The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 446 of 765 complaints (58%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (12) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 1,023 in 2015 to 765 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 765
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,700–$2,500
- Combined MPG
- 25–37
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,700–2,600 | 1,700–2,600 | 1,700–2,500 | 1,500–2,500 | 1,500–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–37 | 24–37 | 25–37 | 25–42 | 25–42 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–35 / 30–38 | 20–35 / 30–38 | 22–35 / 31–38 | 22–39 / 31–46 | 22–39 / 31–46 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 242–372 | 242–372 | 242–360 | 212–360 | 212–360 | |
| Complaints filed | 622 | 1,023 | 765 | 306 | 244 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 25 | 31 | 27 | 6 | 10 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 44 | 76 | 21 | 12 | 10 | |
| Injuries reported | 24 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 9 | |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Optima have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Kia Optima?
Engine: 446 of 765 NHTSA complaints (58%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Kia Optima get?
EPA rates it 25–37 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Kia Optima?
EPA estimates $1,700–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 35 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | $1,700 (low) | 242 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 35 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 36 mpg | $1,750 | 247 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 28 mpg | 37 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 286 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 360 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 320 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 25 mpg | 36 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 308 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 446 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 76 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 63 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 105 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 33 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 25 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 37 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 52 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 86 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 122 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; ENGINE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Kia 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- The 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.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- Kia 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
- Remedy
- Kia 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.