2016 Kia Optima · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 118owner reports
- 66,000median miles
- $4,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
455 of the 756 complaints on this car are about the engine. 118 of those describe oil consumption.
Tick what matches of 118 reports
Oil consumption 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.
What this problem usually is
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (37 reports) and the engine (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 5 recalls on the 2016 Kia Optima, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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
7 of the 118 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $400 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,000 and 91,176 miles, from the 60 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Kia Optima that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
What owners wrote
“Constantly burning oil every 500 - 1,000 miles. There is a huge issue with these engines there needs to be a recall to replace or fix these engines.”
Filed Feb 6, 2024 · 1,000 miles
“Starting to burn oil started it at 40,000 miles it burns 3 quarts in less than a 1,000 miles worrying that it might be one of this that catch on fire”
Filed Feb 1, 2024 · 40,000 miles
“it appears the engine is burning oil or leaking. I have been needing to fill up with oil every 1,000 miles. There is a very faint smell of burning every now and then. I was told by Kia that the oil pump needed to be replaced along side with the oil pan, i had that replaced at in independent shop however it still seems to be having the same issue. No risk to me while driving”
Filed Nov 18, 2023 · 1,000 miles
“Car burns oil before oil changes, no warning light comes on. Technician at jiffy lube stated that this model vehicle has issues burning the oil with no warning light coming on. Have taken the car several times to get oil change services and they warn me of the same issue every time. no oil leaks coming from the engine itself. Car engine burns the oil which can cause issues with the engine if left unchecked.”
Filed Feb 9, 2023 · 96,454 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 118 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
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
- Headlights too dim or fail 38 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 36 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 25 reports