NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 758 owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Optima (including the hybrid).
5Safety recalls
758Owner complaints
27Complaints citing a crash
20Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: latches, locks and linkages, fuel system, air bags, and powertrain. Most-reported area: engine (426 complaints, 56%; median mileage when it happened: 87,200). Includes the Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. Kia replaced the Optima with the K5 for 2021.
5 safety recalls for the 2016 Kia Optima
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Components: Engine; Fuel system: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Kia campaign SC172.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Kia campaign SC131.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
The areas named in the 758 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Optima. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Engine426 · 56%
Median 87,200 miles at failure (130 reports)
Electrical system103 · 14%
Median 66,500 miles at failure (37 reports)
Powertrain75 · 10%
Median 46,000 miles at failure (32 reports)
Fuel and propulsion system53 · 7%
Exterior lighting48 · 6%
Most named: headlights (3) · Median 57,300 miles at failure (25 reports)
Body structure40 · 5%
Most named: body (39)
Visibility30 · 4%
Most named: power window devices and controls (15); sun/moon roof assembly (4) · Median 70,000 miles at failure (20 reports)
Unknown or other121 · 16%
Median 36,000 miles at failure (23 reports)
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Kia Optima recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2016 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Optima drew the most (53).
Owner complaints
2016: 758 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Complaints
2016
758
2017
304
2018
243
2019
209
2020
148
Safety recalls
2016: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Recalls
2016
5
2017
4
2018
3
2019
1
2020
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Kia Optima 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 9.8%
Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 9.6%
Questions
What are the most common 2016 Optima problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: engine (426), electrical system (103), powertrain (75). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2016 Kia Optima safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2016 Kia Optima earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Optima has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.