Code was on and off for a cylinder 2 misfire was off at this point (intermittent misfire) ecl was off car stalled out at 3rpms while driving, tiny puff of smoke once came from between the air intake and the engine, and also no crank no start but car has power. I’ve kept up with the oil changes every 3000 miles car had fluids in it and nothing looked bad all 4 spark plugs were burnt and i replaced them and still no success.
2016 Kia Optima: won't start
19 of the 762 complaints about the 2016 Kia Optima describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 19
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical repair cost reported
- $6,000
- recalls
- 1
Won't start by model year
What owners say
While driving my 2016 Kia Optima, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power and stalled without warning. At the time, I was Door Dashing for income. The engine seized and the vehicle came to an immediate stop in the middle of 4925 Wolf Creek Dr SW, Atlanta, GA, a narrow two-lane road with limited street lighting. I was forced to remain stopped in the roadway in darkness for over an hour while multiple oncoming vehicles passed by, creating a serious safety risk. The vehicle could not be restarted and had to be left on the roadside overnight. The following day, the vehicle would only start briefly when jump-started, ran for approximately 15 seconds, and shut off again. It could not move and was towed to an authorized Kia dealership. At the dealership, technicians jump-started the vehicle, performed diagnostics, added engine oil, cleared codes, reset adaptive values, and conducted a test drive. During that test drive, the engine seized again, and the vehicle had to be towed back. Kia approved a full engine replacement under its extended engine warranty, acknowledging engine failure consistent with known defects. However, after the engine replacement, the vehicle would not start at all. Kia stated oil intrusion from the failed engine damaged electronic components, leaving the vehicle non-operational. Kia denied coverage for the resulting damage and issued an estimated $6,000 repair bill for engine harness, injector sub-harness, and ECU replacement. The vehicle remains inoperable following an approved warranty repair. This incident involved sudden loss of propulsion while driving, occurred without warning, resulted in repeated engine seizure, and left the vehicle disabled in traffic at night. This appears consistent with known Kia engine defects and presents a serious safety concern that warrants investigation.
In cold weather my car will not start. Gas is in the car and all the lights come on. Would have to crank car multiple times for it to to start or it will not start at all.
I bought the vehicle used in 2022 and since then the vehicle has misfired on 2 separate occasions while driving requiring it to be towed. I’ve had to change the spark plugs and coil packs 4 different times due to the vehicle misfiring. I contacted Kia when the issue first began and was informed that my vehicle is one included in a class action lawsuit for engine failure, and was given a Case Number, but was told the only way they will cover repair/ replacement of the engine is if a specific error code was shown at the time of engine failure. The last 2 times I had to change my spark plugs were within a month of each other, so the vehicle was towed to Kia where they informed me that they recommended a combustion chamber cleaning and once again replacing the spark plugs. However, this was not a final diagnosis as to why the vehicle was misfiring, and they stated the vehicle may still misfire even with those services. Upon having the combustion chamber cleaned completed at a different location, and once again replacing the spark plugs, the engine locked up in the middle of the road and would not start again. the vehicle has been non-driveable since mid June and is currently in a shop awaiting repairs.
Excessive oil consumption, loss of power. Went in for a tune as previous owner never did one and car would not crank back up. In fact it didn’t respond to the key turn at all. SENSOR read wouldn't read a problem. Later found out engine was basically gone. Burned excessive oil, started coming out the tail pipe. Dash was not illuminating when there was insufficient oil. Has not been fixed
UNKNOWN ISSUE: Car shut off while driving and would not crank back up. In fact it didn’t respond to the key turn at all. SENSOR reads the code p0014 which can mean costly repairs.
I brought this car [XXX] and the next day it broke down didn’t start at all I been saying I wanted my money back from day he didn’t take no for answer basically held me hostage until I paid everything. I brought this car and been without a car since this is totally unfair . The Clean state motors is a bad service communication place to buy car it was totally the opposite before I gave money for car. Once I gave money they all got mean and had attitudes was saying they was ready to leave instead of giving my money back kept going down finding different prices for car insurance reason why I really brought car I was mentally force and I’m mentally going threw a lot of things because of this . I don’t have no car and the car dealer shop called me and told me I couldn’t get no rental so I can stop calling . I need a new car . A rental . I have missed out on Money work and I have 2 kids going on [XXX] old this month on [XXX] these people do not care they took my money and still forcing me to pay 1000 and car note 284 when I haven’t had the car but for one day the next day the car broke down . I am sewing will hear from my lawyer He said I had 30 days to come get my Monet back the next morning I called for my money back they said no this unfair I turn in all information paid insurance 795 which is to high I just need my money back I didn’t even get to keep car a week literally next day car did not start he never said car was being brought as is if so I would have not brought it and I didn’t sign all those papers Delewin had to forfeit my signature this was fraud scam to me I need a car the engine broke down car batter was linking and white acid was everywhere inside front car and I wasn’t suppose to look at that car is was a white Kia 2019 This not right this unfair please help me on fixing this I deserve a car INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving home on the interstate the vehicle had a sudden loss of power. No warning lights or check engine lights were on prior to this incident. The vehicle would not start and I had it towed to a dealership who told me that the engine was low on oil and that KIA would not be covering the engine replacement. I provided the dealership/KIA with all of my service records showing that I had performed all maintenance to my vehicle at KIA dealerships and that I had never skipped any recommended repairs. I also pointed out that there was never any notes made that I should be monitoring for excessive engine oil consumption or that I had a leak anywhere to be found. Despite having all of my records in order, all of my services performed at a KIA dealership and in a timely manner, no low oil lights that came on to notify me that it was dangerously low on oil, and the known issues and recalls to these engines for this exact issue; KIA stood firm that this was not their problem and they would be doing nothing to assist me in the matter. This sudden loss of power on the interstate fortunately did not, but easily could have caused a fatal accident for me and those around me at the time and also could have caused a fire to start in the vehicle which could have been fatal as well.
My 2016 kia optima shut off on me and would not start on December 20th 2023. I had the vehicle towed to bergeys kia and they looked at the vehicle and said that it was the engine and it would cost between $6,000-10,000 to replace the engine. The vehicle has never had any problems. I do not bring my car to kia for oil changes because it is really expensive so we do that at home and kia is telling me they can’t fix my engine because I do not have a receipt of the maintenance. The engine has a recall and I was never notified about it. My vehicle was in their shop on September 6th 2023 and I was not notified then either. I am a single mother and I currently do not have a vehicle to take my son to and from school or to get to work. The engine is recalled so I think Kia needs to fix this.
We have had two motor replacements in less than 6 months that we have owned this vehicle for the first one started started a knocking noise right after a flashing check engine light both Kia is by us totus will we can't get it in today wouldn't give us a rental and was going to charge us for a diagnostics fee right up front and told us it would still be a few days before they could get it in so we had no choice but to continue driving it not even 2 days later left my fiance on the side of the road wouldn't start wouldn't do nothing engine seized Kia dealer number one put the motor put it back together wrong and then when it seized again in less than 5,000 mi try telling us that they weren't responsible well if we did the engine again give it back to us notice that the ignition coils were not put on properly and orbital down properly You're still an electrical issue and the engines are starting to do the engine is starting to do the same as engine one and two. What I don't understand is why don't Kia just completely recall the entire car and take it off to fucking market and replace the people replace the cars that have that still have people owning them
This will be the second time this has happened to my vehicle my vehicle just randomly stopped while driving and will not start back up. It keeps showing on the dashboard “check hybrid system stop car and turn off engine” this happen 4 years ago and then a safety recall came out for it to get fixed this should have been fixed from the safety recall and never happened again unfortunately it happened again. The dealership is booked with appointments so my car will not get fixed for about a month or two. It is very dangerous for the car to just caught off in the middle of the road.
I purchased a 2016 Kia Optima LX in 2021, and have been having issues with excessive oil consumption and cylinder misfires. I get regular oil changes and have to top it off every week after, if I forget to check, it will be completely dry. This is hazardous and unsafe to drive not knowing when it will be completely dry to cause serious problems. I've taken it to a Kia dealership and all they did was reset the ECU/EUC (whatever). Now, I've been told at my place for oil changes they can't service the vehicle until the issue has been fixed because it is too dangerous to be driving with the car burning too much oil. My car is at the dealership now to get combustion cleaning done. I had a 2013 Kia Optima in 2018 (and not knowing this issue about the oil consumption even after regular oil changes) the engine seized on that car while on the highway. The car lost power and would not start back up. On both cars, the warning light for oil never comes/came on. After purchasing my current vehicle (2016 Kia Optima), the car gave me trouble every 3 months and the car only had 65,000 miles on it. These vehicles are not safe and are a safety hazard. These vehicles need to be recalled for their engines. IT IS NOT SAFE AND GETS COSTLY to keep having to keep the oil in. It barely reaches 1000 miles and it consumed almost half of the oil after an oil change.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: theta II 2.4L GDI emissions: ECM logic improvement (SC340 revision 5)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (SC340 flight 104 )
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: theta II 2.4L GDI emission secm logic improvement (SC340 rev 4)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (SC340 flight 103 / jf)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (SC340 flight 101 / jf)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: theta II 2.4L GDI emissions ECM logic improvement (SC340)
- Voluntary service campaign: theta II 2.4L GDI emissions ECM logic improvement (SC340)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (SC340 flight 102 / jf)
Related recalls
Engine
- What is wrong
- 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 Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Recall number 18V907000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2016 Kia Optima won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 2016 Kia Optima?
19 of 762 owner complaints about the 2016 Kia Optima (2%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2013.
How much does it cost to fix won't start on the 2016 Kia Optima?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $6,000 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Kia Optima?
There is 1 recall and 69 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2016 Kia Optima
Oil consumption 140Check engine light 135Engine failure 134Knocking 104Stalling 71Power windows 57Headlights 48Loss of power 41Fire or smoke 35Misfire 31Jerking 29Hesitation 22Won't shift 21Shudder 12Adaptive cruise 10Overheating 9Sunroof shattered 9No deployment 8Steering lock-up 7Warning lights 7Fuel pump 6Transmission failure 6ABS 5Door locks 5Harsh shifting 5
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