2016 Kia Optima · symptom sheet
Engine rattles or ticks
- 36owner reports
- 64,155median miles
- $8,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
442 of the 756 complaints on this car are about the engine. 36 of those describe engine rattle.
Tick what matches of 36 reports
Engine rattle on other Optima years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group hear something before anything breaks. Most describe a ticking or tapping at idle, a rattle that's worse on a cold start and fades as the engine warms, or a noise that comes and goes over weeks. Some report the check engine light following a while later. It's the early-warning end of the engine complaints, and the reports that end in a named part are useful to anyone hearing the same sound.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Optima
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-224.
What owners paid
5 of the 36 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $6,000 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,000 and 102,809 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Engine oil light doesnât work. Oil light flashed a couple of times in separate instances. Checking oil dip stick which smells like burning oil and dip stick hardly showed any oil left.”
Filed Mar 3, 2026
“The vehicle has 64155 miles. Sense about 40000 miles the car cannot make it 3000 miles without needing oil with dry dip stick. I see there is alot of complaints of this. NTSA please issue a recall.”
Filed May 26, 2023 · 64,155 miles
“Engine suddenly failed. Heard loud tapping sound and engine stopped working. No assistance from KIA,”
Filed Sep 26, 2022
“140000 miles motor will not start. Oil leak has been an issue and having to stick a quart of oil in every 1000 miles. Vehicle went into safe mode and wouldnt go faster than 35 mph. Then vehicle proceeded to cut off mid drive and will not start back.”
Filed Jul 13, 2022 · 140,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 36 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 201 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 125 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 124 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 118 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 38 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 25 reports