2016 Kia Sorento problems and recalls

55% of owner complaints on the 2016 Kia Sorento related to the Engine (696 of 1,258).

1,258
Complaints
8
Recalls
29
Crash reports
49
Fire reports
19
Injuries
45.9
Severity index

Severity index 45.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 45.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 109 of 142 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 23% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 696 complaints (55.3%)696 55%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 166 complaints (13.2%)166 13%Power TrainPower Train: 126 complaints (10.0%)126 10%StructureStructure: 111 complaints (8.8%)111 9%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 107 complaints (8.5%)107 9%SteeringSteering: 80 complaints (6.4%)80 6%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 67 complaints (5.3%)67 5%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 62 complaints (4.9%)62 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE69655.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16613.2%
POWER TRAIN12610.0%
STRUCTURE1118.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1078.5%
STEERING806.4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING675.3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL624.9%

Complaints filed per year

01252502015: 172016: 202017: 382018: 532019: 712020: 902021: 1322022: 2202023: 2502024: 1832025: 1132026: 71 (partial year)151617181920212223250242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201517
201620
201738
201853
201971
202090
2021132
2022220
2023250
2024183
2025113
2026 (year to date)71
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (546 against 442).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V90700019/12/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSKia 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 h
15V44600014/07/2015SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYKia 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
16V77000024/10/2016SEATSKia 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 even
16V86200030/11/2016TRAILER HITCHESKia 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 hitc
16V48000029/06/2016SUSPENSION:REARKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
15V08900013/02/2015VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDALKia 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.
22V61200010/08/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFTKia 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.
22V70300019/09/2022TRAILER HITCHESKia 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 d

Other Kia Sorento model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-23. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.