2016 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Kia SORENTO has 1602 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 20.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: 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.. ⚠️ 63 fire reports filed.

63 fire reports 25 crash reports 18 injuries

1602

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

20.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

711 complaints

44%

• 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.
• 2016 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. *SMD THE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY INTAKE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
• 2016 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. *SMD THE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY INTAKE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 33 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

175 complaints

11%

• 2016 KIA SORRENTO PURCHASED ON JUNE 30, 2015. TIME LINE 6/30/2015- PURCHASED VEHICLE AT FREDY KIA IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 7/3/15- STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS/BROUGHT IN CAR TO DEALERSHIP 7/11/15- VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WAS UNMOVABLE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP
• WITH KEYLESS ENTRY/ON/OFF WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF CAR ROLLS AWAY AS THERE IS NO INTERLOCK ASSURING ME THAT TRANS WAS PUT INTO PARK PROPERLY.
• THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WILL VIOLENTLY AND SUDDENLY TRY TO MOMENTARILY MOVE EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT FROM ITS NORMAL STRAIGHT AHEAD FORWARD MOVING POSITION. THE MOVEMENT IS MUCH LIKE WHEN A CAR EXPERIENCES A VERY STRONG GUST OF WIND FROM THE SIDE WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, E

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“2016 KIA SORRENTO PURCHASED ON JUNE 30, 2015. TIME LINE 6/30/2015- PURCHASED VEHICLE AT FREDY KIA IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 7/3/15- STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS/BROUGHT IN CAR TO DEALERSHIP 7/11/15- VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WAS UNMOVABLE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

120 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS
• YOU CAN SHIFT THE CAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE/DRIVE WITHOUT PUTTING ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE THE BRAKE PADS TO THE BRAKE ROTORS. IF YOU AREN'T PAY ATTENTION TO HOW HARD YOU ARE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE, THE CALL WILL START TO MOVE AT A NORMAL SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHUT OFF WHILE IT WAS ENGAGED IN ANY GEAR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING PARKED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT FELL TO THE GRO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

106 complaints

• TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO HAVE SUFFERED A STRESS CRACK STARTING IN THE LOWER CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE (ABOUT 1- 2" FROM THE SIDE), AND SPREAD TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD (ABOUT HALF WAY UP). THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT IMPACTED BY ANYTHING, NOR DID THE VEHICLE HIT ANY L
• 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.
• 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 OPER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO HAVE SUFFERED A STRESS CRACK STARTING IN THE LOWER CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE (ABOUT 1- 2" FROM THE SIDE), AND SPREAD TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD (ABOUT HALF WAY UP). THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT IMPACTED BY ANYTHING, NOR DID THE VEHICLE HIT ANY L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

105 complaints

• 2016 KIA SORRENTO PURCHASED ON JUNE 30, 2015. TIME LINE 6/30/2015- PURCHASED VEHICLE AT FREDY KIA IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 7/3/15- STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS/BROUGHT IN CAR TO DEALERSHIP 7/11/15- VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WAS UNMOVABLE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP
• 2016 KIA SORENTO LX (7800 MILES) - BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR DOORS WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH EITHER THE FOB OR THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS' DOOR.
• MY WIFE HAD THE VEHICLE PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE IN HER MOMS DRIVE WAY MAYBE A 10 DEGREE HILL. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE MY DAUGHTER FINISHED A BIRTHDAY CARD SHE WAS MAKING IN THE BACK SEAT. MY WIFE STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO GET SOME TISSUE PAPER OUT OF THE BACK WI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 3 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1602 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2016 KIA SORRENTO PURCHASED ON JUNE 30, 2015. TIME LINE 6/30/2015- PURCHASED VEHICLE AT FREDY KIA IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 7/3/15- STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS/BROUGHT IN CAR TO DEALERSHIP 7/11/15- VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WAS UNMOVABLE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO HAVE SUFFERED A STRESS CRACK STARTING IN THE LOWER CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE (ABOUT 1- 2" FROM THE SIDE), AND SPREAD TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD (ABOUT HALF WAY UP). THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT IMPACTED BY ANYTHING, NOR DID THE VEHICLE HIT ANY L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)