The Kia Optima is a bargain-basement offering that is now trying its hardest to punch above its weight, although in the same segment. It competes in the midsize sedan segment and rivals the likes of the Ford Fusion, the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry, and the Chevrolet Malibu. The range for the Optima starts at just $22,000 which helped boost the car’s sales to nearly 159,000 units last year. The Optima ranks #1 in our list for sedans but the ownership experience is something that needs attention. The NHTSA lists 267 complaints and 4 recalls as of today with two open investigations. One of the investigations is opened for the Airbag Control Units (ACUs) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) may not relay the correct information to deploy the airbags and cause injuries in a crash. The second investigation lists some throttle control system vulnerabilities that can cause unintended acceleration and cause accidents. As for the complaints, the owners are extremely unhappy with the headlights and how poor they are in night driving. There are several engine failure issues as well that further ruin the ownership experience. Let’s see what the other most commonly-faced issues are and dive a bit deeper into the recalls.
2016 Kia Optima Problems
Electrical issues:
- Headlight issues: The Kia Optima headlights are a very renowned nuisance in recent model years. People have reported a plethora of issues they had to go through because of how lacking the headlights were. Many complaints list one of the headlights switching off and malfunctioning. In the models equipped with automatic headlights, the lights flicker and repeatedly turn off for some time. There are complaints regarding the low beams turning off. This forces the driver to drive on high beams and attracts complaints of the oncoming traffic.
- Window failure: Another renowned issue is the Optima windows failing. The windows’ motor and actuator fail which sticks the window in its last-used position. Adding to the woes is the fact that the windows fall down suddenly and cause a distraction while driving. The issue is reported by a lot of people and is said to happen randomly, irrespective of how old the car is.
- Knock sensor: The knock sensor in the Optima is said to fail and cause issues with the engine’s drivability. People report engine knocking and a massive drop in performance when the sensor fails. The complainants had to get the respective wiring harness replaced to get the knock sensor working again.
Mechanical issues:
- Abnormal engine oil consumption: Optima engine oil consumption is a major issue that leads to a complete seizure of the engine. People report the engine dying, causing the vehicle to stall in the middle of the road. The engine oil consumption is mapped at 1 quart per 500 miles and the dealerships have suggested topping up at every 400-500 miles to avoid issues. The low engine oil levels also lead to engine knocking which adds to driveability woes.
- Transmission issues: Many people report a variety of Optima transmission problems, the most common of which is jerking at lower speeds. The Optima’s transmission is very rough and jerks a lot at low speeds which results in a lot of issues wield driving. In many cases, the transmission had to be replaced at just 20,000 miles. Apart from this, many people report issues in placing the transmission into drive. The complainants say the transmission sticks and cannot be moved without applying a lot of force.
- Steering issues: The steering wheel in the Kia Optima causes a lot of issues at low speeds. People report the steering getting stuck in one place, uneven play on both sides, uneven power assistance, as well as issues in re-centering the car after making a U-turn. Complainants say that they have to constantly correct the steering wheel of the car to make it go straight in a lane.
2016 Kia Optima Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
April 21, 2016 |
16V231000 |
Airbags |
The second-stage airbags may not deploy due to the absence of a chemical enhancer required for such deployment, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. |
Kia will notify the owners and initiate a recall on May 6, 2016. The dealerships will replace the driver's frontal airbag module without any charge. Kia’s internal code for the recall was SC131. |
|
2. |
October 3, 2016 |
16V705000 |
Powertrain |
A cracked right front axle driveshaft in the 2.4L engines may fall, restricting the vehicle from moving forward. If the parking brakes doesn't apply upon exiting the vehicle, they will roll and cause unintentional movement. Either case increases the risk of a crash. |
Kia will notify the owners and initiate a recall in November 2016. The dealerships will replace the front axle driveshaft without any charge. Kia’s internal code for the recall was SC139. |
|
3. |
January 6, 2017 |
17V007000 |
Airbags |
Improper installation of the end seal for the driver's frontal airbag inflator may result in reduced inflation of the airbag, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. |
The affected unit was remedied on January 10, 2017. |
|
4. |
December 19, 2018 |
18V907000 |
Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine |
Damage to the high-pressure fuel pipe connecting to the fuel pump outlet may leak fuel which, in presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire. |
Kia will notify the owners and initiate a recall on January 17, 2019. The dealerships will inspect and replace the fuel pipe without any charge. Kia’s internal code for the recall was SC172. |
Should you buy the 2016 Kia Optima?
The 2016 Kia Optima is a good vehicle that is marred with electrical and mechanical issues. The ownership experience of many people isn't good and a majority of them wouldn't recommend another Kia to anyone. The engine oil consumption still remains at large without any solution from the manufacturer. The transmission still needs to be remedied. The exterior lights aren’t the most reliable out there and frequently switch off while driving. We, like many owners, do not recommend the 2016 Optima to anyone because of these issues and the manufacturer's slow response to the problems. However, you can take a comprehensive look at other popular options like the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry if you need a reliable midsize sedan for your daily needs.
