65 complaints reported

2016 Kia Optima UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

Reports
65
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2023

All four windows stopped working within two months of each other. The motors still work, but the plastics parts inside broke. The trunk latch also stopped working and the trunk won’t stay shut. There are recalls on the 2016 Optima for the trunk latch, but the dealer says my VIN isn’t involved. There are also tech notices for the windows on the 2016 Kia optima, but no recalls yet. There is a class action lawsuit for the windows also for safety reasons. No one would be able to get out of the windows or trunk if the car were in an accident because none of them work. Kia is useless to fix their junky cars. The mileage is 70,000.

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

I got this recall done. I found out about it because my insurance raised a couple hundred dollars a month and when I called they told me about this recall. I got the recall done however, when the insurance pulls up my VIN # they state it is still flagged. I contacted NYS DMV about this and they stated the information is supposed to be sent to you (NHTSA). When I put in my VIN number in the window prior it came up with the safety issue and said 0 recalls. So, does that mean that it was sent in that the car has this? I was on the phone today with KIA for almost an hour and they could not advise me on anything pertaining to this. I would appreciate if you can let me know if the document was sent/processed because the insurance company is stating my VIN number is still flagged. Thank you for any help you provide me. I am using this form because when I clicked on email I do not have the email app installed and could not find a regular email address. my email is : [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: Aug 2023
May 2023

I had all four of my window regulators to go out within two days of each other and now my windows constantly drop automatically while driving especially if I go over speed bumps, hit pot holes or any type of bump. I try to keep them up by placing paper or holders in them but they only hold up for so long and at times when I’m driving they drop down and I’m afraid the glass will break completely because one of them dropped while driving and the window cracked. This is a very dangerous situation and Kia tried to charge me when I went to them and I know this has to be a defect for all windows to go out.

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

The vehicle was sold to me with a known recall issues. I have taken it to the kia dealership close to me during the recall time period. They never told me about this issue coming up on their system. There was a certain time period that the recall was supposed to fixed, now kia is telling me that it's my financial responsibility to fix.

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

On Saturday, 09/17, I took my vehicle in for a standard oil change & alignment with a 3-party mechanic (pepboys). Once the work was done I was informed by the mechanic that the Driver's side window was in the down position and would not go back up. I was informed that it was because the Regulator went out and it is a Kia only part. Kia is unavailable on the weekends so they would get the part on Monday. On Tuesday, 09/20 Pepboys was able to get the part and repair the window to the tune of $822.67. The part alone was $542. Today, Thursday, 09/22 on my drive into work the back Driver's side window began to slide down while I was driving. This is a severe safety hazard that needs to be address by Kia. The Window Regulators will fail without warning & while the vehicle is in motion. I have 60k miles, this is not a high mileage vehicle.

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

Paint of the hood of my kia optima started peeling off as of Sept 5th,2022, there are small peelings on top of car and trunk. Took car to mvp paint&body, San Benito, tx to see if I needed to make an appt and he stated that he has dealt with this kind of problem and insurance companies and dealerships are paying for damages. I called Bert Ogden kia in harlingen and they told me there was no paint recall and until I got a letter to bring vehicle and letter. This is my dilemma and will now contact my car insurance carrier, Texas farm bureau, San Benito,tx to see if they can help, I don't want this to get worse and car gets rusty with more problems.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2022
Aug 2022

This is a complaint about the paint chipping on my 2016 Kia Optima FE. I drove through some pretty heavy rain in December 2021 and ever since this my front bumper has been chipping away. Every time it rains, the paint chips get even larger. I'm very familiar with the class action lawsuit against Kia for their paint chipping (specifically on the Pearl White cars which is the color of my car). Attached are the pictures I took when it first happened. It is exponentially worse now.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Aug 2022

The windows on my car drop on their own while I am driving. First it happened on the driver's window which surprised me because it was so abrupt, I almost had an accident. I had that one repaired and it happened to the two rear windows. I have a grandson who is a toddler and the first time it happened it was pouring down rain. The baby started screaming from being pelted with rain and I couldn't pull over fast enough. I contacted KIA they referred me to a dealer who wanted $264 to look at it and $600 per window to repair their defect. My mechanic confirmed the problem stating it is a common issue with certain KIA's this one included. The vehicle is available for inspection, but I can't afford to pay the diagnostic fee or fix this. KIA needs to repair their faulty windows.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Jul 2022

My 2016 is burning excessive oil. to the point I have to put oil in every 3 days.

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

Egiene consum oil 1 quarter in 1000 miles

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

issues with all of the window regulators stop working. The gears in the regulators are plastic and become dry rot and strip out not allowing the windows to function.

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

Unknown Driver’s window does not operate either up or down.. Making a noise when I tried to put the window down in order to open it. Only 23,700 mileage on my 2016 Optima This is a safety issue and my VIN number needs to be placed on the recall list. There has been a gear breakage issue on 2016 optima I cannot afford to repair this, being a senior citizen on fixed income

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

I have a pearl white vehicle paint is pealing on passenger back seat door

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

In November of 2021 at about 18500 miles the right rear window regulator drive gear disentigrated and the entire regulator had to be replaced. In Decemeber of 2021 at about 19700 miles the right front window regulator disintigrated and had to be replaced. The first 2 photos are the December failure the 3rd is the December failure I found it interesting that the same year model Kia has a recall for the exact same problem. Here is the link. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10176915-0001.pdf I am attaching photos of both failures. I have in my posession the front regulator if you want to examine it I will not dispose of it until I hear from you.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2021
Jan 2022

Two of the four window regulators failed. The rear windows fell down within weeks of each other. The car has 46000 miles and the rear windows are rarely used. It appears to be a known defect according to the internet. I contacted Kia and they said to notify NHTSA.

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

My Odometer is going fast.Odometer is rolling very fast. Say if I travel 5-miles Odometer registering 15 miles. Calibrate Odometer.

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

I'm about to replace my THIRD window accuator on this car. The first one that failed was the rear passenger side at 54000 miles. The window was rarely if ever used, failed any way. The second failed at 60,000 miles.. driver side rear. Like the first, rarely used window. Now the third has failed at 66,000 miles. Cost to replace, over $300 because a $5 sprocket fails. Windows failing is definitely a safety issue.

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

While driving at night with the "auto" function for the headlights on they turn off at random. This has happened numerous times during the past year. Very dangerous on dark roads. Dealer could not replicate situation to repair. No warning lights appeared.

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

Rear passenger window failed in June 2021 and cost $700 to fix, not under warranty per dealer. Replaced the window regulator unfortunately, I did not ask for the old part. One week later the rear window on the driver side failed in the same manner. Motor can be heard running and window drops down on it's own. My first fear was I was ripped off and dealer only switched the two parts because what are the chances? Having just spent $700 I did not return immediately but within 2-weeks, before making the appointment the passenger front window breaks! So at that point I start thinking a there must be a recall and start checking. I don't learn the cause of the issue until last month, Sept when the final window gave up as well. Not having the driver door window in FL where I drive on bridges is a hazard. I learned that a "plastic on plastic gear mechanism" fails over time. I am single and rarely have anyone in the rear seats so those gears crumbled from lack of use! KIA changed the design in 2018 due to failures but is failing to take care of earlier models costing owners thousands in repairs. I am the original owner, the car was 5-years old Feb 2021 and the car is garaged at work and home. These should be recalled no one should have to pay thousands in repairs when clearly this is defective and dangerous. All of the windows broke while the car was driving down the road. I live in Florida and this happened during storm season. Very luckily for the interior it wasn't raining as the windows were in the down position when they would not return to closed. I drive over Tampa Bay every day for work so not having working windows is dangerous. Someone should hold KIA accountable they know they are defective. I heard from a Hyundai owner they have the same problem, no surprise KIA owns Hyundai! I bet they changed that design too! My car is garaged work & home so likely helped mine from crumbling under warranty. Please recall window regulators!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2021
Oct 2021 Crash Injury

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Oct 2021

I WAS JUST GETTING ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED! IT TOOK ME A SECOND TO REALIZE THATS WHAT HAD HAPPENED IT SOUNDED LIKE A VERY LOUD POP OR GUN SHOT ALMOST I PULLED OVER AND SEEN MY ENTIRE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2021
Sep 2021

Here in Wisconsin Kias are being stolen at an alarming rate. It’s the most stolen car. It is being stated that this is due to how the cars were made and that Kia knew this but didn’t disclose it. My car was stolen at work, along with other coworkers. This is beyond insane. How many more cars have to be taken due to manufactures negligence for something to be done.

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

All 4 of my windows have stoped working and fall down while driving it started pouring down my driver window fell down and I almost wrecked I see a lot of people having the same issue

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

Having trouble with my driverside window it let's down but will not let back up i called kia and they want over 200.00 to diagnose it plus labor to fix it from what I have been reading online alot of people are having the same issue

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

All four of my car windows fall down unexpectedly due a defect in the window regulator part, and window motor. The windows do not respond to door controls and I've now had to spend approx. $3500. and many trips to the dealer repair shop to get these windows fixed. I live in Florida, and when a window opens unexpectedly in the middle of a severe rain storm and cannot be closed, this is a safety hazard. I've had to pull over when there is very limited visibility on the road, and try, usually unsuccessfully, to close the window. The glass windows are fairly heavy and my attempts to tape them shut do not work. I've contacted KIA consumer affairs and have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, but so far KIA has done nothing and has not responded to the BBB (according to the last BBB email I received). The 4th window is being fixed today at the dealer, and another window is getting re-repaired, I don't know if any of the repairs will last, as every few months another window breaks.

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

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Quick Summary

The 2016 Kia Optima has 65 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.