10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,274 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Kia Optima brakes problems

brakes problem

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2016 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #17

Oct 012023

Optima

  • 92,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The contact depressed the brake pedal harder and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer the following day and the dealer was not able to identify a failure with the vehicle brakes although the transmission was adjusted. The contact stated that the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. There were no warning lights illuminated at the time of the failure. The dealer contacted the manufacturer, and a field inspector was sent to the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 92000.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #16

Nov 182023

Optima

  • miles
I found my car on a list of recalls. The recall is NHTSA ID: 23V-652000. Why was I not notified of this recall. This is a serious recall that Kia has no fix for. I can't believe that Kia is putting people and families at risk. This plan that Kia has is ridiculous and unprofessional. You want people to park cars outside of there garages. That does not work. Kia needs a better plan and thats to come up with a fix and NOW!

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #15

Sep 292022

Optima

  • miles
Emergency break stopped working. Engine misfires and heavy oil consumption or burning to quickly. Gets really really hot more than normal than any other car I owned.

- Shelton, WA, USA

problem #14

Sep 072023

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My ABS warning lamp came on braking seems okay. My blind spot is not working warning light is on.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #13

Dec 122022

Optima

  • miles
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.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #12

May 142023

Optima

  • miles
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.

- Frenchburg, KY, USA

problem #11

Jan 162022

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When starting to move from traffic light, engine revved to full throttle, brakes would not stop the vehicle. I swerved right to avoid the vehicle in front of me, then went over a sidewalk and struck a tree. Car still would not stop. Finally came to rest in a ( luckily empty) bowling alley parking lot. Vehicle sustained heavy right side front damage and had to be towed from the scene.

- Whitinsville , MA, USA

problem #10

Aug 132020

Optima

  • 35,168 miles
Vehicle was in motion, driving straight in left lane on a city street in eastbound direction. On its own, the car started to accelerate while turning towards the left simultaneously. Driver was driving about 40 mph and based on air bag module, car sped up to 55 mph. The steering wheel and the brake seemed to be locked or stuck because neither component worked while this malfunction occurred. Driver tried to press the brake to slow the car down, but brake would not press down. Also tried to turn steering wheel to avoid oncoming westbound traffic, but steering wheel did not work either. Driver had absolutely no control of vehicle. The car accelerated and veered left for about a quarter of a mile until it finally hit a curb, then front passenger side wheel, rotor, and suspension broke. It seemed as if car was still trying to accelerate after it hit the curb because there are skid marks from the tires after impact. When the car stopped, the steering wheel and the brake pedal were no longer stuck. The steering wheel rotated properly and brake pedal pressed down with ease. Because of broken wheel, car was not operable afterward and was towed to collision center. Complaint was filed with Kia Consumer Affairs and inspection completed, but they said they did not find any errors with the car electrical system or any other errors. The air bag module report coincides with the malfunction claim that I filed with Kia on the day of the incident, but Kia stated there weren't any error codes in the report. After repairs and inspection were completed, I traded-in the vehicle out of fear that this malfunction may happen again. Since an issue wasn't found with the car, that means the issue wasn't fixed and I didn't want to own a malfunctioning vehicle.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #9

Sep 062020

Optima

  • 56,000 miles
While in motion the headlights turn on by themselves at random times during the day. ABS warning light, bsd warning light, and traction control warning light all came on at the same time. On the way to the dealership they all went off. The technician said he sees that the warning light were on, but their computer is not detecting a problem. If it happens again bring it back. Well, they're on again. The car has been stationary since Friday afternoon, Sunday evening my son sends me a pic of my car, the lights are on!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #8

Jul 202020

Optima

  • 51,346 miles
My break service light keep coming on and it's making a noise like it's a Honda I took it back to ganas service and week later the break light back

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #7

Jul 062020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 64,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ab S sensors failure

- Orange City, FL, USA

problem #6

Jan 152020

Optima

  • 18,500 miles
I was driving in the evening at 25-30mph on a city street. There were no parked cars, no oncoming traffic, no pedestrians or bicycles for three blocks ahead of me. Without any forward collision warning or road hazard, my car's autonomous emergency braking (aeb) system initiated and applied full braking force to my car for no reason. The car beeped continuously and flashed a red "emergency braking" notification in the dash console. The vehicle anti-locking braking system engaged in response to the applied braking from the aeb. I was unable to control or stop the braking during the event. Once the car was fully stopped, the red dash notification stopped, the beeping stopped and I was able to move my car to the side of the road so traffic behind me could proceed.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #5

Jun 262019

Optima

  • miles
I rented a vehicle from fair/uber under a California promotion. In the understanding the vehicle was uber ready. Three weeks into using the car squeezing brakes let me to the authorised shop for maintanence. It was inspected and what was found made this vehicle unsafe. I could not use it for its purpose. To drive it for uber. I have snap shots of the condition of the brakes and rotors. The shocks or struts are also shot and the coolant resivior was close to empty. The two front tires also were recomended to be replaced as they were cupping. This vehicle had not been inspected prior to there releasing it to me for any safety issues prior and when the invoice was sent to donlen, 3 times, which took a whole day, was fully denied. Refusal to correct this safety issue. This car is still in this condition. It was removed from pep boys on mission george by myself. The next day at 5:06 pm I received an email from fair suggesting I take it to another approved shop. I realised that this was not my duty or my problem. I could just return the vehicle. I was I am done with this company. It was going to be a 3 day job in the shop. And fair told me repeatedly that they had no ability to prevent me from having to pay for the week it was disabled. Obsurd. I'll attach specs and pics. Thank you.

- Santee, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 152018

Optima

  • miles
I've been having car problems with my car for a over a year, the steering wheel get stuck, my brakes wasn't working good, so I got new breaks, however my car still doesn't make a quick complete stop, I'm also having electrical problems, my headlights bulb have to be changed once a week, I also have to changed my oil every well, today my car is at the dealership waiting on a engine, it's been there for over three months.

- Addison, IL, USA

problem #3

Jun 222018

Optima

  • 19,540 miles
Vehicle was stationary, stopped, in the West conshohocken municipal community building parking lot, 112 front street, West conshohocken, pa. The car was in park with emergency brake engaged. I went to turn the car off and when I pressed the ignition button, a loud explosion sound came from under the hood and then a loud jack hammer sound started. Car shot backwards in reverse and all the lights on the dashboard were flashing and a bell ringing. I pumped the brakes to stop the car and it would not stop. In had just been turned off, and was already in park and emergency brake on. Car went on out of nowhere, and went in reverse the length of approximately 25 cars and crashed into a parked car.police were called to the scene. They reported the accident and it is under investigation. Murray Kia was where the car was towed. They could not replicate the problem and told me it was an insurance problem. Not true!! my passenger and I were lucky not to have rolled into the street and oncoming traffic, and could been killed or seriously injured, or injured others. Thank god the parked car was there and only then did the car crash into it, and stop.

- Lafayette Hill, PA, USA

problem #2

Mar 182017

Optima

  • 8,000 miles
When decelerating, the car jerks at exactly 35 mph whether im on the highway or in the city and this happens. I have been to the dealership 3 times for this issue and they have even drove my car themselves and felt the same thing that I was feeling and all they say is that without a check engine light threr is nothing they can do about it and I just have to "live" with it. This is ridiculous and Kia needs to address this issue before it causes any accidents or worse death. I spent way too much money on this car for it to be having these issues. Brakes are supposed to be a safety feature not a safety hazard.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #1

Jan 092017

Optima

  • 100 miles
When decelerating/braking, the car jerks harshly forward at 52,42, 32 mph. On wet highways a when it jerks the rear of the car fishtails. Kia knows the fault is because of the dual clutch transmission downshift timing and has no solution. I been to the dealership 3 times on this. Fishtailing on wet highways has a serious risk of an accident. They just say live with it even though they have numerous similar complaints and felt the problem with me on a test drive in my car and other cars of same model in the new car lot. It is time they face this serious hazard, as braking is suppose to the the #1 safety issue in a car, not create a safety issue. I have stated a date below, but that date is when I first went to the dealership with the problem, it happens everyday, and every time at those speeds.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

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