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BrakesPart report

2016 Kia Optima Brakes Problems

Complaints
24about this part
Share
3%of 760 total for the year
Median mileage
45,673miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Kia Optima, 3% of the 760 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,673 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“While in motion the headlights turn on by themselves at random times during the day. Abs warning light, bsd warning light, and traction control warning light all came on at the same time. On the way to the dealership they all went off. The technician said he sees that the warning light were on, but their computer is not detecting a problem. If it happens again bring it back. Well, they're on again. The car has been stationary since friday afternoon, sunday evening my son sends me a pic of my car, the lights are on!”

NHTSA complaint #11353452, filed 2020-09, 56,000 miles

“My break service light keep coming on and it's making a noise like it's a honda I took it back to ganas service and week later the break light back on”

NHTSA complaint #11342463, filed 2020-07, 51,346 miles

“When decelerating/braking, the car jerks harshly forward at 52,42, 32 MPH. On wet highways a when it jerks the rear of the car fishtails. Kia knows the fault is because of the dual clutch transmission downshift timing and has no solution. I been to the dealership 3 times on this. Fishtailing on wet highways has a serious risk of an accident. They just say live with it even though they have numerous similar complaints and felt the problem with me on a test drive in my car and other cars of same model in the new car lot. …”

NHTSA complaint #10992015, filed 2017-05, 100 miles

“When decelerating, the car jerks at exactly 35 MPH whether im on the highway or in the city and this happens . I have been to the dealership 3 times for this issue and they have even drove my car themselves and felt the same thing that I was feeling and all they say is that without a check engine light threr is nothing they can do about it and I just have to live with it. This is ridiculous and Kia needs to address this issue before it causes any accidents or worse death. I spent way too much money on this car for it to be having these issues. …”

NHTSA complaint #11073752, filed 2018-02, 8,000 miles

“I was driving in the evening at 25-30mph on a city street. There were no parked cars, no oncoming traffic, no pedestrians or bicycles for three blocks ahead of me. Without any forward collision warning or road hazard, my car's autonomous emergency braking (aeb) system initiated and applied full braking force to my car for no reason. The car beeped continuously and flashed a red emergency braking notification in the dash console. The vehicle anti-locking braking system engaged in response to the applied braking from the aeb. I was unable to control or stop the braking during the event. …”

NHTSA complaint #11300174, filed 2020-01, 18,500 miles

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202085%
2019199%
2018177%
201762%
2016243%
2015909%
2014427%
20131148%
20128810%
2011478%
201045%
20092118%
200875%
200785%
200521%
200473%
200343%
20021211%
20011410%

Other parts of the 2016 Kia Optima

Engine
426 complaints
Other or unknown
123 complaints
Electrical system
104 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
74 complaints
Fuel system
62 complaints
Exterior lighting
47 complaints
Body and structure
41 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
38 complaints
Vehicle speed control
29 complaints
Air bags
24 complaints
Engine cooling
24 complaints
Steering
24 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Kia Optima

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology