"How reliable is the 2016 Kia Optima?"

"Based on 1029 NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Kia Optima has a median complaint mileage of 67278 miles. The most common issue is Engine."

"What are common problems with the 2016 Kia Optima?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Kia Optima is Engine, accounting for a significant portion of the 1029 total complaints filed."

2016 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1029 complaints

1029

Total Complaints

67,278mi

Median Mileage

Engine

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

35,168 25th Percentile

67,278 Median Mileage

100,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine

409

Unknown Or Other

111

Electrical System

Power Train

Fuel/Propulsion System

Exterior Lighting

Body

Vehicle Speed Control

Steering

Air Bags

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I WAS INVOLVE IN A BAD ACCIDENT WITH 10K IN FRONT END DAMAGE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HALF OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR CAME APART IN THE DAMAGE"

"WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 6 OR 7 SECONDS. I THINK IT HAS STALLED, THEN IT STARTS AGAIN BY ITS SELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT DOES THIS CONSTANTLY."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 409 complaints

25th: 57,098 mi Median: 86,500 mi 75th: 107,000 mi

Unknown Or Other 111 complaints

25th: 18,250 mi Median: 36,000 mi 75th: 63,550 mi

Electrical System 93 complaints

25th: 35,666 mi Median: 65,798 mi 75th: 100,750 mi

Power Train 67 complaints

25th: 9,250 mi Median: 45,958 mi 75th: 75,387 mi

Fuel/Propulsion System 50 complaints

25th: 54,646 mi Median: 72,708 mi 75th: 103,250 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 145 FL: 139 GA: 94 TX: 73 NC: 51 IL: 36 TN: 35 AZ: 32 VA: 31 OH: 29

Who Files Complaints?

0.3%

Original Owners

99.7%

Second+ Owners

Kia Optima — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
2001	231	78,500	Frame And Members	26
2002	168	89,000	Suspension	28
2003	188	84,200	Latches/Locks/Linkages	10
2004	306	80,034	Latches/Locks/Linkages	14
2005	180	80,000	Latches/Locks/Linkages	7
2006	214	64,200	Air Bags	3
2007	217	79,000	Air Bags	20
2008	188	69,000	Air Bags	26
2009	166	65,000	Power Train	6
2010	98	70,000	Power Train	11
2011	767	90,000	Engine	38
2012	1242	80,000	Engine	37
2013	1842	84,000	Engine	76
2014	767	71,500	Engine	35
2015	1370	78,500	Engine	56
2017	337	46,000	Engine	7
2018	320	41,000	Engine	12
2019	290	20,000	Engine	30
2020	182	54,540	Engine	9

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28