Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2016 KIA Optima

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

5
Open recalls
734
NHTSA complaints
3
Defect investigations
225
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

734 filed
25
Crashes
18
Fires
20
Injuries reported
1
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Engine
    413
  • Unknown OR Other
    113
  • Electrical System
    95
  • Power Train
    68
  • FUEL/PROPULSION System
    51
  • Exterior Lighting
    43
  • STRUCTURE:BODY
    38
  • Vehicle Speed Control
    27

Recalls

6 campaigns
23V594000·LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH2023-08-24

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

RiskA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

FixDealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.

18V907000·ENGINE2018-12-19

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

FixKia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

18V907000·FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2018-12-19

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

FixKia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

17V007000·AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE2017-01-06

Kia Motors America (Kia) has recalled one 2016 Optima vehicle. In this vehicle, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.

RiskIn the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.

FixThe affected vehicle was remedied on January 10, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC143.

16V705000·POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT2016-10-03

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 13, 2015, to April 23, 2016 and equipped with a 2.4l engine. The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.

RiskIf the driveshaft cracks and separates from the vehicle, it will not be able to move forward. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario can increase the risk of a crash.

FixKia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC139.

16V231000·AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2016-04-21

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in necessitating crashes.

RiskIf the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.

FixKia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC131.

NHTSA investigations

3 actions
DP22003·ENGINE2022-09-12 → 2023-12-12

Loss of Motive Power

DP21003·VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE 2021-11-12 → 2023-06-20

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

EA19001·AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE2019-04-19 → 2024-09-19

Electrical overstress

Led to recall20V024

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