2016 Kia Optima: Reliability, Recalls, Known Issues & Cost to Own

Data last updated 2026-07-04 · sources listed throughout · based on public NHTSA data

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Optima. 742 owner complaints are on file with NHTSA for this model year. New, the 2016 Kia Optima ranged from $22,140 to $36,040 depending on trim (base MSRP, before options and destination).

Recalls & safety

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Optima. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH #23V594000 · 24/08/2023

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."

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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL #16V231000 · 21/04/2016

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in necessitating crashes.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC131.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS #18V907000 · 19/12/2018

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.

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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE #17V007000 · 06/01/2017

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.

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.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT #16V705000 · 03/10/2016

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 13, 2015, to April 23, 2016 and equipped with a 2.4l engine. The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC139.

Whether a recall is still open on a specific car depends on its VIN. Check it free at NHTSA's VIN lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls), or ask the seller for proof the repair was done.

NHTSA crash test (NCAP)

Overall	★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal crash	5/5
Side crash	5/5
Rollover	5/5

View on nhtsa.gov

Trims & original pricing

Trim	Original base MSRP	New today	Engine	MPG
LX	$22,140	discontinued	2.4L I4	28
LX 1.6T	$24,140	discontinued	1.6L Turbo I4	32
EX	$25,140	discontinued	2.4L I4	28
SX Turbo	$29,940	discontinued	2.0L Turbo I4	25
SXL Turbo	$36,040	discontinued	2.0L Turbo I4	25

Prices are base MSRP for each trim's standard configuration. Options, packages, and destination charges added to what original buyers actually paid.

Sources (1)

carmax.comhttps://www.carmax.com/research/kia/optima/2016

Depreciation

2016 entry trim from new typical floor (assumed, past curve data)

Move your cursor along the line to see the estimated value for any year.

Curve anchored at the entry-trim base MSRP ($22,140). Higher trims started higher (up to $36,040), and options added more.

The curve's data ends 10 years in, so the line levels off after that. Treat the tail as a floor, not a forecast: asking prices for older cars depend mostly on condition, mileage, and the current market, and often sit well above it.

Also consider

Honda Accord rated 8/10 strong competitor with good overall reputation
Toyota Camry rated 7/10 class leader with strong reliability
Hyundai Sonata rated 5/10 platform-mate with similar features and value

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Kia Optima have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns, affecting: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Is the 2016 Kia Optima reliable?

742 owner complaints are on file with NHTSA for this model year. See the known-issues section for the specific patterns and the mileage ranges where they appear.

How much did the 2016 Kia Optima cost new?

Between $22,140 and $36,040 depending on trim. Those are base MSRPs for each trim's standard configuration; options, packages, and destination charges added to what original buyers actually paid.

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Estimates are based on public data: patterns, not guarantees. CarVitals is not affiliated with NHTSA, CarMax, AutoTrader, or Cars.com. Issue frequencies come from public NHTSA complaint data, which has no denominator, so they describe reporting patterns, not failure probabilities. Always have a used car inspected before buying. How we build these reports.