Kia Optima 2016–2020 problems by year and mileage
4th generation · JF
NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,658 complaints, 553 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2016 Kia Optima
Close- Median failure report
- 68,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 754
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Engine424 reports · median 88,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise121 reports
- Electrical system102 reports · median 66,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2016: Latches/locks/linkages — trunk lid; Engine; Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Kia Optima
Close- Median failure report
- 50,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 304
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Engine191 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise41 reports
- Electrical system39 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2017: Latches/locks/linkages — trunk lid; Engine; Hybrid propulsion system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Kia Optima
Close- Median failure report
- 42,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 243
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Engine137 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise40 reports
- Electrical system37 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2018: Latches/locks/linkages — trunk lid; Engine; Hybrid propulsion system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Kia Optima
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 209
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Engine90 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise42 reports
- Forward collision avoidance36 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2019: Forward collision avoidance — automatic emergency braking. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Kia Optima
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 148
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2020
- Engine100 reports
- Transmission and driveline28 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise17 reports
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2016 reports latest and the 2019 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2016 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2016–2020 Kia Optima reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 60,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 121,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 553
- Recalls
- 8
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Engine56.8% of complaints · median 77,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise15.7% of complaints · median 23,000 mi
- Electrical system13.0% of complaints · median 42,000 mi
Owners filed 1,658 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016–2020 Kia Optima; the engine leads with 56.8% of them, and half of the 553 that record an odometer reading came by 60,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 23,000 and 96,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2016–2020 Kia Optima last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2016–2020 Kia Optima, half of the 553 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 60,000 miles and 90% by 121,000 miles.
15 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 2 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Optima reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Kia Optima 2016–2020 · 553 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 71 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 7,450
- 25%
- 23,000
- Median
- 59,603
- 75%
- 96,000
- 90%
- 121,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 71 | 12.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 49 | 8.9% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 35 | 6.3% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 46 | 8.3% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 34 | 6.1% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 42 | 7.6% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 43 | 7.8% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 44 | 8.0% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 25 | 4.5% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 40 | 7.2% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 41 | 7.4% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 25 | 4.5% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 17 | 3.1% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 14 | 2.5% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 12 | 2.2% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 4 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Optima problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Kia Optima 2016–2020
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Brakes76 reports22,0009,000–42,000Brakes: 76 reports, median 22,000 miles, middle half 9,000 to 42,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise261 reports23,00010,000–51,000Problems owners could not categorise: 261 reports, median 23,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 51,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline164 reports35,00015,000–67,000Transmission and driveline: 164 reports, median 35,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 67,000 miles.
- Electrical system215 reports42,00018,000–82,000Electrical system: 215 reports, median 42,000 miles, middle half 18,000 to 82,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting81 reports55,00035,000–70,000Exterior lighting: 81 reports, median 55,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 70,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system116 reports70,00046,000–90,000Fuel and propulsion system: 116 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Engine942 reports77,00042,000–104,000Engine: 942 reports, median 77,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 104,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 942 | 56.8% | 77,000 | 42,000–104,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 261 | 15.7% | 23,000 | 10,000–51,000 |
| Electrical system | 215 | 13.0% | 42,000 | 18,000–82,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 164 | 9.9% | 35,000 | 15,000–67,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 116 | 7.0% | 70,000 | 46,000–90,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 81 | 4.9% | 55,000 | 35,000–70,000 |
| Brakes | 76 | 4.6% | 22,000 | 9,000–42,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 70 | 4.2% | 22,000 | 1,000–58,000 |
| Body structure | 67 | 4.0% | 21,000 | 8,000–52,000 |
| Airbag system | 59 | 3.6% | 25,000 | 4,000–51,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 60,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 56.8% of complaints (942 reports, 254 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 104,000 miles.
A single system taking 56.8% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 15.7% of complaints (261 reports, 55 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 23,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 51,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 13.0% of complaints (215 reports, 71 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 82,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.9% of complaints (164 reports, 49 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 35,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 67,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 7.0% of complaints (116 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 90,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 4.9% of complaints (81 reports, 33 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 70,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2016–2020 Optima
Engine 2016–2019
Theta II 2.4L and 2.0T connecting-rod bearing failure continues into this generation; recall and extended-warranty coverage runs through the 2018-2019 model years depending on engine and build plant.
Transmission 2016–2020
7-speed dual-clutch transmission (1.6T) shudder, hesitation from a stop, and clutch actuator failure.
Engine/Fire 2016–2018
Non-collision engine compartment fires, subject of NHTSA investigation PE18-019 covering Kia Optima and Sorento and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe of this era.
Before you buy a 2016–2020 Optima: the 3-minute check
Generated from 553 mileage-tagged complaints, 8 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 8 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 2016–2019 cars. Theta II 2.4L and 2.0T connecting-rod bearing failure continues into this generation; recall and extended-warranty coverage runs through the 2018-2019 model years depending on engine and build plant.
- Check transmission on 2016–2020 cars. 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (1.6T) shudder, hesitation from a stop, and clutch actuator failure.
- Check engine/fire on 2016–2018 cars. Non-collision engine compartment fires, subject of NHTSA investigation PE18-019 covering Kia Optima and Sorento and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe of this era.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 23,000 and 96,000 miles, with a median of 60,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 23,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Optima problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi50% below | At 90k mi70% below | At 120k mi90% below | At 150k mi97% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 42,000–104,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 10,000–51,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 18,000–82,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 15,000–67,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 46,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 35,000–70,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 9,000–42,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Kia Optima 2016–2020 · 553 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 50% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 70% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 90% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.4% of reports (2) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2016–2020 Kia Optima recalls (8)
NHTSA records 8 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the engine (2), the airbag system (2), latches and locks (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Aug 2023 · 2016–2018 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The free fix. 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…
Oct 2021 · 2017–2018 · EngineA damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
What can happen. A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will…
Jul 2019 · 2019 · Forward Collision AvoidanceImproper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not…
What can happen. Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this…
Dec 2018 · 2016–2017 · EngineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. 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…
Mar 2018 · 2017–2018 · Hybrid Propulsion SystemIf the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
What can happen. If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The…
Jan 2017 · 2016 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. 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.
Oct 2016 · 2016 · Power TrainIf the driveshaft cracks and separates from the vehicle, it will not be able to move forward.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If the driveshaft cracks and separates from the vehicle, it will not be able to move forward. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll. Either…
The free fix. 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…
Apr 2016 · 2016 · Air BagsIf the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
The free fix. 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…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,658 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 69 (4.2%)
- Fires
- 49
- Injury reports
- 41
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Optima problems by model year
The 2016 drew the most complaints of this generation, 754, most of them about the engine, and the 2020 the fewest, 148. A typical year drew about 243.
That makes the 2016 stand out at roughly 3.1 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 754 | 281 | 68,000† | Engine (424) | 5 |
| 2017 | 304 | 113 | 50,000† | Engine (191) | 4 |
| 2018 | 243 | 80 | 42,000† | Engine (137) | 3 |
| 2019 | 209 | 52 | 30,000† | Engine (90) | 1 |
| 2020 | 148 | 27 | under 30 reports | Engine (100) | 0 |
What Optima owners reported
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The failure persisted while driving, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to…
2018 · 126,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle intermittently stalled and lost automotive power, with an abnormal odor entering the cabin through the air vents. The vehicle was restarted and returned to normal operation; however, the failure reoccurred. The…
2020 · 145,000 miles · Fuel system
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and failed to exceed 52 MPH. The vehicle shut off. The contact stated that the engine was running rough while stationary and the vehicle shut off without warning. The vehicle was taken to…
2018 · 136,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on two occasions, the vehicle lost power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven over to the side of the road and then towed to the dealer twice; however, the failure was not duplicated on the…
2019 · 146,000 miles · Engine
Built from 553 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Optima generations
- Optima 2001–2005 575 reports with mileage, most about latches and locks
- Optima 2006–2010 524 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Optima 2011–2015 2,869 reports with mileage, most about the engine