2016 Kia Optima Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 747 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Kia Optima overview page.
What owners report
“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…”NHTSA complaint 11283209 — filed 12/02/2019
“E - C V V T SEAL SEATING ISSUE. MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA IS GIVING AN OBD II ERROR CODE OF P0010 "A" CAMSHAFT POSITION…”NHTSA complaint 11283015 — filed 11/30/2019
“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…”NHTSA complaint 11267191 — filed 10/08/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Kia Optima have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Kia Optima: 70 of 747 complaints on file (9.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2016 Kia Optima have in total?
747 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 26 involved a crash, 19 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
