10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,269 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #302

Apr 292024

Optima

  • miles

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

Unknown

- Summerville, SC, USA

problem #301

Apr 162024

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle first went into -??limp mode-?? and dealer said high voltage recall needed to be done. Worked ok for a while then again -??limp mode-?? dealer said knock sensor recall was happening and knock sensor was replaced. Few weeks ago limp mode again, all during car was moving in traffic. Car currently sitting at a Kia dealer, knock sensor again, haven-??t heard from Kia regarding engine replacement

- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

problem #300

Mar 072024

Optima

  • miles
The Hybrid Battery continues to malfunction and, randomly shuts down at any speed (even after short engine block was "repaired" by Kia Dealership). Also, an odor of burnt oil happens often while driving the car. It is available for inspection, if need be. Safety of all drivers at risk because car shuts down on freeways and highways. It's dangerous where cars driving at speeds of 65 mph are unable to break and avoid collision. Kia calls their RECALLS "CAMPAIGNS". The Kia dealer has acknowledged this problem and has performed maintenance, however the problem still persists. I have the recent receipt of service/ maintenance on my 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid on hand. The first time it happened was on September 25, 2021. There were no warning lights or messages, the car simply shut down and had no power and was not drivable. I took it to a hybrid mechanic who ran a diagnostic test. The hybrid mechanic repaired my car. 6 months later, while I was driving my car seized on me while I was driving on the freeway going 65 miles an hour. This time a warning on my dashboard showed that there was a problem with the hybrid control system on the car. We took it to a Kia dealership and they performed a diagnostic test and said that I needed a new short engine block and hybrid battery replacement. (I have the receipts for the maintenance performed by Kia Dealership) It took 3 months for The Kia dealership to rebuild the engine block and replace the Hybrid battery. On March 7, 2024, my 2016 Kia optimal hybrid seized on me while I was driving 40 miles an hour. The message/ warning now says "Battery Management System Failure" "Possible BMS Condition." "Check Hybrid System". Kia does not acknowledge that there is a problem with the hybrid system in the Kia Optima hybrids. I've called and tried to file a complaint, however they tell me there are no problems with the Kia Optima hybrids. Please investigate. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #299

Mar 282024

Optima

  • miles

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

Lost power while driving. Likely seized engine.

- Honolulu , HI, USA

problem #298

Mar 112024

Optima

  • miles
While driving home on the interstate the vehicle had a sudden loss of power. No warning lights or check engine lights were on prior to this incident. The vehicle would not start and I had it towed to a dealership who told me that the engine was low on oil and that KIA would not be covering the engine replacement. I provided the dealership/KIA with all of my service records showing that I had performed all maintenance to my vehicle at KIA dealerships and that I had never skipped any recommended repairs. I also pointed out that there was never any notes made that I should be monitoring for excessive engine oil consumption or that I had a leak anywhere to be found. Despite having all of my records in order, all of my services performed at a KIA dealership and in a timely manner, no low oil lights that came on to notify me that it was dangerously low on oil, and the known issues and recalls to these engines for this exact issue; KIA stood firm that this was not their problem and they would be doing nothing to assist me in the matter. This sudden loss of power on the interstate fortunately did not, but easily could have caused a fatal accident for me and those around me at the time and also could have caused a fire to start in the vehicle which could have been fatal as well.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #297

Mar 132024

Optima

  • 136,692 miles
The engine almost caught on fire. Windows are all down.

- Grovetown, GA, USA

problem #296

Jun 202023

Optima

  • miles

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

Engine failure; oil consumption, misfire, smoking, losing sped, no acceleration. Problem has been diagnosed by 3 mechanics in a mechanic shop. Only warning was the check engine light

- North Chesterfield , VA, USA

problem #295

Mar 152021

Optima

  • miles
My engine has been consuming oil since 30,000 miles. It consumes in excess of 1 qt per 500 miles. There's zero dripping oil from under my car, it's all being consumed. I've lost power and gone into limp mode because it's consumed too much oil and ran dry in between regular oil changes. Kia has not helped me. I've done more than 5 consumption tests with a Kia dealer. And now Kia says that it's a warranty event. However they will not accept my warranty event without evidence of every self oil change such as receipts for oil filters or oil. I don't have all of these records so Kia refuses to repair my vehicle.

- Escondido, CA, USA

problem #294

Oct 052023

Optima

  • miles
Heavy oil consumption, unintended acceleration, car jerks. Back window occasionally won-??t roll down.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #293

Aug 252023

Optima

  • miles
I'm noticing that I'm burning oil frequently. I started to notice this becoming an issue summer of 2023. Once when I get an oil change about 3-4 Weeks later my oil light comes on. Then I would have to put oil and my car. The dealership always ask me if I'm sure that I want an oil change because I haven't hit my time for an oil change. 26th Feb 2024 I spoke with Kia Customer Care and they stated that this is not an issue and that oil consumption is not under warranty. I stated that I didn't inquire about the oil consumption. I repeated my question asking if it's a known issue that the Kia optimas burn oil. Angel the customer care representative stated that it isnt. However, I started how is when I took my car to numerous dealerships and mechanics that they all said the same thing. That I spoke to a Kia dealership before I called and they stated that it was a known issue. Once when I said that, Angel changed her story and said yes that it is a known issue but all cars burn oil. I asked was there a solution for this issue. Angel then repeated the same thing and I said thank you for your time and got off the phone. Needless to say there was no solution made.

- Dumfries , VA, USA

problem #292

Feb 052024

Optima

  • miles

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

When I was coming home from work my car lost power and didn-??t accelerate anymore when I was on the freeway. I almost didn-??t make it to the shoulder when trying to pull over. Every single light I could imagine came on when I was trying to pull over, It said check hybrid system, BSP system failed, etc. All the lights came on at once. My car didn-??t start, so I had to wait on the side of the freeway at 4am for a ride and a tow. Kia told me that I need service records to prove that I was up on my maintenance and that the reason my engine failed was at no fault of my own, But I am up on maintenance. That same dealership had my car in February 2023 and said my car was in perfect condition and up on maintenance, I just needed a new transmission. Now just a year later, Suddenly my engine failed and they are saying it might be because I didn-??t get oil changes. There are recalls on Kia engines made in 2016 but for some reason my car isn-??t included in the recall even though I know I took car of my car and that engine just wasn-??t good.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #291

Jul 032023

Optima

  • miles
Oil light continues to come on only after 1 month of a 5 quart oil change. Only driving about 300 miles a month. Have taken it to a kia dealership where they said there was no oil leak. Took it to a private mechanic for a second opinion where I monitored my miles after an oil change and they found that it is an engine problem and the engine is burning my oil. This has been happening for the past 6 months. I did not have the mechanic fix the issue as it should be covered through the manufacturers warranty.

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #290

Feb 162023

Optima

  • miles
Engine is burning 2qts of oil every 500-900 miles. Risk of engine seizing during drive.

- Raeford, NC, USA

problem #289

Feb 122024

Optima

  • 114,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the turbo booster sensor and turbo charger. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.

- Bedford Heights, OH, USA

problem #288

Aug 072021

Optima

  • miles
Since 08/07/21 I-??ve been having intermittent issues with my oil light and engine light coming on. I have had all repairs recommended by the Mark KIA Scottsdale, AZ dealership yet my oil consumption has increased significantly and the oil light continues to come on: On 02/14/24 I took my car to a local auto repair shop to get a second opinion due to the oil light coming off and on; they found the engine oil very low and only 1 quart came out when doing the oil change; they also recommended injection induction service which I-??ve had done twice previously with the KIA dealership

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #287

Jan 292024

Optima

  • miles
Engine is burning 2qts of oil every 500-900 miles. Risk of engine seizing during drive or engine compartment fire-??both very dangerous for occupants of vehicle. Case opened with Kia-??no response back.

- Zephryhills, FL, USA

problem #286

Feb 062024

Optima

  • miles
Constantly burning oil every 500 - 1,000 miles. There is a huge issue with these engines there needs to be a recall to replace or fix these engines.

- Grenville, OH, USA

problem #285

Feb 032024

Optima

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle began sputtering. The check engine warning light was flashing. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed her that the code P1326 (Knock Sensor Failure) was retrieved. The mechanic informed the contact that an engine replacement was needed. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #284

Feb 032024

Optima

  • 149,356 miles
I see there is recall on some Kia Optima with the oil being loss and knocking of the engine. I keep up the maintenance on my car and this particular issue is happening with my car. Why is there only some optimas recall for this issue.

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #283

Jan 252024

Optima

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the oil pressure switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 237. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 45,000.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

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