1.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
97,198 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

problem #12

Jun 282024

Optima

  • 70,434 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs and ignition coils needed to be replaced due to fouling by engine oil. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure, approximately 1 quart of engine oil was being added every week. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,434.

- Holland, MI, USA

problem #11

Jul 152024

Optima

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the vehicle started shaking and then stalled. The vehicle was restarted each time. Additionally, a quart of oil needed to be added weekly due to excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced or repaired. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred three years later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

May 302024

Optima

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was flashing. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. The contact stated that prior to the engine failing, one quart of engine oil was being added every week. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

- Fryeburg, ME, USA

problem #9

Jun 152023

Optima

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shuddered. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rod bearings were knocking. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, neither the VIN nor the model year was included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Evans, GA, USA

problem #8

Jun 122024

Optima

  • 102,175 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the engine was overheating. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,175.

- Center, TX, USA

problem #7

Mar 012023

Optima

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The camshaft sensor was replaced but the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 125,000.

- Thomasville, GA, USA

problem #6

Jun 082023

Optima

  • 165,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle after several attempts, the contact checked the engine and checked the oil level and found that the oil was extremely low. The contact added 3-quarts of oil and was able to start the vehicle. The contact observed that the vehicle would intermittently lose power and nearly stalled. The contact became aware that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil and was adding 2-quarts of oil every two weeks. The contact checked for oil leaks and found none. The contact stated that the check oil warning light had illuminated once. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where an oil consumption test was conducted. The consumption test determined that the vehicle was consuming a high amount of oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

- Hammonton, NJ, USA

problem #5

Sep 132023

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle purchase July 20th 2023 with new oil change per Carvana. On August 7th 2023, check engine light appears. Car was taken to a local shop. No oil and some other issues found. "Issues fixed.". On September 13th oil light comes on. Again, taken to car shop, no oil. Oil topped off again. Car is not maintaining oil.

- Gardendale, AL, USA

problem #4

Feb 092023

Optima

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated to 5 MPH. The contact depressed the accelerator and the vehicle started to vibrate but failed to respond as needed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence at 5 MPH. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer replaced the spark plugs and the battery. The vehicle was repaired; however, the dealer informed the contact that any repairs related to the recall would only be performed if the engine failed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #3

Apr 292023

Optima

  • 138,769 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light started flashing. The contact stated that smoke was coming from underneath the hood and an abnormal knocking sound was coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that he pulled over, stopped, and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact had previously had a software upgrade for the knock sensor performed; however, the dealer stated that the engine had already suffered engine block damage and the vehicle did not qualify for an engine replacement. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,769.

- El Dorado, KS, USA

problem #2

May 042023

Optima

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal metal to metal squealing sound. The contact pulled the vehicle off the roadway and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality during the failure. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed back to her residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

- Salemburg, NC, USA

problem #1

Oct 152021

Optima

  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the oil level warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that upon depression of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would independently enter Limp Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to Quirk Kia Manchester (1300 S Porter St, Manchester, NH 03103) where they initially updated the knock sensor. The contact stated that the failure persisted and the vehicle was towed back to the dealer where the knock sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to KIA at Nashua (107 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua, NH 03060) where he was informed that engine oil had entered into the cylinder head and damaged the spark plugs. The contact was provided an estimate for a new engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

- Dracut, MA, USA

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