What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 KIA Sorento

Typical pattern

2.9% of complaints about the 2016 KIA Sorento came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (691 complaints), typically at 7.3 yr or about 83,000 miles.

Complaints
1,616
Median age at failure
7.0 yr
Median mileage
68,000 n=541
Crash / fire / tow
10.5% of reports
Safety recalls
8 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
691 reports · 83,000 mi
7.3 yr
10.4%
Other
164 reports · 57,000 mi
7.1 yr
7.3%
Power train
123 reports · 75,000 mi
7.6 yr
10.6%
Structure
109 reports · 48,000 mi
6.6 yr
6.4%
Electrical system
106 reports · 53,494 mi
7.2 yr
13.2%
Steering
78 reports · 50,000 mi
5.2 yr
5.1%
Exterior lighting
66 reports · 45,000 mi
4.8 yr
1.5%
Speed control
61 reports · 69,000 mi
5.0 yr
9.8%
Fuel / propulsion
53 reports · 67,000 mi
7.3 yr
15.1%
Engine cooling
30 reports · 99,820 mi
8.2 yr
30%
Service brakes
23 reports · 69,000 mi
7.1 yr
8.7%
Visibility / wipers
16 reports · 30,000 mi
4.5 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

22V703000 2022-09-19 Do not drive
Trailer hitches

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.

22V612000 2022-08-10
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift

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.

18V907000 2018-12-19
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

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.

16V862000 2016-11-30
Trailer hitches

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.

16V770000 2016-10-24
Seats

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.

16V480000 2016-06-29
Suspension:rear

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.

15V446000 2015-07-14
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

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.

15V089000 2015-02-13
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

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.

In owners’ own words

Structure 1,000 mi 1 mo in service
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN STRAIGHT ON A 4 LANE ROAD AT SLOW SPEEDS DUE TO TRAFFIC. THE REAR PANE OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF IMPLODED WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT. LUCKILY THE SHADE WAS CLOSED UP TO THE FRONT PANE OF GLASS WHICH PREVENTED THE GLASS FROM SHOWERING THE OCCUPANTS.
Structure 10,540 mi 6 mo in service
WHEN OPENING THE (FRONT PASSENGER & DRIVER) DOORS FROM OUTSIDE, DOOR DOES NOT OPEN EACH TIME WHEN HANDLE IS PULLED. WHEN DOOR IS OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, DOOR DOES NOT PROPERLY LATCH, THUS, OPERATOR CANNOT SECURE THE DOOR TO CLOSE OR LOCK VEHICLE. CANNOT SECURE OCCUPANT SAFELY INSIDE VEHICLE FOR OPERATION. (MARCH 2016) HAD TO RIG FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WITH SEATBELT TO KEEP DOOR CLOSED ON HIGHWAY. (APRIL 2016) ONCE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE & LATCH WAS REPLACED, SAME ISSUE OCCURRED ON DRIVER SIDE.
Structure 1,200 mi 9 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 (NA) KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHROME FINISH LOCATED ON THE AIR VENTS CREATED A REFLECTION FROM THE SUNSHINE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
Engine 6,300 mi 1 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,300.

Other Sorento model years

202520232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112009200820072006200520042003

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