2016 Kia Optima air bags problems
23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2016 Kia Optima — 3% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Dashboard shows a crack right where the passenger airbag is and Kia Motors wont change it, also the paint is flaking and noticed other Kia models with that same paint scheme that’s peeling off.”
filed Aug 21, 2025
“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…”
filed Mar 25, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Kia Motors America (Kia) has recalled one 2016 Optima vehicleCampaign 17V007000 · Jan 6, 2017
- In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment…Campaign 16V231000 · Apr 21, 2016
Air Bags problems in other Optima years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 7 | 5% |
| 2019 Optima | 12 | 6% |
| 2018 Optima | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 Optima | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 Optima | 26 | 3% |
| 2014 Optima | 15 | 3% |
| 2013 Optima | 60 | 4% |
| 2012 Optima | 48 | 5% |
| 2011 Optima | 31 | 5% |
| 2010 Optima | 17 | 23% |
| 2009 Optima | 28 | 24% |
| 2008 Optima | 57 | 40% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Kia Optima
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.