2016 Kia Optima · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 25owner reports
- 41,916median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
73 of the 756 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 25 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 25 reports
Transmission shudder on other Optima years
No other Optima model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Optima year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the clutch (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.
All 5 recalls on the 2016 Kia Optima, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Optima
Transmission shift cable detachment. Closed apr 5, 2011, led to recall 11V-153.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,000 and 110,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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.
COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION: IDLE STABILITY & SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (SA294) This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2016MY Optima (JFa) vehicles, produced from September 3, 2015 through November 22, 2016, which may experience a ...
What owners wrote
“The car is burning oil rapidly causing potential issues with the transmission and engine. The oil burns and does not leak after a few hundred miles and has to be refilled continuously causing alot of money and potential issues with other components of the car. I notice jerking when accelerating and smoke if dont fill every 1 to 2 weeks.”
Filed Sep 26, 2025
“Pearl white paint peeling in chunks of hood. All four window regulators went out within six months. Transmission had to be replaced Hard shift rear end Motor replaced”
Filed Sep 17, 2023
“The vehicle hesitated to move after a stop. I have escaped hitting the incoming vehicles when taking a left turns as my car drives very slow after a stop and there are chances of hitting with the vehicles coming from other direction.”
Filed Jun 5, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 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
- Burns oil or oil level rises 118 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 38 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 36 reports