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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2016 Kia Optima is associated with 758 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 5 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 271 reports (36% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 7 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.6l 4-cyl, 2.4l 4-cyl, 2l 4-cyl, and 2.4L 4-Cyl hybrid configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 25 to 37 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 758 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 5 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (271 / 36%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 27 crash / 20 fire / 17 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 25–37 MPG across 7 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Kia Optima?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Optima 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM7) 28 MPG 37 MPG 31 MPG — $2,000 / yr
Optima FE 2.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 25 MPG 36 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Optima 2.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 24 MPG 34 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Optima 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 22 MPG 31 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Optima FE 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 22 MPG 31 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Optima Hybrid Hybrid 2.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) 35 MPG 38 MPG 37 MPG — $1,650 / yr
Optima Hybrid EX Hybrid 2.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM6) 35 MPG 38 MPG 36 MPG — $1,700 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Kia Optima?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR FWD 9.8%
Hybrid 4 DR FWD 9.6%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Kia Optima models.
View complete 2016 Kia Optima crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Kia Optima?

Summary of 758 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
758
Crash Reports
27
Fire Reports
20
Complaints w/ Injury
17
Total Injuries
21

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Engine 271 complaints (1 crash)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 30 complaints
Powertrain 27 complaints
Structure & Body 24 complaints
Electrical System 21 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2016 Kia Optima problems & component breakdown (120 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Kia Optima?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #23V594000 Active Recall
Affected Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

Defect Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. 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."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #18V907000 Active Recall
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Defect Summary: 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. 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #17V007000 Active Recall
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
View all 2016 Kia Optima recalls & campaign history (5 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Kia Optima

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Kia Optima

How many safety recalls does the 2016 Kia Optima have?

The 2016 Kia Optima is associated with 5 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 5 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Kia Optima?

NHTSA records list 758 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Kia Optima. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 271 filings (36% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2016 Kia Optima defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Kia Optima?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Kia Optima earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Kia Optima get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Kia Optima range from 25 to 37 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.