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2016 kia Optima engine problems

moderate 309 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100

Complaints
309
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$3,100

What owners are reporting 9 most recent

engine · filed 12/30/2021

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 after going 2 500 miles the same situation occurred again and another shop inspected and could not find out why. In all 3 …

engine · filed 12/27/2022

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 off and I would have to turn they nob off and back on to get them to come on again. Soon after that I noticed that I would …

engine · filed 12/27/2021

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and checked the oil level of the vehicle with the assistance of her son. The contact stated that her son noticed that the vehicle did not have oil on the dipstick. The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys who had previously refilled the oil and…

engine · filed 12/26/2025

Engine brocked the pistones brock stock engine and pay for new engine

engine · filed 12/24/2023

Loss of power. Was driving across a 4 lane intersection and the vehicle lost power. The engine light came on. I stopped and check the oil and it was 2 quarts low. We had just changed oil less than 2,000 mikes ago. I tool the car to parts store and they said it was a p0309 code. That #4 cylinder misfire. It was either coil or spark plug. I replaced both coil and spark plugs 15,000 miles ago. The p…

engine · filed 12/16/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment was heard, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact further stated that while driving at approximately 80 MPH, with the cruise control mode engaged, the vehicle started to stall and failed to exceed 30 MPH. The contact stated that th…

engine · filed 12/16/2022

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The oil level warning light was illuminated. The contact also noticed that the front driver's side tire was low. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed her that the vehicle was 3-quarts low on engine oil due to the excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was not …

engine · filed 12/15/2022

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who replaced the spark plugs and coil pack; however, the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer w…

engine · filed 12/12/2022

My dealership has confirmed oil consumption on my vehicle

Common questions

How serious is the engine problem on the 2016 kia Optima?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 309 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the engine typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to engine?

No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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