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2016 Kia Optima

Hybrid Gas

Large Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5

Complaints27 crash · 21 fire · 21 injured · 1 died reported 764

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 37 mpg

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Kia Optima is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Optima Hybrid, is EPA-rated at 37 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 764 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2016 Kia Optima

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Optima Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion	35	38	37	$1,800
Optima Hybrid EX	Hybrid	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion	35	38	36	$1,850
Optima	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	28	37	31	$2,150
Optima FE	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	25	36	29	$2,300
Optima	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	24	34	28	$2,400
Optima	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	22	31	25	$2,700
Optima FE	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	22	31	25	$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36469, 36470, 37000, 37032, 37003, 37001, 37002.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Optima Hybrid, Optima Hybrid EX	9 / 10	Bin 2 / PZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Optima	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Optima, Optima FE	5–9 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-III ULEV70 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Optima, Optima FE	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	1.6 L

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: GL, GL - Middle-low, GLS / JSL / TAX (Middle level), GLS, JSL). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	191.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	73.2 in
Height	57.9 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Track, front	62.2 in
Track, rear	63.0 in
Curb weight	3,225–3,594 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: Lx/Lx+/Ex/Lx Eco Turbo 4-door Sedan, Sx/Sxl 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

SC278

319,436 vehicles 48% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V594000 reported Aug 24, 2023 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Fuel System, Gasoline

SC172

71,653 vehicles 66% reported repaired built Aug 12, 2010 – Dec 22, 2016

Problem 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. Risk A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V907000 reported Dec 19, 2018 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Air Bags

SC143

1 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Aug 28, 2016 – Aug 28, 2016

Problem 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. Risk In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury. Fix 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.

NHTSA campaign 17V007000 reported Jan 6, 2017 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Power Train

SC139

12,214 vehicles 82% reported repaired built Nov 13, 2015 – Apr 23, 2016

Problem 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. Risk 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V705000 reported Oct 3, 2016 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Air Bags

SC131

17 vehicles 94% reported repaired built Nov 10, 2015 – Feb 12, 2016

Problem 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. Risk If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V231000 reported Apr 21, 2016 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003 · the investigation’s page →

Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle — Throttle control system vulnerabilities closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675. On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defe

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023 · action DP21003 · the investigation’s page →

Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with ma

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Optima

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Kia Optima, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

764complaints filed

27 involved a crash · 21 a fire · 21 injuries · 1 deaths reported

57 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 133,906 Optima built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 20 · 2018: 30 · 2019: 65 · 2020: 60 · 2021: 67 · 2022: 109 · 2023: 162 · 2024: 121 · 2025: 77 · 2026: 50

Most-cited components

Engine → 452

Unspecified 121

Electrical System → 106

Power Train → 76

Fuel/Propulsion System → 62

Exterior Lighting 48

In depth: engine problems → · electrical problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems → · fuel system problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally report a serious safety incident involving my 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid, which caught fire and was completely destroyed on October 5, 2025.

Electrical System Oct 21, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11694645

For the 2nd year, my Kia would not start in 32 degree weather in big bear, ca. This is an annual trip & took my Kia. The lights, radio all turn on but the engine will not start. I have to wait until noon for the sun to warm up the car & then it's back to normal.

Engine at 38,000 miles Mar 4, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11183935

Taking a left from a stop at maybe 5 MPH , and the right front axle broke in half. I was able to coast off the road and have the car towed. There is a recall for this exact issue (recall #sc139)

Power Train at 18,000 miles Feb 13, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11072656

The right passenger headlight won't work I changed the light bulb and it's completely off. At first when I attempted to change the bulb the light flickered and I thought that it might've not been put on all the way or it might've became loose.

Exterior Lighting at 61,000 miles May 23, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11209586

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 49 MPH, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The contact mentioned that the front passenger seat was detached from the hinge. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed.

Air Bags at 42,000 miles Feb 1, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11066481

Purchased a 2016 Kia Optima ex with the premium package with less than 30 odometer miles in april 2017 from a Kia dealer (VIN ). At 4200 miles the car stalled and lost all power while traveling on the highway during rush hour. Screen flashed "engine control system - possible engine condition.

Fuel/Propulsion System at 4,226 miles Jul 10, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11003942

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 25 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 7 killed, 27 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 19 per 100,000 built. Every Optima model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 70k

miles, typically

Half the 275 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 38,000 and 100,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 18

10k–20k 13

20k–30k 12

30k–40k 26

40k–50k 16

50k–60k 30

60k–70k 24

70k–80k 27

80k–90k 14

90k–100k 22

100k–150k 62

150k + 11

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	145	91,176	1.47×
Electrical System	37	66,500	1.48×
Power Train	30	53,323	1.03×
Exterior Lighting	24	57,400	1.3×
Visibility/Wiper	22	70,000	1.94×
Unspecified	20	50,000	—
Fuel/Propulsion System	19	75,000	1.6×
Vehicle Speed Control	16	41,916	1.4×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: visibility/wiper (1.94×), fuel/propulsion system (1.6×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 338

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-28

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 318 service bulletins, 11 emissionss, 6 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Power Train, Steering.

TSB_CLI049_R2 Service bulletin
2026-08-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor assembly on some 2011MY~ Optima Hybrid (TF HEV, JF HEV/PHEV), 2015MY~
SC269_OWNR_401 Service campaign
2026-07-15 · Electrical System
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269 FLIGHT #401) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the high-voltage fuse in 2013-2016 MY Optima Hybrid vehicles.
CS2312_TSB_R2 Service bulletin
2026-06-08 · Structure — Body
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia
SC340_TSB_R5 Emissions
2026-04-04 · Engine
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2020MY Optima, 2016-20
PI2104_OWNR_501 Other
2026-03-18 · Engine
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2104 FLIGHT 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Optima Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will on
PS797 Other
2025-12-09 · Back Over Prevention — Warnings
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane
TSB_TRA046_R5 Service bulletin
2025-04-17 · Power Train
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is
TSB_ENG222_R8 Service bulletin
2025-04-03 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1326 P1326 on Kia →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	20 bulletins · 16 owner reports
P0456 P0456 on Kia →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Engine · Gas cap →	4 bulletins
P0010	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	3 owner reports
P0014 P0014 on Kia →	The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.	Engine	3 owner reports
B1695	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
C1356	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0442 P0442 on Kia →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Engine · Gas cap →	2 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on Kia →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Engine · Gas cap →	2 bulletins
P0457 P0457 on Kia →	An evaporative leak the system has attributed to a loose or missing fuel cap.	Engine · Gas cap →	2 bulletins
P1233 P1233 on Kia →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 4.0%

failed emissions

1,367 initial inspections of 1,329 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 Optima	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	4.0%	4.2%	1,364
Failed the safety inspection	2.2%	2.2%	1,367
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.22%	0.27%	1,367
Miles driven a year	9,811	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	100,741	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Optima by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2020 A 0 153 42 mpg 2019 A 1 213 41 mpg 2018 C 3 244 42 mpg 2017 D 4 306 42 mpg 2016 this page C 5 764 37 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Optima

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Kia Optima have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Optima. The most serious on file is 23V594000, covering Latches/Locks/Linkages. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Kia Optima?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Kia Optima 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (70/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Kia Optima?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Kia Optima, the best EPA combined figure is 37 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Kia Optima?

Transport Canada measured it at 191.3 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.9 in tall, on a 110.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,225–3,594 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Kia Optima?

Owners have filed 764 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Optima, most often about engine, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 27 involved a crash, 21 a fire, 21 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Kia Optima?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Kia Optima runs 5 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 2, Bin 5, California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV70, PZEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Kia Optima?

The manufacturer has filed 338 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Optima, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-08-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Kia Optima do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Kia Optima failed the emissions check on 4.0% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.2% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	5	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	764	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	338	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	4	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	6 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2016 Kia Optima

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Fuel Economy

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (5)

Latches/Locks/Linkages

Fuel System, Gasoline

Air Bags

Power Train

Air Bags

NHTSA defect investigations

Whether any of this applies to one specific Optima

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2016 Kia Optima

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Median mileage by component

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Optima by model year

Common questions about the 2016 Optima

Does the 2016 Kia Optima have any recalls?

How safe is the 2016 Kia Optima?

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Kia Optima?

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Kia Optima?

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Kia Optima?

How clean is the 2016 Kia Optima?

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Kia Optima?

How does the 2016 Kia Optima do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method