NHTSA campaign 16V705000 · Kia campaign SC139
Kia Recall 16V-705: Right Front Axle Driveshaft may Fail
NHTSA recall 16V705000 (Kia campaign SC139) was reported by Kia Motors America on October 3, 2016, with 12,214 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Kia Optima for the 2016 model year. Owners were notified on November 30, 2016, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 16V705000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 16V705000 (also written 16V-705 or 16V705)
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Kia campaign number
- SC139
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 12,214 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Power Train — Axle Assembly — Axle Shaft
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 82.29% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 16V705000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Kia
Kia Optima
- 2016 · Vehicles built November 13, 2015 – April 23, 2016 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V705000.
Defect description
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 13, 2015, to April 23, 2016 and equipped with a 2.4l engine. The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.
Safety consequence
If the driveshaft cracks and separates from the vehicle, it will not be able to move forward. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario can increase the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC139.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 16V705000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.