23 complaints reported

2016 Kia Optima Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
23
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2025

White paint is chipping away excessively

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2022
Oct 2025

The body paint is cracking and falling down. Since five years ago this problem started.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2018
Oct 2025

My paint has begun bubbling up and feeling out of nowhere. I’ve always taken good care of my car yet spots are beginning to pop up along the passanger side. The paint continues to peel more as time goes on. I’ve found many complaints online of people saying they’ve had the same issue with their kia in the Snow White Pearl color I have, but there’s no recall and kia refuses to pay for it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2025
May 2025

paint peeling, chipping, and bubbling.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2025
Jan 2025

The antenna fin flew off while I was driving on the highway.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2025
Dec 2024

While driving on the highway, the roof antenna assembly flew off our car. Inspection of the area shows that the screws that were supposed to hold the antenna on had all become sheared off. It looks like there is a recall for this exact issue covering 2016 Kia Optimas produced through June 1, 2016 (SA272), but our Optima was produced on June 23, 2016 and is therefore not covered according to Kia.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2024
Jan 2024

I bought this car with just under 48k miles September 2023, it had a very small chip on the bumper that I assumed was from a rock. After driving this car for a while, I noticed that chip got bigger and eventually other parts of my bumper and hood started bubbling and chipping as well.90% of my bumper is now lacking paint and it’s starting to chip on my hood more. I’ve only driven it an additional 12k miles since I’ve bought it. Auto body shops are saying it’s delaminating and it’s common in this color.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2023
Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving in a heavy rainstorm, the vehicle experienced water intrusion causing the sub frame undercarriage to become damaged and unsecured. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 14,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2023
Jul 2023

Window regulator replacement

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2023
May 2023

Pearl White paint on hood is flaking/delaminating.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
Jan 2023

Three of the four windows stoped rolling up at the same time. One or two days apart to each other, the 4th one I’m not going to rolling down, it may stop working too.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2023
Jun 2022

The paint is peeling or delaminating from the car. It is happening in many places. The paint is Snow White Pearl. The car now has about 110,000 miles. The paint warranted for only for 36 months. But it is obvious that this is a quality issue and latent defect. The paint shop says he has seen this a lot with Kias. The paint is not sticking to the primer. I keep hoping there will be a recall on the paint. Even the dealer says it is a problem but Kia corp will not pay to fix the cars with this issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2022
Jun 2022

The trunk latch stopped working won’t lock

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2022
Mar 2022

I have a 2016 Kia Optima Pearl White and the paint on the hood just started peeling! It looks awful. What should I do to get this problem fixed?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2022
Jun 2021

WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE CAR WASH, AS SOON AS I PULLED IN, I HEARD A SOUND THAT DIDN'T SOUND THE BEST. ONCE I GOT TO THE END OF IT, WHEN THE AIR WAS BLOWING OFF MY CAR, I SAW SOMETHING FLY OFF MY CAR. THIS WAS MY MANUFACTURE FIN SHARK ANTENNA THAT HAD SOME HOW BROKE OFF. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVER THIS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITHIN THIS VEHICLE. BOTH, MOST COMMONLY WHILE IN CAR WASHES AND WHILE DRIVING. SO, IT THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE INSPECTED AND RECALLED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2021
Mar 2021

THE ANTENNA COVER ON MY CAR FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE NOTICED AS I WASH(HANDWASH ONLY) WHEN I WIPE AROUND THE ANTENNA IT MOVES. THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD, BUT ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY(03/17/21) THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT(65MPH)WHEN A TRACTOR-TRAILER PASSED ME CAUSING A WIND GUSH. I HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE HOOD OF MY CAR. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK, I SAW THAT THE ANTENNA COVER WAS COMPLETELY GONE. NOTICED THE PLASTIC AROUND THE MOUNTING SCREWS WERE ALL BROKEN OFF PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND A REPLACEMENT ANTENNA. I FOUND A GROUP CHAT WITH MANY KIA OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE EXACT ISSUE. ONE OWNER POSTED A TSB(SA272) FOR 2016 KIA OPTIMA BEING RECALLED FOR DEFECTS IN THE ANTENNA FIN ASSEMBLY FOR SCREWS LOOSENING OR BREAKING. THE BULLETIN STATED THAT OWNERS OF SAID KIA OPTIMA COULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE ANTENNA WOULD BE REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE BY KIA MOTORS FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I CALLED TWO KIA DEALERSHIP AND LATER KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CSR SAID THAT SHE DID NOT PULL UP A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I GAVE HER THE TSB NUMBER. A POSTER SAID HIS KIA DEALERSHIP REPLACED HIS 2016 KIA OPTIMA BROKEN ANTENNA WITHOUT CHARGE. THE CSR SAID THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE TO INITIATE/ORDER THE RECALL AND LIST MY MODEL OF THE 2016 KIA OPTIMA IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ANTENNA AT NO COST. I HAVE THE EXPENSIVE MODEL, THE 2016 KIA OPTIMA(SXL TURBO) W/TECHNOLGY PACKAGE WHY WASN'T MY 2016 MODEL NOT LISTED WITH THE OTHER 2016 KIA OPTIMA? THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT COSTS OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE ANTENNA. SAID THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. A CHEAP PLASTIC ANTENNA COVER FOR $600? YOUR QUICK REPLY AND SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH KIA ANTENNA WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU [XXX] CELL : [XXX] WORK: [XXX](MON-THU) EMAIL : [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Jan 2021

I BOUGHT MY 2016 PEARL WHITE KIA OPTIMA IN MAY OF 2016. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THE PAINT CHIPPING AND PEELING OFF MY HOOD. IT STARTED OUT THE SIZE OF A PEA BUT NOW IS BIGGER THAN A QUARTER AND CONTINUES TO GET BIGGER BY THE DAY. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER SPOT THAT IS CHIPPING ON THE HOOD DUE FROM HEAVY RAIN THIS PAST WEEK. THE PAINT IS ALSO PEELING OR CHIPPING ON THE ROOF RIGHT ABOVE WHERE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MEETS. I EXPECT NICKS AND CHIPS FROM DEBRIS WHEN HIT WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED, BUT NOT PAINT PEELING OFF AND CHIPPING WHILE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO THREAT OF DAMAGE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Aug 2020

REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF, LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS 2016 KIA OPTIMA AND VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. THE PART IS MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC. YOU CAN TELL IT IS MADE TO FAIL. I WAS JUST GOING TO LOAD GROCERIES BACK SEAT WHEN HANDLE FELL OFF. NOW CAN NOT USE THAT DOOR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Aug 2020

AS DRIVING THE DRIVER'S DOOR POPPED OPEN (AS NOT FULLY CLOSED) AND THE OPEN DOOR LIGHT APPEARED ON A DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. ONCE DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND ON THE SECOND OCCASION WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE. I ALSO NOTICED WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT DOESN'T OPEN AS SMOOTHLY. AS I PULL THE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR BASICALLY POPS OPEN AS IF THERE WAS A FORCE PUSHING IT TO OPEN. HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS , NO ACCIDENTS AND THE PROBLEM STARTED TO APPEAR JUST NOW

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2020
Sep 2019

THE HOOD IS STUCK. THE CABLE SEEMS TO BE STRETCHED. WHEN I DID GET IT OPENED THE CABLE WAS ATTACHED AND COULD SEE IT WORKING BUT IT'S NOT UNLATCHING HOOD. HOOD IS STILL STUCK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Apr 2019

WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR ABOUT 2.5 YEARS. 2 DAYS AGO I TOOK IT THROUGH A TOUCH LESS CAR WASH. TODAY I NOTICED THE ANTENNA COVER/ SHARK FIN IS MISSING. I'M NOT SURE IF IT CAME OFF DURING THE WASH OR WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT APPEARS THE PLASTIC SCREW HOLES HAVE ALL BROKEN OFF. THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ANTENNA IS EXPOSED. LOOKS TO BE A BIG FLAW IN MANUFACTURING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2019
Jan 2019

SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER EASILY COMES LOOSE OR COMPLETELY WHILE HAND WASHING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY WHILE WASHING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2018
May 2017

ON MAY 30, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 1200HRS EST, WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WITH VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. COMPLETE INSPECTION WAS NEGATIVE FOR THE ANY EXTERIOR DEBRIS AS CAUSE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2017

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2016 Kia Optima has 23 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.