repaired · 2026 Q1
Trailer hitches
Park outsideRisk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2016 Kia SorentoProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,263 owner complaints about the 2016 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-703 the manufacturer reports only 29% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Kia Sorento has problems
1,263 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
698Engine37 crash/fire/injury
126Power train11 crash/fire/injury
111Structure7 crash/fire/injury
107Electrical system12 crash/fire/injury
81Steering
67Exterior lighting
62Vehicle speed control
55Fuel/propulsion system
31Engine and engine cooling
14417 other systems23 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 698 | 37 |
| Power train | 126 | 11 |
| Structure | 111 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 107 | 12 |
| Steering | 81 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 67 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 62 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 55 | 9 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 31 | 1 |
| 17 other systems | 144 | 23 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2016 Kia Sorento recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q3
Lever and linkage: column shift
Risk. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Electrical system
Risk. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q1
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.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Suspension: rear
Risk. The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Front: 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.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk. If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
83kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 181 engine complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 34% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
15under 30k miles118under 100k miles63100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
58 owners mentioned a cost$6,600median
Middle half: $1,973 – $10,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Sorento year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sorento median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Kia Sorento safety ratings
2016 Kia Sorento SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.0% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Kia Sorento, and the recalls they led to.
- Engine Oil Pressure Switch LeakNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Sorento owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Severe high-pressure fuel system failure and engine oil fuel dilution creating a fire hazard and engine seizure risk following a corporate engine replacement. On July 15, 2026, my 2016 Kia Sorento (2.4L GDI) received a corporate-covered engine block replacement due to rod bearing failure. On…
Vehicle caught on fire when driving, putting my mother's life and her passenger at risk. My mother is an elderly Deaf woman, but was able to pull over in time for Fire Department to help contain fire. There were no warning lamps or messages of any problems with car, the car started smoking (smoke…
I am the original owner of a 2016 Kia Sorento and have lived at my original registration address since purchasing the vehicle. The engine suddenly and catastrophically failed/seized due to internal rod bearing failure. The local Kia dealership is denying the recall engine replacement because the…
Own a 2016 Sorento?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.