2016 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,251 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 29 involved a crash and 49 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Trailer hitchesPark outsideSep 19, 2022
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.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 22V703000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftAug 10, 2022
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.
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
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.
Campaign 22V612000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesNov 30, 2016
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."
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V862000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsOct 24, 2016
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.
In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V770000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearJun 29, 2016
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V480000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyJul 14, 2015
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V446000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalFeb 13, 2015
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.
If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 15V089000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
80 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Mar 6, 2017
POWER STEERING WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF, MAKING IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. TURNS BACK ON IN APPROX. 3 SECONDS WITH A JERK. DATES ARE ALL 2016. MILEAGE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED 4/6 1141 AM DRIVING TO WORK FIRST DRIVE OF THE DAY 5 MILES. SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. FOURTH EVENT SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. 4/7 4:33 PM DRIVING FROM ? TO ? 60 MILES AN HOUR, GOING STRAIGHT. HAPPENED WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR. 4/8 5:17 PM 7270 FROM ? TO ? LOW SPEED PULLING INTO GAS STATION SLOW SPEED 4/22 8:24 PM 7681 DRIVING IN TOWN. 3RD START OF THE DAY. SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. 4/29 11:08 PM 7832 DRIVING TOWARDS ? FROM ? TURNING ON THE ? ROAD RIGHT HAND TURN AT LOW SPEED. 5/1 3:00 PM 7924 GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD 5/9 2:58 PM 7998 PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE. SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT. 5/11 3:47 PM 8052 EXITING OFF OF A HWY EXIT. 35 MPH MEDIUM TURN TO THE RIGHT 5/14 1:08 PM 8269 HWY SPEED ON ?. SLIGHT RIGHT TURN. OFF ABRUPTLY. CORRECTED IN ABOUT 2 SECONDS. 5/25 12:01 8744 SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEED TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY. - STOPPED ADDING TO LIST - 7/9 4:00 PM 10751 SLOW GENTLE CURVE TO THE RIGHT BY ? 27 MPH 8/15 9:00 PM 13123 SLIGHT RIGHT TURN ? AREA 65 MPH 8/22 11:06 AM 13430 GOING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN, MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN ONTO TRAFFIC 8/23 3:40 PM 13479 ? SLOW CURVE TO THE RIGHT 25 MILES AN HOUR 8/24 11:15 AM 13543 ? VERY SLOW BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TURNING LEFT 8/27 3:07 PM 13672 ? VERY SLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT IN A PARKING LOT 9/6 2:45 PM 13958 ? 45 MILES AN HOUR SLIGHT RIGHT TURN ON HWY ENTERING TOWN. 9/16 9:10 AM 14317 BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY 9/25 8:00 PM 15068 DRIVING FROM ? TO ?, VERY SLIGHT LEFT TURN, 60 MPH 11/11 8:24 PM 17160 IN ? MAKING A SHARP LEFT HAND U TURN IN A PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEED
Steering, Exterior lighting, Dec 7, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS WERE ACTIVATED, BUT THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT, HEAD LAMPS, REAR LAMPS, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING CONSOLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Steering, Dec 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,120. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF UPDATED 05/02/18*JB
Steering, Nov 23, 2015
IN MOTION,ON A STRAIGHT ROAD,ON THE CROWN OR NOT, NO WIND, DRY PAVEMENT---THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONSTANTLY HAS THE DRIVER MAKING STEERING CORRECTIONS.IT IS A SMALL CORRECTION BUT CONSTANT RIGHT OR LEFT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE WHEEL IN ONE POSITION AND TRAVEL THAT LANE.UNLIKE MY LAST SIXTY YEARS OF DRIVING! MORE NOTICEABLE ON THE HIGHWAY
Steering, May 7, 2015
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE SORENTO CONSTANTLY SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS CONCERN AND THEY SAID THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS TOO HIGH, SO THEY RELEASED SOME OF THE NITROGEN FROM ALL 4 TIRES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT AGAIN A WEEK LATER ON A TRIP AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE. I ASKED THE DEALER AND THEY ADMITTED THAT SOME OF THEIR OTHER KIA MODELS HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT BY THEIR OWNERS AND THERE IS NOTHING KIA CAN DO. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR