2016 Kia Optima Other Problems

While driving, the vehicle suddenly developed a loud knocking noise from the engine. Within one block the vehicle began smoking heavily from under the hood. I pulled over, opened the hood, and flames were visible.

I have a 2016 KIA Optima SX Turbo with 33,500 miles that the windows one by one are failing due to a defective regulator drum gear. This very flimsy gear fails and the window will not roll up. I have had 3 out of 4 fail in the last month.

The car caught on fire while I was driving. No warning lights came on and the car didn't show it was running hot. I tried to engage the brakes, and they malfunctioned.

Driver front side window, Passenger front side window, Rear Driver side window. All windows not going up and down. I had to put door wedges down in the panel to keep windows from falling.

We received a recall notice for our KIA Optima to get the software upgrade to restrict operation of the vehicle without a key. We took the car to the dealership on 5/5/2023 for the recall and picked it up on 5/5/2023 from the dealership at 3:30pm. On 5/8/2023 our car was stolen out of our driveway. It was recovered on 5/12/2023 by our local police dept. and it was stolen by using a USB cord and starting it without the key. Obviously the recall does not work. There is now damage inside and out of my car. I did notify KIA corporation last week that it had been stolen and have not heard from them. I also sent an email this morning letting them know that the car was returned and confirmed that they stole it they way the recall was suppose to fix so that it could only be started with the key in the ignition. Obviously that did not work.

The windows on my car drop on their own while I am driving. First it happened on the driver's window which surprised me because it was so abrupt, I almost had an accident. I had that one repaired and it happened to the two rear windows.

My car keeps running out of oil. I've taken it to kia and my mechanic. Both said I need a new engine.

I experienced sudden acceleration while attempting to park our car. The car was double parked waiting for my husband to move a car so I could park in that space. I put my foot on the brake to put the car in drive.

I started having problems with the oil disappearing not long after I got the new car kia optima year about february 2017 I keep pouring everyday more and more oil as I drive but it disappears. On or about august 28,2020, I received an email for a kia engine class action settlement federal court that advises suffer from a defect that can cause engine seizure, stalling engine failure and fire etc.

I was just getting on to the highway and my sunroof exploded! It took me a second to realize thats what had happened it sounded like a very loud pop or gun shot almost I pulled over and seen my entire sunroof had exploded

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.

On may 31 2019 my kia optima 2016 caught fire randomly and within 4 minutes was completely engulfed in flames. It totaled my car and damaged some equipment at sonic drive in where I had pulled in

As I were driving on the highway in e. Ky I lost control over the car all of a sudden. I tried to adjust right and left with no hope.

On wednesday morning driving to my work the sunroof exploded was a big sound ,this explosion terrifies me and thanks god I didn't lost it the control of the car. Immediately I drove to the right side to stop the car and trying figure out what happened.I saw big hole at the sunroof ,I did not know what to do .

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.

Oil light comes on after oil change. Check engine light comes on and the car feels like it going to quit or stall when going down high way.

Air conditioning going out with possible breakdown at seventy thousand miles air conditioner turns on but don't blow air

Vehicle was fine, stopped at a stop light, engine shut off without warning, no lights on dashboard, and turned off.

Takata recall - my car is starting to stall for some reason but there isn't a check engine light on. Mechanics cannot understand what might be causing it. This happens as I drive on streets and on highways.

In order to repair the recalled equipment on the vehicle the dealerships and Kia want us to pay for them to open the trunk ($280/hour service fee to remove the back seat to gain access to the trunk and then return the back seat once completed).

I own a 2016 Kia Optima EX with VIN [XXX] . The engine failed at 85,763 miles due to a rod bearing seizure. This matches the known defect in Kia’s 2.4L GDI engines, which has been the subject of recalls and service campaigns in the past.

I have requested that this recall be repaired and updated with the NHTSA, however I've made an appointment, taken this vehicle to the dealership, and called Kia corporate, but they have yet to update this repair so that it shows repaired in the system.

The windows will NOT stay up, front passenger window has come completely loose from its track and has fallen down in such away, that it slams against the inside door panel, the only part of the window you can see is the triangle shaped edge that would normally fit in the corner of the window. I'm [XXX], with kids and this is my only transportation.

The window regulators in my 2016 Kia Optima have/are failing. The white drum gear that rolls the window up/down shreds and the window falls. My safety is put at risk with this due to the fact that if the window glass were to drop abruptly, it would shatter.

I got on the Highway after work, particularly hot day so I had the a/c running. Following nobody, and not next to any cars I hear a loud "crack," followed by yet another loud crack, glass flying to the back of my car, sunroof cover starts rattling back and fourth. I pull over after being jump scared, and come to find my sun roof to be blown upwards.

All four windows are not operational and ceased function. All 4 of the windows are currently propped up. I spoke to Kia Dealership and they are familiar with the problem they are having alot of complaints with this issue.

My 2016 Optima started burning a quart of oil at 60000 miles I am now burning over 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. I took it to the dealership where I bought it from and was they would change my oil to do an oil consumption test and I was to drive it no more than 1000 miles. I brought up my warranty for engine replacement and was told yes I do have warranty.

Earlier this week, I went to the grocery store and noticed that the antenna cover had fallen off my car during the drive. Nothing unusual had happened on the way. In fact, the only thing unusual over the last few weeks was some rather cold temperatures for Georgia.

All four windows are not operational and ceased function within 2 months of the initial rear window failing. Three of the windows are currently propped up by door stops and the driver window is stuck all the way down. I spoke to Kia Dealership and they are familiar with the problem. It happens a lot in warm climates. They can repair all 4 windows for a cost of $2000.00 to $2400. Kia vehicles are defective and dangerous because the power window regulators fail and cause the windows to fail. There is currently a class action lawsuit against Kia for this Issue. Michael Le Beau, et al. v. Kia America Inc., Case No. [XXX] filed in California. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We were backing up of out a parking spot at the local 7 eleven and another car almost cream us till the associate that was outside at the moment yelled out a warning

I had all four of my window regulators to go out within two days of each other and now my windows constantly drop automatically while driving especially if I go over speed bumps, hit pot holes or any type of bump. I try to keep them up by placing paper or holders in them but they only hold up for so long and at times when I’m driving they drop down and I’m afraid the glass will break completely because one of them dropped while driving and the window cracked. This is a very dangerous situation and Kia tried to charge me when I went to them and I know this has to be a defect for all windows to go out.

I got this recall done. I found out about it because my insurance raised a couple hundred dollars a month and when I called they told me about this recall. I got the recall done however, when the insurance pulls up my VIN # they state it is still flagged. I contacted NYS DMV about this and they stated the information is supposed to be sent to you (NHTSA). When I put in my VIN number in the window prior it came up with the safety issue and said 0 recalls. So, does that mean that it was sent in that the car has this? I was on the phone today with KIA for almost an hour and they could not advise me on anything pertaining to this. I would appreciate if you can let me know if the document was sent/processed because the insurance company is stating my VIN number is still flagged. Thank you for any help you provide me. I am using this form because when I clicked on email I do not have the email app installed and could not find a regular email address. my email is : [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

All four windows stopped working within two months of each other. The motors still work, but the plastics parts inside broke. The trunk latch also stopped working and the trunk won’t stay shut. There are recalls on the 2016 Optima for the trunk latch, but the dealer says my VIN isn’t involved. There are also tech notices for the windows on the 2016 Kia optima, but no recalls yet. There is a class action lawsuit for the windows also for safety reasons. No one would be able to get out of the windows or trunk if the car were in an accident because none of them work. Kia is useless to fix their junky cars. The mileage is 70,000.

Both rear windows, independently and at different times, have needed to have the gear inside the door panel that rolls the windows up and down replaced due to spontaneous stripping and total failure. The dealer has replaced the offending parts, which are sold only as part of a much larger / very large component panel, i.e. it is not possible to replace only the small plastic stripped-out gear. My safety was at risk both times because the window would not go up, resulting in my inability to lock and secure my car. If I had small children who ride in the back seat (I don't, but surely others who have this car do), I would not be able to secure their safety inside the vehicle. The problem has been inspected, confirmed, and repaired by the dealer. It is a known recurring problem by the manufacturer Kia, but they refuse to issue a recall. The first time it happened the car was still under warranty so there was no charge to me. With the second window the car was no longer under warranty and I had to pay the full cost of the repair. There were no warnings of pending failure; the windows were rolled down and just failed to roll up. I wish to state for the record that although this is a 2016 model and therefore is now 7 years old (in 2023), it has only 14,000 actual miles on it, i.e. I drive the car only around town for errands, etc. From 2017 (when we purchased the car) through mid-2020, I drove it 18 miles per week to my part-time job very near my home. I retired in mid-2020 and drive the car even less now. Furthermore, I've had riders in the back seat probably less than a dozen times in 7 years, my point being that the rear windows are rarely used. Mostly they have been used by me as the driver when I want to release built-up heat from the car when it has been sitting all day in the NC summer sun and I'm going out once or twice a week to drive it somewhere (like the grocery store). This failure should not be happening with a car with so little usage on it!

My daughter was driving on the interstate and her car lost power while driving. This is a major safety issue. A car losing power in the middle of 80 or higher mph traffic could result in fatalities.

Unknown. My oil light started to turn on while I was still 1200 miles before my next oil change. I check the level of my oil and it was completely empty.

The window regulator in all four windows gave out back to back with little use of windows to begin with. Apparently Kia knows of issue but won’t recall part.

My kia Burns lots of oil. I'm having to refill oil every 300 miles. And the oil isn't on the ground. It's burning out on my sparkplugs and oil pac coil. It's even shut off engine light came on. Got it towed to SONS of Kia. Had it diagnosis and Was told it's needed sparkplugs and coil pac replacement. Full tune-up. Oil change. Later. Having the same issues. Having to continue replenish oil. Over and over. Where is it going. Oil sputtering out of my tail pipe. Oil and water from tail pipe. Took it to Amoco Transmission. For diagnosis and was told that this need to be reported to kia. A major recall. Oil is burning from engine issues. My sparkplugs are loaded with oil and coil pac. Why I've always got my oil changed every due time. Later after 300-400 miles. I'm having to add oil again. Something wrong with this. I travel and my wife have to check oil consumption every week to make sure oil is in the car. She's very stressful about this situation. The car be studder when this happens. And some time want crank. It's nothing of her end. It's the manufacturer of the car. Burning oil consumption. AND NOW ITS AT AMOCO TRANSMISSION WAITING ON WHAT'S NEXT. TRULY WILL LOVE KIA TO DO THE RIGHT THING. MY WIFE LOVE'S HER KIA. AND ARE THINKING ABOUT BUYING A SUV FROM KIA IN THE FUTURE. My other paper work are in the car. Will update more information later.

Shortly after I purchase this vehicle, my driver side window stopped going up and down. I was disappointed but it was what it was there in about a month and a half later the rear passenger side, the rear driver side stop going up and down and then a week after that, the driver side front step going up and down if I knew it, none of my windows would go up and down if my air conditioner goes out, I am, in trouble I live in Florida I cannot drive without air-conditioning or through the windows being able to go up and down. I made a complaint to Kia. They hung up on me neither Kia nor Honda where I purchased his car wants to do anything to assist me I have read the door multiple complaints regarding the windows and his cars. Why isn’t anything being done ?

The vehicle was sold to me with a known recall issues. I have taken it to the kia dealership close to me during the recall time period. They never told me about this issue coming up on their system.

I purchased this vehicle about a year ago upon purchasing vehicle I noticed I was having to get an oil change every other week and when I would go in I would have no oil. Fast forward to now I am buying 5g oil from Advance Auto parts every week my car is burning through oil excessively and causing my sparks plugs and coils to go bad from the oil.

Driver window back window (driver side) passenger window won’t let down and need window regulators. I’ve had one replaced before

Right passenger window dropped down. It came off regulator track for no reason with a child in a car seat sitting at that window putting that child's safety at risk.

Unknown Driver’s window does not operate either up or down.. Making a noise when I tried to put the window down in order to open it. Only 23,700 mileage on my 2016 Optima This is a safety issue and my VIN number needs to be placed on the recall list.

On Saturday, 09/17, I took my vehicle in for a standard oil change & alignment with a 3-party mechanic (pepboys). Once the work was done I was informed by the mechanic that the Driver's side window was in the down position and would not go back up. I was informed that it was because the Regulator went out and it is a Kia only part.

Paint of the hood of my kia optima started peeling off as of Sept 5th,2022, there are small peelings on top of car and trunk. Took car to mvp paint&body, San Benito, tx to see if I needed to make an appt and he stated that he has dealt with this kind of problem and insurance companies and dealerships are paying for damages.

There is a known issue with this motor burning oil in the engine at an excessive rate. This caused my car to shut down on the California freeway from 65 MPH. Warranty wont cover, dealership says its a manufacturer issue that is known and the manufacturer isn't replacing the problem engines.

In November of 2021 at about 18500 miles the right rear window regulator drive gear disentigrated and the entire regulator had to be replaced. In Decemeber of 2021 at about 19700 miles the right front window regulator disintigrated and had to be replaced.

Misfire– oil on the spark plug caused misfire. check engine light came on. OBDII scanner show a P0302 trouble code. Eventually the engine misfired enough and lead to a backfire. This also led to Decreased Fuel Mileage, Catalytic Converter Damage, and Blue Exhaust Smoke.

Rear passenger window failed in June 2021 and cost $700 to fix, not under warranty per dealer. Replaced the window regulator unfortunately, I did not ask for the old part. One week later the rear window on the driver side failed in the same manner.

While driving at night with the "auto" function for the headlights on they turn off at random. This has happened numerous times during the past year. Very dangerous on dark roads.

All four of my car windows fall down unexpectedly due a defect in the window regulator part, and window motor. The windows do not respond to door controls and I've now had to spend approx. and many trips to the dealer repair shop to get these windows fixed.

Since I bought 2016 kia optima ex, there has being windows problem on this model. Either window regulator or module panel or some thing else cause windows to drop down while your driving, or malfunction does not operate at all. At least 4 times I took to dealer to fix it, but in short period of time happens again, it is not one window happens to all of them.

The windows fall on their own and not operative while driving. It has happened to me twice so far and took the car to dealer. I am trying not to lower my windows at all for now.

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 on

24 days after an oil change, the oil light came on. I checked the oil level and it was empty. I'm wondering where 5qts of oil went in 24 days.

The front passenger side makes rumbling/rattling noise when driving. It is sporadic but sounds like it is coming from something related to the tires. It is hard to take for a diagnose because you never know when it's going to happen.

In 2024 the window regulator went in the drivers side back window costing me $700 and on 9/22/2025 the drivers side front window regulator just went costing me another $700. I see many are having this issue but no recall

While driving at approximately 45/50 MPH, the right rear window suddenly dropped into the door panel without warning. This unexpected failure startled me and created a distraction while driving, as well as compromised my ability to hear and concentrate safely.

Have a shake during accelerating 35-40 MPH and then again at 70 MPH. There is an axle, recall on 2016 kia optima. for certain months, my is not included.

As of today all 4 of my power windows have failed. The first was in Feb, 2 in AUG (50K miles) and the last one today. Looking at the failed parts it matches Kia TSB#300.

I am experiencing window regulator failures on all four windows of my 2016 Kia Optima LX, which began in 2021 and continues to the present. The windows either do not stay up or operate irregularly. I have seen similar reports from other 2016 Kia Optima and 2017 Kia Sportage owners.

Unknown

My back windows will not roll up and down with the buttons and now whenever I hit a bump and even shut my door, the windows fall down. The only way to get them back up is to physically pull them back up. I cannot get the stay up.

Mya paint is bubbling , chipping and peeling all over my car.

Window stop working and will not stay up.

Vehicle is defectively unsafe, and unreliable due to PCM not functioning properly!!!

Snow White Pearl paint is flying off of my car in big splotches.

Purchased this car in July of this year. I checked all fluids prior to purchase and after driving it for 30 days the oil light flicked then went off. I decided to check the oil and it was 2 quarts low.

issues with all of the window regulators stop working. The gears in the regulators are plastic and become dry rot and strip out not allowing the windows to function.

Two of the four window regulators failed. The rear windows fell down within weeks of each other. The car has 46000 miles and the rear windows are rarely used.

This is a complaint about the paint chipping on my 2016 Kia Optima FE. I drove through some pretty heavy rain in December 2021 and ever since this my front bumper has been chipping away. Every time it rains, the paint chips get even larger.

My 2016 is burning excessive oil. to the point I have to put oil in every 3 days.

My Odometer is going fast.Odometer is rolling very fast. Say if I travel 5-miles Odometer registering 15 miles. Calibrate Odometer.

Egiene consum oil 1 quarter in 1000 miles

I have a pearl white vehicle paint is pealing on passenger back seat door

Here in Wisconsin Kias are being stolen at an alarming rate. It’s the most stolen car. It is being stated that this is due to how the cars were made and that Kia knew this but didn’t disclose it.

I'm about to replace my THIRD window accuator on this car. The first one that failed was the rear passenger side at 54000 miles. The window was rarely if ever used, failed any way.

All 4 of my windows have stoped working and fall down while driving it started pouring down my driver window fell down and I almost wrecked I see a lot of people having the same issue

Having trouble with my driverside window it let's down but will not let back up I called kia and they want over 200.00 to diagnose it plus labor to fix it from what I have been reading online alot of people are having the same issue

The cars headlights turn off while driving under normal conditions. This has happened at least four times in a one month period. This is extremely dangerous as some areas are not well lit or an oncoming car may not see us.

Burning oil

When car comes to a stop it shakes and it feels like your driving over uneven pavement..

My driver side axle is clicking and pop when I turn and there is no way that has been taken care of and it clearly states on this site that all are recalls on the model is there anyway the recalls an be done now I bought this call at 2018 preowned with 38000 or more miles on it it now has 82000 miles on it and if a recall has not ended done why can't they do them now and I don't feel these vehicle is safe for me to be in and I'm disabled!!!

When first taking off the car feels like the back has to catch up with the front of the car ,,, to me it seems as the universe joints.

Upon filling up the car the gas nozzle never shuts off until gas (a lot of gas) is pouring out of the tank. Even trying to fill it up on your own holding the handle it pours out when full. Leaves gas every where down the car spraying the person putting the gas in.