2016 KIA Sorento Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sorento years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 8 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 1,254 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 KIA Sorento. That ranks 2nd out of 24 Sorento model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (695 complaints, 55%), typically at around 83,500 miles. Complaints mention 29 crashes, 49 fires, 19 injuries. There are 8 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 1,254owner complaints
- 8safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 29complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 KIA Sorento problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 695 | 55% | 83,500 | “oil change” (11%) | $8,250 |
| Unknown or Other | 165 | 13% | 55,568 | — | — |
| Power Train problems | 126 | 10% | 71,000 | “shift lock” (6%) | — |
| Structure problems | 111 | 9% | 46,000 | “paint peeling” (23%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 107 | 9% | 51,747 | “body control” (7%) | — |
| Steering problems | 80 | 6% | 47,500 | “steering sticks” (13%) | — |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 67 | 5% | 43,594 | “turn off” (15%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 62 | 5% | 60,244 | “pedal depressed” (11%) | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 53 | 4% | 64,813 | “fuel pump” (19%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 30 | 2% | 98,910 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 2% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 17 | 1% | 59,151 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 16 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 12 | 1% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 11 | 1% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 1% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 1% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 7 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 1% | 35,100 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 0% | 256 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 0% | 38,650 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 4 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 0% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0% | 89,300 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 KIA Sorento recalls (8)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Trailer hitchesPark outside
Problem: 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.
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.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Problem: 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.
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.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
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.
Trailer hitches; electrical system
Problem: 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."
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.
Seats
Problem: 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.
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.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
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.
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Problem: 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.
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.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: 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.
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Motive Power (PE23019) — opened Nov 13, 2023, closed Jul 23, 2024.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak (DP21002) — opened Nov 12, 2021, closed Jun 26, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Dear Kia America Customer Care Team, Thank you for your response regarding Case Number While I understand that my vehicle is technically outside the standard factory warranty period, I am formally requesting a managerial review of this decision. This is not a request for a cosmetic repair, but a…
Transmission failure at 99,000 miles Replaced by dealer under warranty
I am the original, single owner of a 2016 Kia Sorento in Snow White Pearl. My vehicle currently has approximately 96,000 miles on it. Roughly one year ago, the factory paint began catastrophically peeling, flaking, and deteriorating in large sheets on the roof and near the passenger-side door. This…
Vehicle equipped with 3.3L V6 Lambda II engine, covered under active Kia Warranty Extension Campaigns WTY035/WTY039 for engine block head bolt/gasket failure.In July, the vehicle experienced a cooling system issue and was brought to authorized dealer Westgate Kia. Despite explicit campaign…
Hard shifting and kia said I need a new transmission, 99,500 miles
Other KIA Sorento years
← 2015 Sorento · 2017 Sorento →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 Sorento | 76 | 3 |
| 2024 Sorento | 42 | 2 |
| 2023 Sorento | 123 | 3 |
| 2022 Sorento | 192 | 6 |
| 2021 Sorento | 253 | 4 |
| 2020 Sorento | 137 | 1 |
| 2019 Sorento | 430 | 2 |
| 2018 Sorento | 255 | 3 |
| 2017 Sorento | 806 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1,254 | 8 |
| 2015 Sorento | 752 | 3 |
| 2014 Sorento | 988 | 6 |
| 2013 Sorento | 981 | 5 |
| 2012 Sorento | 880 | 5 |
| 2011 Sorento | 1,519 | 7 |
| 2010 Sorento | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 Sorento | 55 | 2 |
| 2008 Sorento | 217 | 3 |
| 2007 Sorento | 154 | 4 |
| 2006 Sorento | 242 | 1 |
| 2005 Sorento | 307 | 0 |
| 2004 Sorento | 220 | 0 |
| 2003 Sorento | 305 | 1 |
See all KIA Sorento problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA Sorento?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 695 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 KIA Sorento?
Yes, 8 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 KIA Sorento a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sorento model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.