2016 Kia Optima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

421Engine complaints

56.3%Of all 748 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE421 · 56.3%

Unspecified / other121 · 16.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM96 · 12.8%

POWER TRAIN70 · 9.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM53 · 7.1%

Share of the 748 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Kia Optima overview page.

What owners report

“P1326 ENGINE CODE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. LUCKILY WAS IN FAR LEFT LANE WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WAS SAFELY ABLE…”NHTSA complaint 11283209 — filed 12/02/2019

“E - C V V T SEAL SEATING ISSUE. MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA IS GIVING AN OBD II ERROR CODE OF P0010 "A" CAMSHAFT POSITION…”NHTSA complaint 11283015 — filed 11/30/2019

“I AM STARTING TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE TROUBLE WITH MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW WITH 0 MILES. MY ISSUE STATED ON FRIDAY…”NHTSA complaint 11267758 — filed 10/10/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Kia Optima have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Kia Optima: 421 of 748 complaints on file (56.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Kia Optima have in total?

748 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 26 involved a crash, 19 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.