2016 Kia Optima engine problems
451 of the 760 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Optima name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 123 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 451 reports a crash · 17 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 20 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 75 · 2023: 121 · 2024: 86 · 2025: 49 · 2026: 30
Half of the 145 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 68,000 and 112,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
760 complaints in all about the 2016 Kia Optima, 30 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Optima engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
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.
I have been experiencing issues with my 2016 Kia Optima since I purchased it on september, 5th 2016. A short time after owning my new vehicle, first the car started to hesitate when starting as if it was struggling to start, the push button would turn red and the indicator lights would light up on the dashboard as if the key was not…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the engine started to smoke without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over and, shortly after, it became engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived too late to salvage the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an auto shop.
Takata recall car starts to stall and idle when on the road and in traffic. Car starts to back up and reverse without notice or warning. Engine, battery comes on automatically and I have to turn off ignition and restart vehicle
Shutter/hesitation upon take off. I signed my lease on 9/29 and was at the service dept first of 7 times on 10/4. At first I was told the car had to "learn the way I drive" that there were no issues with my car.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- 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 i…
123 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SC340_TSB_R5 EmissionsApr 4, 2026
- 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 OtherMar 18, 2026
- 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
- TSB_ENG222_R8 Service bulletinApr 3, 2025
- 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
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1326 P0456 P0010 P0014 P0442 P0455 P0457 P0011
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Kia Optima names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Kia Optima
Source: the same files- electrical problems 105 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 75 complaints
- fuel system problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Kia Optima?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 451 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (59% of everything owners filed about it), and 123 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Kia Optima?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 5 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Kia Optima?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 91,176 miles; half of them between 68,000 and 112,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.