Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I got into a frontal car accident the other car hit the front of my vehicle and no airbags deployed. I've researched today and seen people are having many issues with airbags on this vehicle and that there were many recalls regarding airbags from years ago. I was never informed of any issues with any of that when I got this vehicle.
I have a 2016 Kia Optima within the 2nd year all my window motors fail within a 6 month timeframe. My car in the 4th year started to burn oil quickly the oil light would not appear until I begin to hear a knocking sound. Also, in the 4th year of having my car there has been cracking in my passenger side (I think it is where the airbag is located). All of the areas could put my life in some type of danger or a family member if KIA doesn't see fit to remedy these areas. In 2018, my warranty was out and I didn't know until I received my bill the service person didn't advise me of this issue. So, I ended up paying $700 for a battery installment when I advised him that it was the issue, he insisted I get a diagnosis done.
A straight line crack about 4 inches long appeared suddenly on my dash. The crack is directly over the dash mounted airbag. The car has been parked in my garage since I bought it new in 2016. In addition, my work location has an employee garage so it is hardly parked out in direct sun. It is in mint condition. I took the vehicle to the local KIA dealer and they said it was not covered by the warranty. My concern is that the crack may impede the deployment of the airbag in a critical situation. I feel it should be investigated because there are a lot of exact same complains on the internet concerning a crack at the same location.
There is a clean slit on my dashboard where the passenger airbags are it's started to form a complete square around the air bag placement and I'm worried it might have a problem with the airbags and its not just cosmetic. When I googled the issue there are tons of kia drivers with the same clean sit appearing over the passenger air bag. I contacted Kia dealership and they said I'd have to pay for a diagnostic fee to determine if it's a problem but there's clearly a problem with the 2016 kia so I'm sure all of us owners would appreciate it being recalled
Suddenly, the warning lights on my dashboard resembled that of a christmas tree. I was seeing warning lights for the passenger airbag, blind spot warning/assist, auto-hold, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, etc - were all suddenly offline. After finally getting an appointment scheduled with my local dealership, I was told that the airbag module had gone bad and needed replaced. With that module out, the car could not communicate with the other systems and thus was the cause of the errors/warning lights.
A straight line crack about 4 inches long appeared suddenly on my dash. Upon doing some online research, I found that the crack is directly over the dash mounted airbag. I took the vehicle to the local KIA dealer and they said it was not covered by the warranty. My concern is that the crack may impede the deployment of the airbag in a critical situation. I feel it should be investigated because there are a lot of exact same complains on the internet concerning a crack at the same location.
Air bag light came on after I also began having issues with blind spot detection warning lights. ABS lights on as well. Took vehicle to Kia Dealer in Gainesville GA and they told me it was the left rear wheel sensor. Wanted $800 to repair ( no longer under warranty). Took vehicle to my mechanic, who ordered the part and replaced sensor. ABS lights & BSD lights went off for almost 2 weeks, then came back on. Air bag light has not gone off.
Crack in dash along outline of airbag. Burns oil so it has to be refilled monthly Now mechanic says compression and combustion are problems Can't get into Kia until February when warranty will probably be expired
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 49 MPH, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The contact mentioned that the front passenger seat was detached from the hinge. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact stated that there were multiple injuries sustained between the driver and passenger, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who deemed the vehicle destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact not to let anyone view the vehicle because an investigator would be sent to perform an inspection. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
As I began crossing the intersection (highway) I ended up getting t- boned halfway through the intersection by a pickup. He was speeding going roughly 60mph in a 45mph zone my Kia Optima sustained passenger side/ and frontal impact damage. The impact of the accident sent me skidding across the highway and none of my frontal airbags activated nor did the seatbelt lock up. This lead me to sustain heavy chest injuries from the impact of the steering wheel. Also the car could not be shut off after the accident. The vehicle stayed running until emt disconnected the power to it.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Kia Motors America (Kia) has recalled one 2016 Optima vehicle. In this vehicle, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
Remedy: The affected vehicle was remedied on January 10, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC143.
Air bags › Frontal
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in…
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Airbag complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2016 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Kia Optima, 3% of the model year's 759 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Kia Optima airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-007 (inflator module, Jan 6, 2017); NHTSA recall 16V-231 (frontal, Apr 21, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Optima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 34,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.