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 4 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #262

Nov 112023

Optima

  • miles

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

Driving 80 miles an hour several hours from home on a major interstate and my car shut off. Pulled over on side of interstate and check engine light came on and car won-??t accelerate and is making a knocking noise

- Pleasanton, KS, USA

problem #261

Nov 032023

Optima

  • miles
The motor is knock and no acceleration. Burning oil to much. Get oil change but adding oil everyday.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #260

Oct 182023

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking violently. The contact pulled into a parking area where the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact also stated that the low-oil warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that frequent oil top off was needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Ramona, CA, USA

problem #259

Oct 312023

Optima

  • miles

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

The car fails to respond to throttle. It does it randomly every one in a while. It's very dangerous. There are no check engine lights or anything. The car can run for weeks beautiful and all of a sudden you hit the gas and the car doesn't move. It can take 3-4 seconds before it responds.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #258

Aug 312023

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle Dash Check Engine Light came on 08/31/2023 Code P200A was found. Several weeks went by and vehicle started to hesitate pretty bad Vehicle was towed to Kia dealership on 10/04/2023 : Was told engine failure which needed replacement along with intake and several other required parts. Covered under Powertrain Warranty, vehicle was completed and ready for pick up on 10/17/2023 On 10/24/2023, on my way home from work, Dash Warning "Engine has overheated" has came on. Vehicle was towed back to original dealership. Kia reportedly found "air pocket" in cooling system. Vehicle was ready for pickup same day. On 10/30/2023, on my way to work, Dash Warning "Engine has overheated" has once again came on. Luckily I was able to get off the interstate and happened to be by a Kia dealership in the area. At this time, info is pending.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #257

Oct 302023

Optima

  • 139,302 miles
It started shaking really bad out of no where, then wasn-??t going faster than 80 then down to 65 but wouldn-??t go more than 80 with my foot all the way on the gas. As soon as I made it to work tonight the car cut off. I got a jump the car was still shaking & wouldn-??t stay on if I let my foot off of the gas. I started it again without the cables but it cut right back off. I saw on cars.com it-??s a recall for the similar thing, number Sc172. I have been having fuel leaks for a while and had my knock sensor replaced from a previous recall. Now I have no way home.

- Lawrenceville , GA, USA

problem #256

Oct 272023

Optima

  • miles

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

Car purchased in 11/2022 with roughly 60,000 miles. I have owned the car for about 11 months. When we took the car for its first oil change there was no oil registering on the dipstick. The engine began knocking before the second oil change was due and after checking the oil I needed to aff 4.5 quarts of oil. I took the car to my mechanic was informed that there was no oil leak and that KIA engines were known for oil consumption and engine failure. He recommended I take the car to a dealership. I spoke with KIA corporate at this point and they said the car needed an oil consumption test before they would possibly help me. I scheduled an appointment at a Kia dealer for the test and when I took the car on 10/26/2023. They started it and refused to do the oil consumption test stating that the engine was ruined and it wasn't safe to drive. They quoted me nearly $10,000 to replace the engine, and stated that while other 2016 Optimas were covered under a recall for the exact same problem, my car is not covered under the recall and is not warranted therefore they will not help me. I paid over $15,000 for this car 11 months ago and it is nearly worthless, with a 10K repair it is worth 10K.

- Wooster, OH, USA

problem #255

Sep 272023

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after driving approximately 60 MPH for 20-30 minutes, the vehicle would start shaking abnormally. While driving approximately 40 MPH or less, the check engine warning light would become illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who noticed that there was no oil in the engine which caused engine failure. The contact stated the vehicle had received an oil change less than 3 months prior to the failure. The contact was informed that the KSDS sensor had failed and caused the engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine and KSDS sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Hilliard, OH, USA

problem #254

Oct 202023

Optima

  • miles
The body shop later informed me that there is a recall for engine fire recently, but my year/make is not listedin the info obtained online. The car started stalling while driving down the off. Smoke started coming through the vents. I pulled over to the side of the highway. A passerby told me that the car was on fire. Called 911. To note I had just picked the car up from Jim marsh Kia for battery replacement and problems with steering after the car was stolen in July. I had no previous issues with my car other than routine maintenance which I have records for.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #253

Apr 152023

Optima

  • miles
I most recently started noticing that my oil changes were not lasting at around 46,174 miles. I found this to unusual in a car with low mileage. I had to result to buying oil from a local store. The light indicator started coming on when ever I apply the brakes. When I checked my oil, it was completely dry. So I started monitoring the oil intake, even after I had oil changes at the dealership in which I mentioned that it appears to be taking in an excessive amount of oil. What I noticed was that I was adding oil every week. I did not detect any outward appearance of a leak. In addition, I experienced on several occasion what felt like the car was having a seizure. As soon as I filled up the gas tank. The car froze up, steering wheel would not move and the car was in drive but not accelerating. I immediately shut the engine off, then restarted the car. That seem to alleviate the problem for that time. It then got really bad, that it shook and was running rough as if it was falling apart. So I drove it the dealership, explained the two problems I had, running rough and a high level of oil being used in between oil changes. I was given a diagnosis on cylinders misfiring and needing spark plugs replacement, and ignition coils. Nothing about the oil issue. I was later told that would be an additional diagnosis charge to check. I asked about engine warranty and possible complaints or recalls, and was told that my issues would not be covered under the warranty. I purchased the items they indicated needed to be addressed and took my car to someone else. That's where it was discovered, when the spark plugs were removed, that oil was sitting in each pocket or cup that holds the spark plugs. All of them were soaked in oil. Though the spark plugs have been replaced and the rough shaking of the car has subsided, the acceleration is still questionable and I'm still having to fill my car with oil weekly. I'm not due for oil change until 51,174 miles and I'm currently at 51, 098.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #252

Sep 292022

Optima

  • miles

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

Emergency break stopped working. Engine misfires and heavy oil consumption or burning to quickly. Gets really really hot more than normal than any other car I owned.

- Shelton, WA, USA

problem #251

Jul 132023

Optima

  • 95,000 miles
At 95000 car had problem accelerating and then all of a sudden on the side of the road did that 2 had 2 engine rebuilds done no but the problem is still there and the fuses all look burnt and half my lights don't work.

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

problem #250

Oct 042023

Optima

  • miles
Burning oil. Took to a mechanic. Blow by engine

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #249

Oct 022023

Optima

  • miles
I have a 2016kia optima EX and I had a problem with it. I used to take it to the Kia dealership for oil change and services. So recently I have done the transmission fluid and oil change.! After that I have weird transmission problems like it finding hard to accelerate and even when I am changing the gear from park to drive or reverse it makes weird noise like clutching. I spoke with the dealership and they say we have changed the transmission fluid then it shouldn-??t be the problem.! They don-??t even find the exact problem.! I have been spending a lot on my car. Kia is messing up with the recalls.!

- Charlotte , NC, USA

problem #248

Jul 112023

Optima

  • miles
I brought the car may 13 2023 and July 11th the car caught fire on the eway around 9-10am. I was trapped in the car due to the doors not unlocking and had to get help by others around. The car didn't have any problems. No check engine light no nothing. Happened unexpected

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #247

Jul 012023

Optima

  • miles
I bought my car in 2016 brand new. It now has 47,000 miles on it. I took it in in 2018 to address a recall. I took it in 2019 when it had 19, 776 miles on it because of lack of power and they determined the VCMA motor was faulty. The car is now rattling and consuming oil extremely fast. An oil change is only lasting 2 weeks before I have to top it off. I-??ve had my spark plugs replaced. My mechanic (not Kia) has told me there may be an issue with the piston rings. The cost of repairing a car with less than 50,000 miles on it is getting ridiculous.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #246

Sep 252023

Optima

  • miles
I bought my car in August of 2022 with roughly 66,000 miles on it. It now has 71,000 miles on it which per the manual would only needed one oil change. I-??ve had to do three and top off my oil every 500-700 miles with 1.5-2qt of oil each time. Which is way over the criteria for KIA-??s -??normal-?? oil consumption. This has caused my spark plugs to foul out costing me more money in repairs. I have only put 5,000 miles on this car in the whole year I have owned it.The oil consumption rate of this car is insane.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #245

Aug 222022

Optima

  • 77,700 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he had scheduled a service appointment for an unknown recall repair on the fuel pump. The contact stated that the dealer informed him that the recall repair could not be completed until the fuel neck was repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,700.

- Seneca Falls, NY, USA

problem #244

Jul 132023

Optima

  • miles
The engine was has blown twice the first day 95000 miles and again at under 6000 miles. And there is still a bad knock and major vibration and ticking noise coming from the car. We told the car we no longer have faith in this car and didn't want it no more and all he did was see if he could get us another loan to trade it in. We're now scared to really ride in to and can't get no one to help us on this my man is about to lose his job over this car

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

problem #243

Sep 032023

Optima

  • miles
My car has been consuming oil and has locked up and will not operate. This issue has been reported to the manufacturer by several other customers, and my car is not a part of the recent recalls. This issue could have caused me serious harm, had I been on a highway, or busy intersection. My car engine now doesn't work.

- Merrillville, IN, USA

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