaired to have their motors replaced due to the same issues. Anything you can do to help me with this issue ! I-??m 60 years old and know how to take care of my car

- Louisville , KY, USA

problem #33

Jul 222021

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2016 kia Optima will not go in reverse. It will only work in drive. Tried to drive out of my driveway today. 07.22.2021 and the car would not go in reverse. Pulled back in the driveway and will not drive due to safety hazard.

- Crandall, TX, USA

problem #32

Mar 252021

Optima

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse, the vehicle failed to respond. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer bowie Kia located at 16620 governor bridge rd, bowie, md 20716 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. No assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

- Columbia, MD, USA

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problem #31

Mar 102021

Optima

  • 41,916 miles
Was exiting the freeway, came to a stoplight, and as continuing with driving the check engine light starts blinking and was not able to accelerate, as if it was slipping. Car would not go over around 30 mph until feeling the car not able to accelerate again. I used a code reader and got code P1326, which I had looked up and says it has something to do with a knock sensor detection system. Had bring my car in to get it checked out and was told my car had low oil, about 2 quartz. I do regular oil changes though and had done an oil change a few weeks prior. The shop I went to told me there may be a service campaign for the car. Was told specific years have had engine problems with oil, losing oil although no leaks or signs.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #30

Oct 202020

Optima

  • 87,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car lost acceleration while driving

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #29

Sep 052016

Optima

  • 100 miles
From a stationary position, upon accelerating the car hesitates, vibrates, feels as if it might stall but does not stall. Car, within a second or so will catch and accelerate as it should. Driver is very aware of the vibration hesitation. The passenger can also feel the hesitation. Skipping sensation happens at any stopped location, at an intersection or stop sign etc. I T seems to happen about 75% of the time. Occasionally there will not been a hesitation experience. I have taken it in at least 2 times to dealer service department and was told thy could find nothing to account for the problem and even suggested that I use a higher grade fuel. Fuel milage is great, all other driving aspects of th Kia are perfect.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #28

Aug 222020

Optima

  • miles
When I try to start my car it'll turn electrical components on but not my engine. I have absolutely no power steering when this occurs. Car will go into gear but I cannot accelerate. Happens more often than not.

- Stillwater, OK, USA

problem #27

Jul 132020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
Whenever decelerating the car jerks terribly hard enough the throw your head forward. It feels as if your hitting your breaks really hard!

- Fulton, MS, USA

problem #26

Dec 012019

Optima

  • 73,550 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

P1326 engine code came on while driving 60mph on the interstate. Luckily was in far left lane when engine shut off and was safely able to get off freeway to a nearby gas station.

- Jonesboro, AR, USA

problem #25

Nov 292019

Optima

  • 99,200 miles
E - C V V T seal seating issue. My 2016 Kia Optima is giving an obd II error code of P0010 "a" camshaft position actuator circuit. This causes reduction in power during acceleration, and elevates engine idle speeds to 1200-1400 RPM. This elevation in engine speed causes the car to try to move forward even when the brakes are pressed in stop and go traffic. In stop and go traffic, this could easily lead to vehicle crashing. This, I believe, should be a part of recall instead of a technical service bulletin from the manufacturer. Hyundai and Kia use same engine, and has a tsb number 15-01-022-1, and Kia has a tsb to change the motor plug and ecvvt cover for it. They are aware of this issue in their car, and it should be a recall. When the car was in motion for me the first time the check engine light came on, I almost hit a car in front of me as the engine does not go back down to idle speeds. This is dangerous.

- Elmhurst, NY, USA

problem #24

Oct 052019

Optima

  • 50,000 miles
Was traveling to dallas, Texas from waco, Texas on 10/05/2019. The transmission in my vehicle went out. The vehicle surged erratically multiple times, while the car was slowing down, speed limit was 75mph, with barriers on both sides (no shoulder on either side. Of interstate 35 North) my vehicle got down to about 40mph when we had to coast until I finally found a break in the barriers. Was a very scary situation. They were vehicles obviously driving speed. Limit behind us. I was able to get off the interstate and call road side assistance. They towed the vehicle back to university Kia in waco, Texas. Where it currently sits, awaiting a new transmission. We are terrified to get behind the wheel of this car again. All I am being told is that a new transmission is being ordered at this time.

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #23

Sep 262019

Optima

  • 53,323 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16V705000 (power train) at greenway Kia of franklin (5026, 1413 murfreesboro rd, franklin, tn 37067, (615) 224-7973). The driveshaft was replaced during the repair, but the vehicle was leaking fluid afterwards. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic to call the dealer back. The dealer stated that the warranty for the recall repair was valid for only twelve months and had expired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer and was provided a case number. The manufacturer stated that the dealer was independently owned and they would not get paid to perform the repair; therefore, the contact would have to pay for the repair. The failure mileage was 53,323.

- Columbia, TN, USA

problem #22

Jul 292011

Optima

  • 0 miles
My oil is burning faster that expected. I gotand oil change and a week later it was to the bottom.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #21

Sep 152019

Optima

  • 55,000 miles
After 2nd transmission was installed, 2 days after I received a diagnostic warning of a possible motor control unit error., I received a prompt so it could report it back to Kia, I then received an email with error code P0C17 brought car back to Kia, they stated the calibration was off, and needed to be re calibrated

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #20

Sep 122019

Optima

  • 0 miles
I was changing out the front brake pads and I noticed on the driver side the boot around the axel had cracked and the grease had leaked out.

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

problem #19

Sep 112019

Optima

  • 54,000 miles
After the Kia dealership replaced the transmission the first time. Due to a mcu failure. 2 weeks later car was due for oil change, jiffy lube stated my transmission was leaking. I took it back to Kia. After 2 days of it bei N.V G in the shop. I went to Kia on the 3rd day, to check it on the car and was told the dealership was waiting on approval from Kia automotive to replace the transmission a 2nd time do to the leaking of the first transmission

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #18

Aug 292019

Optima

  • 123,000 miles
Check engine light is blinking, there is a noticeable decrease in power, and it jerks out of first gear. Took it to autozone for a free diagnostic which was P1326. All fluid are in order. Milage is 123,000. This happened when I was driving he fr work.

- Shiprock, NM, USA

problem #17

Aug 202019

Optima 4-cyl

  • 32,600 miles
Vehicle, on multiple occasions, will shift unexpectedly from fifth gear into fourth very abruptly and dramatically. There is also a lapse in time when you press on the gas to accelerate and with for it to down shift into fourth gear or beyond.

- Ashton, ID, USA

Read the next 16 complaints »

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