KnownCarProblems2016 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,255 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine (57% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sorento model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2016 Kia Sorento problems
Engine
718 complaints · 57%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Takata recall 1 month ago I picked my son up from school...as I was pulling out of the parking lot I was unable to accelerate by pushing the gas pedal. I coasted home going 8 miles per hour. I turned the vehicle off and let it sit for 2 days. When I got back in it everything was working fine. 2 weeks later I went to…
"takata recall" Kia Sorento 2016 model sx-AWD it started making weird noises from the engine and felt little thumps when I press on the accelerator and binding noise from the rear of the vehicle from the beginning of 2019. The car does not exceed over 90mph.
Other or unspecified
166 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles.
When the ignition is started with the car in park, the vehicle vibrates really hard as if it wants to cut off. This has occurred with 3/4 tank of gas and 1/4 tank of gas. With the vehicle vibrating, the car is placed in "d" drive and the foot is applied to the accelerator for acceleration but the vehicle does not…
When driving check engine light comes on an my vehicle will just stop or go into an idle mode. Then my vehicle will not accelerate. We were on a 65 mile an hour hwy and my family could have been killed it was very scary. Called Kia dealership an they could care less.
Transmission
126 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I started experiencing overheating issues in july. Knowing kias are notorious for engine trouble, my mechanic checked the head gasket. It was fine but my radiator fan needed replaced. The very next day after having my fan replaced, my head gasket blew, driving down a state route. No warning, no check engine light…
The entire vehicle shakes on the transition from 1st to 2nd gear. It previously would only do this once at the beginning of every drive, but now it happens during every acceleration from a stop. In other words, after every stop sign or light, the SUV will kick with a significant jolt as it shifts from 1st up to 2nd…
Body and structure
111 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
Door handle fell off in my hand. I cannot open door from inside or outside due to child locks being engaged. Vehicle was stationary I was just opening the door like usual and it broke off.
The passenger door does not open from the exterior. This a serious safety issue if one needs to get into vehicle immediately. The door does open from the interior. This is a common complaint on message boards at www.cargurus.com. I will submit a 'repair invoice later as the Sorento is in the dealership now getting…
Electrical
107 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, body control module/bcm, instrument panel.
I have had 4 situations where when my car is started, the dashboard warning lights vome on. On two of these 4 occasions, when I attepted to shift from park, I could not and the power locks started malfunctioning. All times the car was stationary. The dashboard reads check TPMS system. The Kia dealership cannot…
Sparks coming from battery box, lights in dash go off and on can not acceleration and back axle is loose. I bought this used in dothan Kia last yr. The car just went down past 2 months. Can't drive my expensive car
Steering
80 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles.
My 2016 ex turbo sorrento has a steering issue. The steering feels like it sticks or hesitates. The feeling is difficult to describe as it is not like any steering I have experienced before . It is as though something mechanical in the lower part of the assembly is hesitating or slightly jerking and not giving the…
I noticed around 48,000 miles that after driving for 30+ minutes or on and off driving for 45+ minutes, my steering becomes "sticky"/"notched" when it is centered and I am driving 35 MPH or more. It becomes much more pronounced when on a flat, straight surface and I am driving 60+ MPH. This makes minor corrections…
Lights
67 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, back up lights.
The vechile keeps turning off and installs when driving but now it got to the point that it turns off nd dosent want to starts until minutes later do to that one of the the headligths when off nd thye charging ports of the vechile ddont work. When u stop it seems that the truck wants to accelerate it self
Drivers side rear running lights don't work. No power going to the bulbs (bulbs are good). Except brake lights and turn signals work. Fuses okay. And only one of the two light sockets over the rear license plate has power and works. Kia dealer claims it replaced the burned out bulb in rear license socket, but I…
Speed control
62 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, throttle, cruise control.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to increase in speed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown facility where it was repaired but the parts replaced were unknown. The following week while driving at low speeds, the…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The contact stated that occasionally while stationary and attempting to accelerate, the RPM would increase significantly before causing the vehicle to experience unintended…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Kia Sorento recalls
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 11, 2023. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc249.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 sorento, 2021-2022 sorento hybrid (hev), 2022-2023 sorento plug-in hybrid (phev), and 2017-2022 sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (pcb) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Transmission: column shift
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed october 7, 2022. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc246.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2016 sedona and sorento vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began january 17, 2019. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc172.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 optima, 2012-2017 sorento and 2011-2018 sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17v-224, warranty, or the knock sensor detection system (ksds) product improvement campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began january 18, 2017. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc142.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 sorento vehicles manufactured october 27, 2014, to august 25, 2016, and 2017 sportage vehicles manufactured december 10, 2015, to august 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, " lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Seats
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on december 9, 2016. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc140.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 kia sorento vehicles manufactured march 3, 2016 to march 21, 2016. The driver's seatback frame may have been produced with inadequate weld joints and, as a result, the seatback may not function as designed in the event of a rear-end collision.
Suspension: rear
Risk: The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began july 27, 2016. Owners may contact kia customer service department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc137.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on august 18, 2015. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc123.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 kia sorento vehicles manufactured october 23, 2014, to december 10, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on february 19, 2015. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc115.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 sorento vehicles manufactured october 27, 2014, to january 29, 2015. Due to an improperly soldered component in the accelerator pedal assembly, the driver may not be able to accelerate the vehicle.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
On november 13, 2023, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe23-019) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power relating to head gasket and/or head bolt failure in model year (my) 2016-2017 kia sorento vehicles equipped with the 3.3 l lambda II engine. When the investigation was opened, odi had received 13 vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) related to reports of loss of motive power. In an information request letter dated november 30, 2023, odi requested technical information and failure data relating to the alleged defect in the subject my 2016-2017 kia sorento as well as several peer vehicle populations which share the 3.3 l engine. In its feb
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine oil pressure switch leak
Summary
In a letter dated september 30, 2021, mr. Gerald james (the petitioner) requested that NHTSA conduct an investigation of the model year (my) 2015-2017 kia sorento equipped with 3.3l v6 ?lambda? Engines for ?severe oil leaks? From the oil pressure switch (ops) that could ?lead to engine failure? With little warning to the driver. Mr. James based this request on his own experience and data found in NHTSA?s vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) database. Nhtsa reviewed the material cited by the petitioner, information submitted by kia, NHTSA?s testing, and other pertinent information in NHTSA databases.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defect petition dp21-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. O
Questions about the 2016 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (718 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); other or unspecified (166 complaints, typically around 55,500 miles); transmission (126 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sorento have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 19, 2022 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sorento model year since 2000, with 1,255 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.