2016 Kia Optima Transmission Problems

Several safety-critical systems failed on this vehicle. The engine (Theta II 2.4L GDI) failed due to rod bearing wear, causing sudden power loss on the highway. The vehicle entered limp mode, once at 50 MPH in 2018 and again at 70 MPH in 2025, and had to be pulled over quickly to avoid collision.

My 2016 Kia Optima LX 1.6 has been burning oil really fast. It also has been losing power when I try to accelerate with know check engine lights on. Currently the engine has a shake to it & is un-drivable.

The Hybrid Battery continues to malfunction and, randomly shuts down at any speed (even after short engine block was "repaired" by Kia Dealership). Also, an odor of burnt oil happens often while driving the car. It is available for inspection, if need be.

#1Headlights & break lights going out often. Bulbs can’t be replaced anymore due to wiring burnt ( 1 headlight ) Took it in and they didn’t even look at it. Have do Documents to back that up #2 Engine light coming on, diagnostic testing indicated spark plugs need to be replaced .

E - c v v t seal seating issue. My 2016 kia optima is giving an obd ii error code of p0010 "a" camshaft position actuator circuit. This causes reduction in power during acceleration, and elevates engine idle speeds to 1200-1400 RPM.

I've been having an issue with the vehicle jerking upon take off as if the transmission struggles to engage, it's caused me several near accidents due to the car not going when it's supposed to, how it's supposed to.. This happens at start up when first shifting into gear, and after stoping then attempting to go. I have taken it to kia 3 times.

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.

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.

Shutter/hesitation upon take off. I signed my lease on 9/29 and was at the service dept first of 7 times on 10/4. At first I was told the car had to "learn the way I drive" that there were no issues with my car.

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.

Complaint Message – 2016 Kia Optima Engine Failure Without Oil Light Warning I am the owner of a 2016 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX] ). My vehicle suffered complete engine failure due to oil starvation — without any prior oil warning light or indication. The engine died while driving, and it was only afterward that I discovered the engine oil was extremely low.

Engine failed at 52.350 miles due to excessive oil consumption confirmed by a Kia dealership. Car was driving fine on 5/1/25, on 5/2/25, car started to stall with loud clicking noise, and wouldn't move fast, which then activated the check engine light.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk excessively, and the contact was forced to pull over to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated.

[XXX] 6:30AM: 2016 Kia Optima Ex I was driving on the freeway on my way to work when I lost all acceleration and immediately attempted to get over to the side of the road. Which was pretty [XXX] scary being that it's a busy freeway that early in the morning so everyone is laying on their horn while trying to get out of my way.

The Car has been to the dealer several times for a transmission judder update under TSB: TRA 083 and Recently TSB TRA 098 - Both Times they have done a Anti-Judder Logic Improvement. The Car still Judders and Its a big safety concern. Many times I will go to pull out into oncoming traffic and the judder can be so bad the car wont take off.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the passenger side drive shaft fractured. The vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted.

Despite maintaining the vehicle and replacing the battery, the car will have weird acceleration jumps during highway and city travel. It will also not start properly on occasion where it will idle rough and stall when trying to shift into drive or reverse.

Four times in less than one year, car stutters, or stalls completely, check engine light flashes, and I have to maneuver to highway shoulder or slow lane to get towed. Very unsafe. Kia keeps it for a week , forces a software update repeatedly, sends me on my way and a few months later the sane thing again.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated.

From a stationary position, upon accelerating the car hesitates, vibrates, feels as if it might stall but does not stall. Car, within a second or so will catch and accelerate as it should. Driver is very aware of the vibration hesitation.

When I try to start my car it'll turn electrical components on but not my engine. I have absolutely no power steering when this occurs. Car will go into gear but I cannot accelerate.

P1326 engine code came on while driving 60mph on the interstate. Luckily was in far left lane when engine shut off and was safely able to get off freeway to a nearby gas station.

Was traveling to dallas, texas from waco, texas on 10/05/2019. The transmission in my vehicle went out. The vehicle surged erratically multiple times, while the car was slowing down, speed limit was 75mph, with barriers on both sides (no shoulder on either side.

After 2nd transmission was installed, 2 days after I received a diagnostic warning of a possible motor control unit error. , I received a prompt so it could report it back to kia, I then received an email with error code p0c17 brought car back to kia, they stated the calibration was off, and needed to be re calibrated

I started the car, which appeared normal, about 10 minutes into my trip, the dashboard display was flashing, " check hybrid system, stop vehicle and turn off engine " a dinging bell was going off, I was startled by it, so I immediately pulled over and stopped I let car sit for a minute the tried to start it again. The nav screen showed motor control unit, issue.

Taking a left from a stop at maybe 5 MPH , and the right front axle broke in half. I was able to coast off the road and have the car towed. There is a recall for this exact issue (recall #sc139).

From a dead stop driving around, releasing the brake petal from a stop and getting ready to get going, the car shutters a bit and/or both the engine feels like it's gonna stall. Hesitation to get going.. Does it in all 3 drive modes.

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.

The car is burning oil rapidly causing potential issues with the transmission and engine. The oil burns and does not leak after a few hundred miles and has to be refilled continuously causing alot of money and potential issues with other components of the car. I notice jerking when accelerating and smoke if dont fill every 1 to 2 weeks.

I went to the Garden Grove Kia to get my new 2016 kia optima repaired for their knock sensor settlement repair. By their own terms of the agreement all original and subsequent ow ers can get vehicles repaired. They took my vehicle information, I gave them all details of my ownership of the vehicle and they said they would fix it.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated before gaining motive power. The vehicle was also shuddering and vibrating.

Vehicle Dash Check Engine Light came on 08/31/2023 Code P200A was found. Several weeks went by and vehicle started to hesitate pretty bad Vehicle was towed to Kia dealership on 10/04/2023 : Was told engine failure which needed replacement along with intake and several other required parts. Covered under Powertrain Warranty, vehicle was completed and ready for pick up on 10/17/2023 On 10/24/2023, on my way home from work, Dash Warning "Engine has overheated" has came on. Vehicle was towed back to original dealership. Kia reportedly found "air pocket" in cooling system. Vehicle was ready for pickup same day. On 10/30/2023, on my way to work, Dash Warning "Engine has overheated" has once again came on. Luckily I was able to get off the interstate and happened to be by a Kia dealership in the area. At this time, info is pending.

Pearl white paint peeling in chunks of hood. All four window regulators went out within six months. Transmission had to be replaced Hard shift rear end Motor replaced

My car has been consuming oil and has locked up and will not operate. This issue has been reported to the manufacturer by several other customers, and my car is not a part of the recent recalls. This issue could have caused me serious harm, had I been on a highway, or busy intersection. My car engine now doesn't work.

I have already had to have motor and transmission replaced once under warranty. The replaced transmission was worse than the original problem. The original problem was hard shifting. Now I have intermittent hard shifting, occasional lunging forward, occasional shuddering while pressing accelerator, and feeling like there is hesitation to change gears. I have not taken it back to the dealer yet. I always get the excuse that they cant replicate the problem. It took me 2-3 years to get it acknowledged the first time.

In April, 2022, while driving on a major highway enroute to work, my 2016 Kia Optima started knocking and completely shutdown in the middle of high-speed traffic. I had the vehicle towed and was told that the recall for the engine knock sensor replacement hadn't ever been done which resulted in the engine to shutdown.

The vehicle hesitated to move after a stop. I have escaped hitting the incoming vehicles when taking a left turns as my car drives very slow after a stop and there are chances of hitting with the vehicles coming from other direction.

2016 Kia Optima was towed to Kia Dealer after it became inoperable; on 10/22/22 diagnostic done and found engine failure. Kia Motors denied claim for repair/replacement. Not sure why not covered under class action settlement, and/or extended warranty, or subsequent technical bulletins regarding Kia's defective engines.

Driving along the interstate approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle jerked with knock sound then lost acceleration speed. At the same time, the check engine light started blinking. I pulled over to the side of the interstate put the car in park.

My car is experiencing excessive oil consumption, engine knocking and shifting delays, grinding or jumping during acceleration, the car jerking on the road.

My name is E........ and I'm writing this email/complaint in hopes it can be resolved or you can pass this email along to the appropriate person or persons to have this matter looked into. We purchased a used 2016 Kia Optima a few years back and have had nothing but trouble, from electrical issues, recalls, transmission issues, oil consumption, and smoke coming through the air vents!!!!

The engine is burning about a half a quarter of oil every 1000 miles. The transmission studers when trying to take off and sometimes lags when you accelerate harder.

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia optima. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse, the vehicle failed to respond. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.

Was exiting the freeway, came to a stoplight, and as continuing with driving the check engine light starts blinking and was not able to accelerate, as if it was slipping. Car would not go over around 30 MPH until feeling the car not able to accelerate again. I used a code reader and got code p1326, which I had looked up and says it has something to do with a knock sensor detection system.

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16v705000 (power train) at greenway kia of franklin (5026, 1413 murfreesboro rd, franklin, tn 37067, (615) 224-7973). The driveshaft was replaced during the repair, but the vehicle was leaking fluid afterwards.

After the kia dealership replaced the transmission the first time. Due to a mcu failure. 2 weeks later car was due for oil change, jiffy lube stated my transmission was leaking.

Check engine light is blinking, there is a noticeable decrease in power, and it jerks out of first gear. Took it to autozone for a free diagnostic which was p1326. All fluid are in order.

My car was manufactured on novenber 13, 2015 the same date for the recall number sc139 for the powertrain axle but wasn't included on the recall. My axle is starting to make noise like if it is fail just as the recall states I'm towing it to the dealer to get fixed but was my car suppose to be apart of that recall?

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia optima. The contact stated that the front axle started to fail and made abnormal noises. Perris valley kia (707 e 4th st, perris, ca 92570) stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v705000 (power train).

The transmission has a very harsh downshift upon coming to a stop. Sometimes so bad that it will push all passengers heads forward harshly.

When accelerating from a complete stop, the engine shudders & hesitates. I must allow extra time & space for oncoming traffic, when pulling out into an intersection. This is an ongoing problem.

When the car encounters a hill and needs to downshift, either to climb or to hold back the speed when it descends, the cruise control remembers the downshift and will not return to high gear until a) it is manually overridden, but will still downshift up to 2 gears, when the lever is placed back to automatic or, b) when the cruise control is turned off.

This vehicle suffers from a hesitation during take off. According to kia this hesitation come from a 7 speed dual clutch transmission(dct). Which causes the vehicle the driver to feel a shudder sensation.

These cars have a known issue for burning oil the motor thats in my car was recalled for same issue but they are not trying fix my car under that recall of the bad motor that they did recall

Hear the driveshaft clicking and doesn’t accelerate like it should

Was driving going 50mph and all of a sudden with traffic accelerator stopped working. The oil engine and battery light all came on. When I tried jump starting it it began to smoke.

The high voltage battery and the ability to drive or turn on completely

Every 2000 miles I need to put in a quart of oil. When car down shifts to 35mph the oil light flickers. At downshift of 10mph there is a slight shutter and the oil light flickers.

2016 kia Optima will not go in reverse. It will only work in drive. Tried to drive out of my driveway today.

Whenever decelerating the car jerks terribly hard enough the throw your head forward. It feels as if your hitting your breaks really hard!

My oil is burning faster that expected. I gotand oil change and a week later it was to the bottom.

Vehicle, on multiple occasions, will shift unexpectedly from fifth gear into fourth very abruptly and dramatically. There is also a lapse in time when you press on the gas to accelerate and with for it to down shift into fourth gear or beyond.

Engine failed on highway and car stopped accelerating.