2016 Kia Optima Brakes Problems

The contact owned a 2016 KIA OPTIMA. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH occupied with her husband the contact heard a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle and smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle as you looked in the drive side rear view mirror and while depressing the brake pedal attempting to come to a complete at the traffic light, the brakes failed to work a intended. No warning light illuminated. The contact mention she kept trying to depress the brake pedal, however the vehicle kept accelerating causing the vehicle to crash into a ditch, go around a telephone poll, crashing into a rock garden which allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot call interstate towing then the vehicle was then towed by insurance company to a collision center. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact stated a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,834.

NHTSA ID

11741833

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Mileage

166,834 mi

FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, IVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS RELATING TO MY ENGINE BURNING OIL TO FAST, ENGINE SHAKING AND NOT ACCELERATING LIKE ITS SPPOSE TO... YOU HAVE A RECALL ON 2016 OPTIMAS BUT ONLY THE HYBRID (HEV). WHICH WE ALL KNOW ITS NOT RIGHT. WHY ONLY DO IT FOR CERTAIN OPTIMAS KNOWING WE ARE ALL (ALL OPTIMAS) ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING!! SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIPS AND AUTO SHOPS AND NOW IM MENTALLY DRAINED , UPSET, CONFUSED AND OVERALL FEEL MANIPULATED BY KIA... NICE CARS BUT DOES NOT KEEP ITS VALUE.. CAN SOMEONE FIX THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11731203

Incident

Sep 4, 2023

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. I coasted the car to the side of the highway, where the fire and smoke plumed from under the car. I immediately exited the car and ran. As I was running from the car the grass was on fire. The car was totally destroyed by fire. The car has not been inspected by my insurance or Kia. Kia has a class action settlement for car fires the year, make, and model of mine.

NHTSA ID

11654571

Incident

Apr 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after having a routine oil change and tire maintenance, the vehicle began making an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle failed to start. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message that the automatic brake was disabled was displayed. Additionally, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic and was referred to the dealer. The contact called the local dealer, and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer declined to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 149,020.

NHTSA ID

11631191

Incident

Dec 15, 2024

Mileage

149,020 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at unknown speeds the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle did not respond and began to hydroplane. The vehicle swerved left and right, when the vehicle in front moved to the side, the contact's vehicle continued to roll until the brakes responded. The vehicle came to a stop and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they did not diagnose or repair it. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was stated that new tires may help and the tires were replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11579937

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The contact depressed the brake pedal harder and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer the following day and the dealer was not able to identify a failure with the vehicle brakes although the transmission was adjusted. The contact stated that the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. There were no warning lights illuminated at the time of the failure. The dealer contacted the manufacturer, and a field inspector was sent to the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 92000.

NHTSA ID

11560323

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

Mileage

92,000 mi

I found my car on a list of recalls. The recall is NHTSA ID: 23V-652000. Why was I not notified of this recall. This is a serious recall that Kia has no fix for. I can't believe that Kia is putting people and families at risk. This plan that Kia has is ridiculous and unprofessional. You want people to park cars outside of there garages. That does not work. Kia needs a better plan and thats to come up with a fix and NOW!

NHTSA ID

11555840

Incident

Nov 18, 2023

Emergency break stopped working. Engine misfires and heavy oil consumption or burning to quickly. Gets really really hot more than normal than any other car I owned.

NHTSA ID

11550938

Incident

Sep 29, 2022

My ABS warning lamp came on braking seems okay. My blind spot is not working warning light is on.

NHTSA ID

11549757

Incident

Sep 7, 2023

My 2016 Kia Optima has been consuming oil every 1.5months. I have multiple times had to replace my oil because my oil light kept coming on. I’ve checked it every single time and it is barely anything there. I have my breaks mess up and not work as properly with my safety and others being comprised. I have brought this up to my Kia dealership but they have just brushed it off and charged me for an oil change. I have seen and heard many cases like mine and it has happened worse to them to the point where the car stops in the middle of the highway. My car has been checked by others and they have all noticed the same thing - the oil levels extremely low only after 1 and a half months or way prior to when my next oil change should be made. Having this happen is expensive and life threatening when the brakes don’t work as they should or when my could possibly bust. I have received no help and would like to make this known .

NHTSA ID

11541964

Incident

Dec 12, 2022

5/9/23 appointment for 4 recalls -completed 2 and ask if we could bring back next day to finish and we said no because granddaughter in school so service manager said important to get it back in and finish and sent granddaughter home with car 5 days later while driving car caught on fire and lost brakes and transmission and swerved into vacant parking lot smoke and flames coming into car and girls had to jump while car was still moving both girls checked on sight for smoke inhalation. 15 year old had to go to emergency room for road rash and nerve issues. we have documents ,911 tapes, videos, text ,,,witnesses, pictures. very negligent on service dept. for sending car out without completing issues. we came ready to leave it but they sent it out.

NHTSA ID

11538774

Incident

May 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The vehicle failed to stop immediately. The contact's daughter drove over a curve to stop the vehicle. The contact's daughter pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11480143

Incident

Aug 18, 2022

Mileage

40,000 mi

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. Finally came to rest in a ( luckily empty) bowling alley parking lot. Vehicle sustained heavy right side front damage and had to be towed from the scene.

NHTSA ID

11447683

Incident

Jan 16, 2022

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING STRAIGHT IN LEFT LANE ON A CITY STREET IN EASTBOUND DIRECTION. ON ITS OWN, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE TURNING TOWARDS THE LEFT SIMULTANEOUSLY. DRIVER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND BASED ON AIR BAG MODULE, CAR SPED UP TO 55 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE SEEMED TO BE LOCKED OR STUCK BECAUSE NEITHER COMPONENT WORKED WHILE THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. DRIVER TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, BUT BRAKE WOULD NOT PRESS DOWN. ALSO TRIED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID ONCOMING WESTBOUND TRAFFIC, BUT STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK EITHER. DRIVER HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE CAR ACCELERATED AND VEERED LEFT FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE UNTIL IT FINALLY HIT A CURB, THEN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL, ROTOR, AND SUSPENSION BROKE. IT SEEMED AS IF CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER IT HIT THE CURB BECAUSE THERE ARE SKID MARKS FROM THE TIRES AFTER IMPACT. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WERE NO LONGER STUCK. THE STEERING WHEEL ROTATED PROPERLY AND BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED DOWN WITH EASE. BECAUSE OF BROKEN WHEEL, CAR WAS NOT OPERABLE AFTERWARD AND WAS TOWED TO COLLISION CENTER. COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND INSPECTION COMPLETED, BUT THEY SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANY ERRORS WITH THE CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR ANY OTHER ERRORS. THE AIR BAG MODULE REPORT COINCIDES WITH THE MALFUNCTION CLAIM THAT I FILED WITH KIA ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, BUT KIA STATED THERE WEREN'T ANY ERROR CODES IN THE REPORT. AFTER REPAIRS AND INSPECTION WERE COMPLETED, I TRADED-IN THE VEHICLE OUT OF FEAR THAT THIS MALFUNCTION MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. SINCE AN ISSUE WASN'T FOUND WITH THE CAR, THAT MEANS THE ISSUE WASN'T FIXED AND I DIDN'T WANT TO OWN A MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11374179

Incident

Aug 13, 2020

Mileage

35,168 mi

WHILE IN MOTION THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES AT RANDOM TIMES DURING THE DAY. ABS WARNING LIGHT, BSD WARNING LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ALL WENT OFF. THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE SEES THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WERE ON, BUT THEIR COMPUTER IS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT BACK. WELL, THEY'RE ON AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN STATIONARY SINCE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SUNDAY EVENING MY SON SENDS ME A PIC OF MY CAR, THE LIGHTS ARE ON!

NHTSA ID

11353452

Incident

Sep 6, 2020

Mileage

56,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11342463

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

Mileage

51,346 mi

AB S SENSORS FAILURE

NHTSA ID

11338281

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

Mileage

64,000 mi

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. THE CAR BEEPED CONTINUOUSLY AND FLASHED A RED "EMERGENCY BRAKING" NOTIFICATION IN THE DASH CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE ANTI-LOCKING BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLIED BRAKING FROM THE AEB. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL OR STOP THE BRAKING DURING THE EVENT. ONCE THE CAR WAS FULLY STOPPED, THE RED DASH NOTIFICATION STOPPED, THE BEEPING STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO TRAFFIC BEHIND ME COULD PROCEED.

NHTSA ID

11300174

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

18,500 mi

I RENTED A VEHICLE FROM FAIR/UBER UNDER A CALIFORNIA PROMOTION. IN THE UNDERSTANDING THE VEHICLE WAS UBER READY. THREE WEEKS INTO USING THE CAR SQUEEZING BRAKES LET ME TO THE AUTHORISED SHOP FOR MAINTANENCE. IT WAS INSPECTED AND WHAT WAS FOUND MADE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE. I COULD NOT USE IT FOR ITS PURPOSE. TO DRIVE IT FOR UBER. I HAVE SNAP SHOTS OF THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE SHOCKS OR STRUTS ARE ALSO SHOT AND THE COOLANT RESIVIOR WAS CLOSE TO EMPTY. THE TWO FRONT TIRES ALSO WERE RECOMENDED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE CUPPING. THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED PRIOR TO THERE RELEASING IT TO ME FOR ANY SAFETY ISSUES PRIOR AND WHEN THE INVOICE WAS SENT TO DONLEN, 3 TIMES, WHICH TOOK A WHOLE DAY, WAS FULLY DENIED. REFUSAL TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CAR IS STILL IN THIS CONDITION. IT WAS REMOVED FROM PEP BOYS ON MISSION GEORGE BY MYSELF. THE NEXT DAY AT 5:06 PM I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM FAIR SUGGESTING I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER APPROVED SHOP. I REALISED THAT THIS WAS NOT MY DUTY OR MY PROBLEM. I COULD JUST RETURN THE VEHICLE. I WAS I AM DONE WITH THIS COMPANY. IT WAS GOING TO BE A 3 DAY JOB IN THE SHOP. AND FAIR TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY HAD NO ABILITY TO PREVENT ME FROM HAVING TO PAY FOR THE WEEK IT WAS DISABLED. OBSURD. I'LL ATTACH SPECS AND PICS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11228465

Incident

Jun 26, 2019

I'VE BEEN HAVING CAR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR A OVER A YEAR, THE STEERING WHEEL GET STUCK, MY BRAKES WASN'T WORKING GOOD, SO I GOT NEW BREAKS, HOWEVER MY CAR STILL DOESN'T MAKE A QUICK COMPLETE STOP, I'M ALSO HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MY HEADLIGHTS BULB HAVE TO BE CHANGED ONCE A WEEK, I ALSO HAVE TO CHANGED MY OIL EVERY WELL, TODAY MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A ENGINE, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

11210573

Incident

Mar 15, 2018

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. CAR SHOT BACKWARDS IN REVERSE AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING AND A BELL RINGING. I PUMPED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. IN HAD JUST BEEN TURNED OFF, AND WAS ALREADY IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. CAR WENT ON OUT OF NOWHERE, AND WENT IN REVERSE THE LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 25 CARS AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR.POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THEY REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. MURRAY KIA WAS WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN INSURANCE PROBLEM. NOT TRUE!! MY PASSENGER AND I WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND COULD BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR INJURED OTHERS. THANK GOD THE PARKED CAR WAS THERE AND ONLY THEN DID THE CAR CRASH INTO IT, AND STOP.

NHTSA ID

11105163

Incident

Jun 22, 2018

Mileage

19,540 mi

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. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT CAUSES ANY ACCIDENTS OR WORSE DEATH. I SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR FOR IT TO BE HAVING THESE ISSUES. BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE NOT A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11073752

Incident

Mar 18, 2017

Mileage

8,000 mi

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. I BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES ON THIS. FISHTAILING ON WET HIGHWAYS HAS A SERIOUS RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. THEY JUST SAY LIVE WITH IT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FELT THE PROBLEM WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE IN MY CAR AND OTHER CARS OF SAME MODEL IN THE NEW CAR LOT. IT IS TIME THEY FACE THIS SERIOUS HAZARD, AS BRAKING IS SUPPOSE TO THE THE #1 SAFETY ISSUE IN A CAR, NOT CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE STATED A DATE BELOW, BUT THAT DATE IS WHEN I FIRST WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE PROBLEM, IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY, AND EVERY TIME AT THOSE SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

10992015

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

Mileage

100 mi