2016 Kia Optima Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 10/06/2026

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2016 Kia Optima, purchased from CarMax in 2024 and financed through CarMax Auto Finance. On or about October 5, 2026, I returned to my parked vehicle and discovered extensive black soot/smoke residue throughout the interior. Wiring and interior components appeared melted or burned. The vehicle had not been involved in a collision. Based on the damage, I believe an electrical or wiring failure may have caused the fire, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle was inspected by police and the tow operator, and it was determined to be a total loss. An insurance claim has been filed, and the vehicle should be available for inspection if requested. This vehicle also had a significant history of mechanical problems. Since shortly after I purchased it, it experienced severe oil consumption/oil loss, requiring multiple visits to CarMax and multiple 1,000-mile oil-consumption tests. I also experienced repeated spark plug and coil pack problems requiring repairs/replacements. The exact component that failed is currently UNKNOWN. I have not yet had Kia inspect the vehicle or confirm the cause of the fire. This incident created a serious safety risk because the vehicle appears to have caught fire while parked. If this had occurred while I was driving or while my children were inside the vehicle, the fire could have caused serious injury or death. I do not recall receiving a specific warning message immediately before discovering the damage. The vehicle did, however, have its history of ongoing mechanical problems described above. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether an electrical, wiring, or other safety defect could have caused this vehicle fire and whether other Kia Optima owners may be at risk.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 08/04/2026

Vehicle was purchased in 2023. AC blower failure occurred for the first time in June 2024 and was repaired by PepBoys. On 4/2/2025 the ve3hicle had an active recall event when the engine seized on the highway because of a faulty oil pump/filter, Engine was replaced 4/17/2025 under that recall. Kia advised at the time that the wiring harness should be replaced due to electrical issues at the time but said that there was no recall for that work. At the time, there were no electrical failures of steering, brakes, all power etc. Nor did we know that those were a possibility. The wiring harness quote was $7,000, over the cost of the vehicle. It was decided to continue repairing the electrical issues as they came up, it was assumed that the fuses would blow before there because a safety or total vehicle failure, as automobiles are designed that way. 8/4/2026 the vehicle experienced a complete and total loss of power resulting in a traffic crash into another vehicle as the brakes felt like you were trying to push a wall rather than a pedal. There was minimal physical damage to the other car and the kia, the other driver got my husband's insurance information and then drove off. The car did startup after ~30 minutes or so and was driven home, but taken to the Kia dealership the next day. It was said that the blower motor overheated and melted a portion of the electrical junction box under the hood and that it was unsafe and dangerous to drive. Kia said that there were no active recalls for this work. NHTSA SC351 seems very similar to this issue that has plagued this car since the beginning. We would ask that Kia incorporate this vehicle and others outside of the year/model ranges in SC351 that have similar failure mechanisms as this seems common.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 04/13/2026

I had just stopped at stop sign and I turned right. My speed was approximately 40 mph and there was a LOUD POP. I immediately hit the brakes and had NO BRAKES. I got car off road and smoke was already coming from under hood. It caught fire immediately and burned up. Total loss . About 6 months prior to it burning I had a good bit of front end work done on it with bearing issues. Also put a new set of tires at same time . The coils and plugs were changed often because it would misfire. I purchased car July 2025. All my documents were burnt also .

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/09/2026

UNKNOWN THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR HIT OTHER DRIVER FROM BEHIND.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 11/14/2025

While driving, the vehicle suddenly developed a loud knocking noise from the engine. Within one block the vehicle began smoking heavily from under the hood. I pulled over, opened the hood, and flames were visible. This is a 2016 Kia Optima with the 2.4L Theta II engine. Approximately one year ago the original engine seized and was replaced by a Kia dealer under the Theta II engine recall (SC172/SC147) and class-action settlement. This is the second catastrophic failure of a Theta II engine in this vehicle. The replacement engine has now failed in the exact same manner as the thousands of other documented cases — rod bearing failure leading to knocking, overheating, and engine compartment fire. The dealership (Fowler Kia of Windsor, CO) inspected the vehicle and quoted over $6,000 in repairs (melted engine wiring harness, ECM connector, battery cables, airbox, intake boot, etc.) while claiming the fire was “unknown cause/not the engine,” despite the clear knocking immediately preceding the fire. Kia Consumer Affairs has an open case but has not yet resolved coverage. This is a known, ongoing safety defect covered under multiple NHTSA investigations (PE21004, EA22002) and Kia recalls. I no longer feel safe in this vehicle and am requesting immediate investigation and inclusion in any expanded recall or remedy.

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,ENGINE — Filed 04/04/2025

I have pictures

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — Filed 04/09/2025

The car caught on fire while I was driving. No warning lights came on and the car didn't show it was running hot. I tried to engage the brakes, and they malfunctioned. I coasted the car to the side of the highway, where the fire and smoke plumed from under the car. I immediately exited the car and ran. As I was running from the car the grass was on fire. The car was totally destroyed by fire. The car has not been inspected by my insurance or Kia. Kia has a class action settlement for car fires the year, make, and model of mine.

ENGINE — Filed 02/24/2025

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated that the passenger, who was seated in the rear passenger's seat, advised the contact to stop the vehicle. The contact stopped and parked the vehicle. The contact and the passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated the engine was on fire. The Fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A Fire report was filed. No police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. In addition, the contact stated that two days before the failure, the vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic replaced the engine sensor and the valve cover gasket. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 07/12/2024

On [XXX] I was proceeding to come up to the stop sign when out of no where the car started rapidly accelerating and when I proceeded to step on the brakes it wouldn't stop it only sped up more. And caused a server accident that left me with serious injuries. And I cause of the defect they found me at fault said I failed to yield at a stop sign. The car never was fixed from the 2 times the motor has to be replaced by Galena Kia in fort Myers fl. They even caused the ac to go power retarded and wouldn't work half the time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STRUCTURE,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 03/08/2024

I was told that my engine had a recall on it so I had an upcoming appointment with Kia in like 2 weeks for them to check my engine but the car didn’t make it. I was driving my car on interstate 20 my car had began to have a bad chemical smell and started smoking so I pulled over on the interstate and my car was in flames. Me and my daughter was in the car we could have lost our lives thank God we were able to make it out just in time. The fire department came and made a report on the incident. It wasn’t any engine light on at the time. I have contacted Kia about the tragedy that has happened but nothing has been resolved yet.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 03/13/2024

The engine almost caught on fire. Windows are all down .

AIR BAGS — Filed 11/14/2023

I got into a frontal car accident the other car hit the front of my vehicle and no airbags deployed. I’ve researched today and seen people are having many issues with airbags on this vehicle and that there were many recalls regarding airbags from years ago. I was never informed of any issues with any of that when I got this vehicle.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE — Filed 10/20/2023

The body shop later informed me that there is a recall for engine fire recently,but my year/make is not listedin the info obtained online. The car started stalling while driving down the off. Smoke started coming through the vents. I pulled over to the side of the highway. A passerby told me that the car was on fire. Called 911. To note I had just picked the car up from Jim marsh Kia for battery replacement and problems with steering after the car was stolen in July. I had no previous issues with my car other than routine maintenance which I have records for.

ENGINE — Filed 07/11/2023

I brought the car may 13 2023 and July 11th the car caught fire on the eway around 9-10am. I was trapped in the car due to the doors not unlocking and had to get help by others around. The car didn't have any problems. No check engine light no nothing. Happened unexpected

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 05/14/2023

5/9/23 appointment for 4 recalls -completed 2 and ask if we could bring back next day to finish and we said no because granddaughter in school so service manager said important to get it back in and finish and sent granddaughter home with car 5 days later while driving car caught on fire and lost brakes and transmission and swerved into vacant parking lot smoke and flames coming into car and girls had to jump while car was still moving both girls checked on sight for smoke inhalation. 15 year old had to go to emergency room for road rash and nerve issues. we have documents ,911 tapes, videos, text ,,,witnesses, pictures. very negligent on service dept. for sending car out without completing issues. we came ready to leave it but they sent it out.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 07/10/2023

I was driving and the car’s electrical completely cut out and locked my steering wheel up and ran us off the road and we hit a big rock on the driver side and then the power kicked back on and the steering yanked super hard to the right about 4 times and caught a fallen tree on the right side then completely died with me and my young kids . Took it to Kia to be serviced and got it back and it started to do it again

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 07/04/2023

On July 4th, my vehicle lost engine power and flashed a quick prompt of "engine warning" before turning off completely, smoke from under the hood which resulted in a fire. I was able to extinguish it fortunately. I have since discovered there are three open recalls, which I received no notification about. I frequently check for recalls and all sites say there are none.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 05/08/2023

We received a recall notice for our KIA Optima to get the software upgrade to restrict operation of the vehicle without a key. We took the car to the dealership on 5/5/2023 for the recall and picked it up on 5/5/2023 from the dealership at 3:30pm. On 5/8/2023 our car was stolen out of our driveway. It was recovered on 5/12/2023 by our local police dept. and it was stolen by using a USB cord and starting it without the key. Obviously the recall does not work. There is now damage inside and out of my car. I did notify KIA corporation last week that it had been stolen and have not heard from them. I also sent an email this morning letting them know that the car was returned and confirmed that they stole it they way the recall was suppose to fix so that it could only be started with the key in the ignition. Obviously that did not work.

ENGINE — Filed 01/04/2023

I got the car oct 2022, car drove fine for months. Got oil changes regularly. On or about late Dec my car started getting this code "check active air flap" it didn't stay on it was quickly flashed on my dash and went away. So I thought it wasnt important, then it came on again really quick and disappeared again. So then I start to worry and start searching what exactly was a air flap. I found out it was something that allows air flow to the engine. So I parked my car and didn't use it so I could get them money to take it in to have it looked at. On Jan 4h me and my 2 sons were on our way to have it looked at and while on the way there my car was making a weird like ticking noise which I didn't know what it could be so I am still driving just being more cautious and Bam my car is on fire! Freaking out cause no one would let me over to safely pull off the road. No check engine light ever came on no oil light nothing but air flap check.

ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 04/05/2022

My dealership has confirmed oil consumption on my vehicle

ENGINE — Filed 11/08/2022

Failed connecting rod bearing. Happened on the freeway my car shut off and steering wheel locked up. It almost caused multiple crashes as other people got out of their cars to try and help me move my car out of the freeway. I take very good care of my car and maintenance was up to date. I still owe over 9k on the car and it only had 130k miles. Kia has a class action lawsuit I was unaware of and promised a lifetime warrant for my engine but now refuse that warranty. I had to get out of my car on the freeway or risk getting hit from the back. Other cars on the freeway were constantly passing at 80mph. Multiple people had to help me push my car that would not turn and kept shutting off. This was very sudden and random I had no check engine lights or any lights on my dash board at the time. This all happened within the matter of 2 minutes and I’m very happy the person who was behind me had distance enough to go around me or else the would have been an accident.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 01/16/2022

When starting to move from traffic light, engine revved to full throttle, brakes would not stop the vehicle. I swerved right to avoid the vehicle in front of me, then went over a sidewalk and struck a tree. Car still would not stop. Finally came to rest in a ( luckily empty) bowling alley parking lot. Vehicle sustained heavy right side front damage and had to be towed from the scene.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/23/2021

I experienced sudden acceleration while attempting to park our car. The car was double parked waiting for my husband to move a car so I could park in that space. I put my foot on the brake to put the car in drive. I start to pull forward and the car takes off and I eventually crashed into my apartment building. I remember having my foot on the break to stop the car and could not. The sudden acceleration caused damage to the building inside and out. I did do some research and saw there are others who have experienced the same thing across different models of Kia.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 04/10/2021

PULLED INTO NEIGHBORHOOD, PUT FOOT ON PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, AND CAR TOOK OFF. WOULD NOT STOP. WENT B/W 80-100 MPH ON IT'S OWN, BEFORE MY MOTHER DROVE OFF AN EMBANKMENT, AND FLIPPED HER CAR END OVER END. NEARLY KILLING HER, AS WELL AS HER DOG. CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED.*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 07/09/2020

MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA BURSTED INTO FLAMES WHILE STATIONARY IN FRONT OF MY HOME.