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The 2016 Kia Optima has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 748 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2016 Kia Optima has 748 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 313 complaints, typically surfacing around 93,269 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Optima | 1,375 | 1 |
| 2014 Optima | 580 | 3 |
| 2015 Optima | 1,001 | 2 |
| 2016 Optima (this page) | 748 | 3 |
| 2017 Optima | 252 | 0 |
| 2018 Optima | 230 | 2 |
| 2019 Optima | 204 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2016 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 73,281 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
While driving the car the fuel consumption in the motor would bog the engine down to where it would barely go over 40 MPH on the highway. At this time the engine trouble indicator light would come on and not go off. I immediately took it to the local Kia dealership in mt. Hope,…
In Sept the car oil light came on. The car was out of oil. Took it to shop and they could not find a leak. The car was filled with oil. Less than 1,000 miles later in Oct the same situation occurred again. The car was inspected an no leak was found but the oil was gone. In Dec…
While driving on the highway, the roof antenna assembly flew off our car. Inspection of the area shows that the screws that were supposed to hold the antenna on had all become sheared off. It looks like there is a recall for this exact issue covering 2016 Kia Optimas produced…
I had my car for about 2 years and it had 1 owner before me. At first it was a great car no issues, but soon it became a nightmare. First thing I noticed was my lights would turn off by themselves whiles driving at night. I usually kept them on auto and they would randomly go…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
If 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.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 748 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Kia Optima has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Kia Optima is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 6 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the engine; Electrical system: 78 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 43,000–107,110 mi; Body: 33 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 14,000–53,200 mi; Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 313 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 93,269 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 748 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 93,269 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 313 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 93,269 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 31,852 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 748 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.