What 748 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Optima

My 2016 Kia Optima has been consuming oil every 1.5months. I have multiple times had to replace my oil because my oil light kept coming on. I’ve checked it every single time and it is barely anything there. I have my breaks mess up and not work as properly with my safety and others being comprised. I have brought this up to my Kia dealership but they have just brushed it off and charged me for an oil change. I have seen and heard many cases like mine and it has happened worse to them to the point where the car stops in the middle of the highway. My car has been checked by others and they have all noticed the same thing - the oil levels extremely low only after 1 and a half months or way prior to when my next oil change should be made. Having this happen is expensive and life threatening when the brakes don’t work as they should or when my could possibly bust. I have received no help and would like to make this known .

NHTSA ODI 11541964

Crack in dash along outline of airbag. Burns oil so it has to be refilled monthly Now mechanic says compression and combustion are problems Can’t get into Kia until February when warranty will probably be expired

NHTSA ODI 11540503

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.

NHTSA ODI 11538774

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.

NHTSA ODI 11531041

1. The engine seized and went into Limp Mode. I was driving and randomly the power to my vehicle was low and had to drive slowly to my house (1 mile) going 20mph. It is available for inspection upon request. 2. I was driving off the highway going 40mph off the ramp at the time with cars in front and behind. I was truly scared and worried that I would end up in an accident due to the vehicles performance. 3. KIA Dealership confirmed the issue is the engine, but is trying to blame me for the issue due to oil issue with the car. This doesn't make sense as I have had the car serviced at 79k miles for an oil change, and the dealership is saying that there wasn't oil in the vehicle. The vehicle was at 82k miles at the time of this incident. How did the car go through all the oil in 3k miles? On top of that, the oil light never went off once, as a consumer I should be able to rely on the vehicle to tell me when issues are coming up so I can do this to fix said issue. 4. If KIA Dealership counts as manufacturer, then yes, if not, then no. 5. No, the first issue of warning lamp was when the Check Engine Light started flashing the same time my car seized and went into Limp Mode. With all this happening, KIA is saying that it is not their responsibility and not covered under the warranty of the engine of the vehicle and want me to pay $13k for a new engine. This is ridiculous. The car is worth the same as a new engine?

NHTSA ODI 11521129

I submitted a report on this already but haven't had any response and it's a huge safety concern. I see 388 others have reported issues with this vehicle as well and most seem to pertain to the engine like mine so not sure how many need to file before a recall or Kia is held accountable for making an engine that burns oil and locks while driving. I've received zero support from them and they are denying replacing engine which had an oil change 6 weeks prior and only 109k miles on it. With all the complaints and prior class action suit which requires them to cover engine up to 150k I'm very confused how they can deny this and how this vehicle with these engines are safe for the road.

NHTSA ODI 11516456

On 2/24 I was driving on Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, I was in the middle lane going thru an intersection, when suddenly while attempting to accelerate to go thru the light, all of my dash lights came on and the gas petal stopped working completely. I had cars in front, behind and on sides of me and I was unable to move out of the way. I attempted to restart the car to no avail. This could have been an incredibly deadly and dangerous situation and was extremely scary. With help I was able to move my car out of the way, call a tow truck and have it taken to the nearest Kia Dealership (Galeana Kia, 14483 Tamiami Trail, Ft. Myers) who advised they would evaluate the car and get back to me the next day. Tuesday I got word that my engine had seized and there was less than 1 qt of oil in it. I couldn't believe this as I just had an oil change 6 weeks prior. The service advisor, Jeff, said when an engine seizes they report it to Kia to see if they will replace but that Kia tech team advised they were declining replacing my engine as I didn't take my car to Kia for service and there weren't enough carfax reports to show proper care. This made no sense as I get my oil changed every 5k and use syntenic oil. I proceeded to send many oil change receipts only for them then tell me "it's owners responsibility to check oil between oil changes" and they aren't going to assist in any way. Sharing this story with others led me to learn that Kia is supposed to warranty these engines to 150k due to this being a known issue and multiple class action lawsuits about the engines burning oil and seizing while driving. I was in the middle of an intersection, that could have cost me my life! I called Kia Corp and they told me to work with dealership and they couldn't do anything for me. This after just replacing 4 window regulators where the regulator dies and your windows fall down (another safety hazard.) I appreciate you looking into and addressing this safety injustice for me.

NHTSA ODI 11514865

I purchased a 2016 Kia Optima LX in 2021, and have been having issues with excessive oil consumption and cylinder misfires. I get regular oil changes and have to top it off every week after, if I forget to check, it will be completely dry. This is hazardous and unsafe to drive not knowing when it will be completely dry to cause serious problems. I've taken it to a Kia dealership and all they did was reset the ECU/EUC (whatever). Now, I've been told at my place for oil changes they can't service the vehicle until the issue has been fixed because it is too dangerous to be driving with the car burning too much oil. My car is at the dealership now to get combustion cleaning done. I had a 2013 Kia Optima in 2018 (and not knowing this issue about the oil consumption even after regular oil changes) the engine seized on that car while on the highway. The car lost power and would not start back up. On both cars, the warning light for oil never comes/came on. After purchasing my current vehicle (2016 Kia Optima), the car gave me trouble every 3 months and the car only had 65,000 miles on it. These vehicles are not safe and are a safety hazard. These vehicles need to be recalled for their engines. IT IS NOT SAFE AND GETS COSTLY to keep having to keep the oil in. It barely reaches 1000 miles and it consumed almost half of the oil after an oil change.

NHTSA ODI 11513988

The 2016 Kia optima lx 1.6t has so many issues. First off, The power windows all stopped working within a week of each other. On the way home from work the check engine light came on and as I tried to accelerate the car started stuttering to go, it ended up jerking as if I was pressing the gas and then brake. I had to get it towed home. There has been oil spilling into other parts of the engine like the intercooler and the throttle body which could mix with gas which is a huge fire hazard. The high pressure fuel pump needs to be replaced. The car will no longer drive, the throttle position sensor needs to be replaced as well. The oil burns so fast, after a brand new oil change it doesn’t even last a week. We have over 5 codes popping up when they did a scan and they are all misfires and fuel pump related.

NHTSA ODI 11508179

While driving vehicle on the freeway there is a sudden lots of power. Excited freeway and tried driving slowly on streets. Check engine light came on. Vehicle knocks and losses power during acceleration and while driving at speed. Problem diagnosed as bad knock sensor. Had knock sensor replaced in November, 22. Two days ago exact same problem. Mechanic believes that it's engine malfunction. How's it's covered by Kia recall, otherwise recommends engine replacement, but cautions used engine might have similar malfunction.

NHTSA ODI 11503059

My 2016 kia is using a lot of oil I get a oil change and 100,000 miles later my oil light comes on and I have to put more oil in the car. I’m told to check my oil every week an to get an oil changed every 150,000 miles. All my spark plugs have blown (I was told it’s due to oil starvation) an my car started shaking real bad as I was driving. I was told to get spark plugs changed in order to get an oil changed and sometimes turned away twice because I had no oil in the car. Its not keeping enough oil in the car to keep it running smoothly which could cause a fire or even engine failure. I also noticed that there’s a lot of smoke coming out of exhaust pipe when the car starts up in the back an that could be a problem one Macanic said. I was told to change my pvc valve to help with the increased oil consumption this didn’t help but it was clogged up glad i changed it. This kia is starting to be to much money with me having to keep a 5 gallon oil bottle to ensure im never out of oil. Still making payments and keeping the thought in my mind that this kia could possibly break down with my child in the car. I need help with this fix I like the style an the look but the everyday drive and problems I can pass off on a Kia.

NHTSA ODI 11502741

My 2016 Kia Optima sx engine lost significant power while on the highway at 65mph. Lost of power at highway speed was very dangerous. The engine suddenly ran increasingly rough, shaking the vehicle and drastically changing its performance. My girlfriend, myself, and other drivers on the highway were put at risk as I attempted to maneuver out of traffic and pull off to a safe area. Fortunately I was able to do this without collision or loss of control. I had my car towed to the dealership. There was no warning or engine light on before the incident. The dealership has diagnosed a cracked valve and no firing in cylinder 3. They recommend a new engine. They do not know what caused this issue. The vehicle has about 78,000 miles on it. I am the second owner, warranty is expired, and it is not covered under an active recall. The vehicle is currently at a Kia dealership and available for third party inspection upon request. Please help.

NHTSA ODI 11496835

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated upon activating the heater while driving, she smelled an abnormally strong gasoline odor. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to Kia Independent Recall Campaign Number SC172 (High Pressure Fuel Pump Outlet Inspection). Additionally, the contact stated while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond and then lunged forward abruptly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that she needed to pay for a diagnostic test and the repair cost because the VIN was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11493689

On July 27, 2022 the oil light on my 2016 KIA Optima came on intermittently. I called the dealership and they told me to have it towed in. So I had it towed to the KIA dealer. The car had only 37,075 miles on it that day. It was not due for an oil change until 39,647! After they had it for a week they told me that it was burning oil. To fix the problem I would have to get a new engine installed! They told me that this was not covered by KIA or my Extended Warranty. They added oil -- that was it. Their recommendation was that I should put oil in it more frequently. So the oil light went off. I read that when cars burn oil inappropriately the residue can affect the engine and other parts. Putting more oil in doesn't solve the problem of excessive oil burning! I am afraid to drive it now. I've read that some vehicles with this problem stop right in the middle of the road. That is dangerous.

NHTSA ODI 11479359

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with an unknown warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally overheated while the coolant level was full. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to a faulty low-pressure fuel pump. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 11478880

Despite maintaining the vehicle and replacing the battery, the car will have weird acceleration jumps during highway and city travel. It will also not start properly on occasion where it will idle rough and stall when trying to shift into drive or reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11478428

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact also stated that she smelled an abnormal gasoline odor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an engine cylinder had failed. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) unless the engine was knocking. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the engine was misfiring while driving and the vehicle would not exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine was misfiring and oil was leaking onto the spark plugs. The dealer informed the contact that she had to pay a repair fee for spark plug replacements, and then the dealer would determine whether the engine should be replaced under the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11476484

Four times in less than one year, car stutters, or stalls completely, check engine light flashes, and I have to maneuver to highway shoulder or slow lane to get towed. Very unsafe. Kia keeps it for a week , forces a software update repeatedly, sends me on my way and a few months later the sane thing again. Error codes always indicate engine knock amongst other things/an issue they know is theirs but “have to exhaust all options before they will approve replacement” according to service mgr. I have a car that I don’t feel safe driving because I drive alone and can’t trust it to get home home so I end up in the highway at 4am every time.

NHTSA ODI 11462891

There is a known issue with this motor burning oil in the engine at an excessive rate. This caused my car to shut down on the California freeway from 65 mph. Warranty wont cover, dealership says its a manufacturer issue that is known and the manufacturer isn't replacing the problem engines. This is a life safety matter

NHTSA ODI 11462612

Since purchasing this car I’ve had to have electrical repairs done every year. If it’s not the seat it’s the window. If it’s not the window it’s the dash. A couple of days ago my husband said he noticed that the oil in the car was running low really fast. We had just done an oil change on the car not even 30 days prior to this. We were driving late at night back from a work trip when al of a sudden the check engine light came on and the motor started to shake and a thudding noise was getting louder. We were able to pull over and saw that there was literally no oil in the car. No warning nothing. Again we had just had an oil change not even 30 days prior. My father had to come tow us home an hour and a half away because he was worried with the sounds it was making that it might blow. There was smoke coming from the exhaust and the motor was shaking like it had no control. I’ve read multiple issues just like this one and of course my car just passed warranty. I’m not even done paying the car off. This should be an issue Kia has to fix by now with so many similar complaints. It’s dangerous and fraud. I’m just lucky the car was able to pull over safely as my husband and our 8 month old were in the car with me. Please help get this fixed. I’m now out of a car that’s only 5 years old and not paid off.

NHTSA ODI 11434314

The engine is sputtering. Dealership can’t get my car in for two weeks due to their full schedule. They stated as long as the check engine light isn’t flashing it’s ok to drive. The motor sounds like a farm tractor.

NHTSA ODI 11431935

I have a flashing check engine light while driving my vehicle was not trying to give gas or anything

NHTSA ODI 11425720

VEHICLE CONSUMES OIL AT HIGH RATE. APPROXIMATELY 5 QTS PER 3000 MILES DRIVEN SOMETIMES MORE OFTEN. AFTER NEW OIL IS ADDED, ACCELERATION WILL DELAY AT TIMES, USUALLY WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS MOVING FORWARD A CLOUD OF BLUISH/WHITE EXHAUST WILL BE CREATED. THE CLOUDS OF EXHAUST OCCURS MORE OFTEN JUST AFTER AN OIL CHANGE OR OIL IS ADDED. WILL CONTINUE FOR THE FIRST 1000 MILES THEN WILL BECOME LESS FREQUENT AS MORE OIL IS CONSUMED AND THE AMOUNT REMAINING IN THE OIL PAN IS LESSENED. HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11415737

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11404203

MY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING TWO DAYS AGO. MY RPM'S JUMP WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND IT STALLS AND JERKS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I TOOK IT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND THE CODE "P1326" SHOWED ON THEIR CODE READER. KNOCK SCENSOR IS UNDER THE CODE AND I'VE READ WHERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND HAD THEIR WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11377614