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: structure
110 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, May 6, 2024
I have a 2016 KIA Sorento. The paint is pearl white and it is peeling. The peeling is on the hood, roof and A pillars so far.
Structure, Apr 25, 2024
The Snow White Pearl paint on my Sorento has started chipping and peeling away on the hood, front quarter panels and roof. This is leading to rust which is quite concerning. It is understandable that environmental factors such as road debris might cause chipping but this is an issue that appears to have affected a large number of people with the same paint color and the rapid deterioration of the paint covering the vehicle is not indicative of normal wear and tear.
Structure, Apr 10, 2024
A rain storm came and I left my car out of the garage and the rain peeled off huge parts of my paint. There is no reason that my car last paint should have been washed off from rain.
Structure, Apr 9, 2024
I have a 2016 Snow White Kia Sorento that the paint is coming off of. Paint is coming off from the hood, above drivers side door and above back hatch.
Structure, Mar 21, 2024
Paint bubbling/chipping on multiple areas of my car. Concerned for rusting and further damage to my car. Paint chipping was first noticed in 2021 and it has progressively gotten worse since.
Structure, Engine, Feb 16, 2024
The paint on my car start peeling out of nowhere… the hood of the car 12/26/2023 and the roof of the car 2/09/2024 peeled off in the rain I have pictures and videos… Kia said warranty only covers 36000 miles or 3 years on the car so they couldn’t help me …plus as the paint peels u can see the car was painted with no primer for the paint to stick …. I paid my car off to have it fall apart on me this is not acceptable..my car only has 63000 miles it shouldn’t be falling apart already … I’m having issues with the engine burning excessive oil .. Please help a very concerned client
Structure, Jan 19, 2024
My 2016 Kia Sorento started about 2 months to peel, it was a quarter size spot and now is getting bigger every day !!
Structure, Jan 13, 2024
Delamination -peeling paint
Structure, Dec 4, 2023
Large area of paint peeled off the hood while washing the vehicle
Structure, Dec 1, 2023
Paint delamination happening to my Kia Sorento, paint is peeling exposing primer
Structure, Oct 3, 2023
Paint on the hood started to peel off in July of 2023. It has not been formally inspected, but is available for inspection. We have not contacted a dealer yet.
Structure, Oct 2, 2023
Peeling paint
Other or unspecified, Structure, Sep 27, 2023
White Pearl paint peeling significantly
Structure, Aug 22, 2023
The paint on the body of my vehicle just started rapidly peeling off on its own really bad from passenger door handle and spreading.
Structure, Aug 1, 2023
I have paint peeling from the hood of my car, the pearl white paint is bubbling up and peeling all by itself. KIA says the it's past the 3 year warranty period so I am responsible for the repair. I have never had paint peel from a car for no reason.
Structure, Jul 25, 2023
The paint on my vehicle began peeling about a year ago, 2022, right above the top of the windshield. Drivers side. About 6 months ago, approx Jan 2023, I noticed a few paint chips on the hood missing. One of them is extremely large and has paint peeling off around the edges. I am afraid to wash it as hoping more does not peel. You see bare metal underneath my paint. My vehicle only has about 74k miles on it. It is white in color but appears to also have sparkles within the paint.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 18, 2023, fire
Vehicle inspection catalytic converter fumes coming inside vents causing fire an frame issues
Structure, Jun 19, 2023
I brought my car brand new from the KIA DEALERSHIP.. I started to notice paint that was missing which I thought maybe from a rock(2019)But the peeling continued to peel. At this point my hood is 35% peeled off now and the top of my Kia is now starting to peel . I have noticed a lot of Kia owners that have this exact same problem.
Structure, Other or unspecified, May 9, 2023
Paint peeliing and car rust has stated as soon as warranty ran out.
Structure, May 4, 2023
Literally overnight large pieces of paint began peeling off of my hood and roof. Within days I took it to a body shop and they immediately identified it as a factory defect. The pearl white paint is separating in sheets. If not repaired it will rust the metal underneath.
Structure, Apr 5, 2023
Rapid Delamination and paint peeling.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2023
My 2016 Kia Sorento has large places on the body (hood, roof, door rails) where the paint has peeled off extensively. We noticed the paint peeling on the hood in August 2022 and the roof and door rails were noticed this month, March 2023.
Structure, Mar 11, 2023
Paint is peeling off in chunks without any cause
Structure, Mar 10, 2023
The car is available for inspection and has a paint defect. It went from one day being perfectly fine and next day I took it for a car wash and a big chunk of paint just peeled/ripped off. This is definitely a paint defect. I cannot believe this was something that can happen especially considering I take very good care of the vehicle and is well maintained. I am one of many other consumers affected by this. No it had not been inspected by insurance. I have an open claim with Kia corporate and pending a reply.
Structure, Feb 26, 2023
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND WINDSHELD AREAS