2016 KIA Sorento Engine Problems
Owners have filed 695 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 KIA Sorento, 55% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 83,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil change” (11% of reports).
- 695engine complaints
- 83,500median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $8,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil change: mentioned in 78 of 695 complaints (11%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 52 of 695 complaints (7%)
- Engine seized: mentioned in 40 of 695 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2016 KIA Sorento at $8,250, and half of them between $5,400 and $11,350.
Based on 44 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 182 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 695 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 32 a fire, 3 an injury.
KIA Sorento engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 1 | 17% | 7,000 |
| 2025 Sorento | 19 | 25% | 4,000 |
| 2024 Sorento | 5 | 12% | 31,000 |
| 2023 Sorento | 31 | 25% | 1,600 |
| 2022 Sorento | 52 | 27% | 50,000 |
| 2021 Sorento | 68 | 27% | 33,000 |
| 2020 Sorento | 66 | 48% | 61,500 |
| 2019 Sorento | 158 | 37% | 40,000 |
| 2018 Sorento | 107 | 42% | 72,000 |
| 2017 Sorento | 387 | 48% | 64,000 |
| 2016 Sorento | 695 | 55% | 83,500 |
| 2015 Sorento | 363 | 48% | 87,780 |
| 2014 Sorento | 388 | 39% | 100,000 |
| 2013 Sorento | 496 | 51% | 89,691 |
| 2012 Sorento | 461 | 52% | 99,612 |
| 2011 Sorento | 284 | 19% | 103,000 |
| 2010 Sorento | 1 | 33% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Sorento | 4 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 2008 Sorento | 35 | 16% | 75,000 |
| 2007 Sorento | 7 | 5% | 133,000 |
| 2006 Sorento | 67 | 28% | 92,700 |
| 2005 Sorento | 63 | 21% | 101,000 |
| 2004 Sorento | 46 | 21% | 112,000 |
| 2003 Sorento | 43 | 14% | 118,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Upon a catastrophic engine failure Tasca Kia replaced engine under Theta II settlement. I picked up my kia on 9/12. Engine is not running properly. Itâs jerking and there is loud mechanical knocking. I donât feel safe driving. Iâve contacted Kia corporate beginning 9/16 who contacted Tasca to…
I am filing this complaint regarding a 2016 Kia Sorento, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle suddenly broke down while my [XXX] daughter was driving in [XXX] and was taken to Sooner Kia in [XXX]. The dealership diagnosed the engine as seized and stated that it failed because there was no oil, requiring engine…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 KIA Sorentos have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 695 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 KIA Sorento (55% of the 1,254 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 KIA Sorento engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 83,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2016 KIA Sorento?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,250 (half paid between $5,400 and $11,350), from 44 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 KIA Sorento?
The most frequent phrase is “oil change”, in 78 of 695 complaints, followed by “head gasket” (52).
Other 2016 KIA Sorento problems
See all 2016 KIA Sorento problems or engine problems across all Sorento years.