2016 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Sorento most often describe sudden engine failure, with knocking, stalling or loss of power while driving, and several say the engine was later replaced. Frequent oil top-ups, overheating linked to coolant loss, and a shift lever that will not leave park are also common, mostly at mileages between about 55,000 and 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Sudden engine knocking, stalling or failure

   • 540 complaints (43%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (175 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,450 (median of 66 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe a knocking, rattling or abnormal sound that grows louder, followed by stalling, loss of power, or the engine failing to restart. Some saw a check engine or oil warning light, and some had no warning before the failure. According to the complaints, dealers and independent shops diagnosed internal engine failure and recommended replacement, and some owners said the manufacturer did not assist with the repair. Reported mostly between about 60,000 and 170,000 miles, most often while driving at highway speeds, and some owners noticed the sound first while driving.

   What to check: Listen for knocking or ticking when the engine is cold and under load, and check the oil level before and after a drive. Ask for records of any engine replacement or repair and whether the seller can show a clean scan of stored codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my vehicle 2 years ago and now it needs an engine. It is only 4cyrars old. It was stalling every once and while, then one day I tried to accelerate on the freeway and it would. It started smoking and then died out. Luckily I was able to get it up to the next exit ramp. I took to recently to a repair shop and try said it needed an engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352245, filed 2020-08, 102,000 miles

   “i was driving and the car stopped working, was able to steer it and get it stopped in a safe spot. Would not start again. Towed to the local Kia dealership where I bought the car and they said the battery died. Replaced the battery, car still doesn't start. They take another look and say actually the engine is completely dead because there was not oil. There was no light on saying oil was low and I had been getting regular oil changes through the same shop. They tell me it needs a new engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11588520, filed 2024-05, 104,219 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption and oil loss between changes

   • 245 complaints (19%)
   • median 91,023 mi at 7.0 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,250 (median of 32 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the engine using a lot of oil, needing to add quarts every few weeks or every 1,500 miles, and in some cases burning oil and smelling it in the cabin. Some report the oil warning light coming on. According to the complaints, dealers ran oil consumption tests, and some owners said the dealer found a cylinder problem or no leak source. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 110,000 miles, and often over several months of routine driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level at the start and end of a short drive and ask for past oil consumption test results. Ask whether the excessive oil consumption bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving up hill the car went into limp mode on two separate occasions and the replace engine light began flashing immediately as I limped of the freeway barely saving my life, had my car towed where I am under warrantee and Kia refuses to replace my engine which burns almost every drop of oil in under 5000 miles, 66,000 miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11301809, filed 2020-01, 69,008 miles

   “My Kia Sorento has 70,000 and every 1,500 miles I have to add 3 quarts of oil. I have no oil on my driveway or underneath the car so I have no idea where it's going. And I do mostly highway driving”

   NHTSA complaint #11302678, filed 2020-01, 65,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Overheating and coolant loss

   • 140 complaints (11%)
   • median 92,840 mi at 6.2 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $7,350 (median of 18 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the temperature gauge rising to hot, steam or smoke, and needing to refill coolant or water every few miles. Some describe the engine losing power or stalling after overheating, and some describe coolant intrusion into the engine. According to the complaints, dealers found loose or stripped head bolts or a head gasket gap in some cases, and some owners were told the engine needed replacement. Reported between about 55,000 and 150,000 miles, often when driving at highway speed or after a long drive.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or staining around the engine and cylinder head. Ask whether any head bolt or engine sub-assembly bulletin was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “UNKNOWN Possible head gasket, radiator or water pump damage. Light smoke from engine. Constantly have to fill car up with antifreeze & water every few miles. Car is never driven over 45 mph.Car easily overheats & leaves us stranded as we live in a rural location. Have to purchase antifreeze every 3 days that we cannot afford. Have VERY LIMITED funds to assist with mechanical work, but we can contribute a little. No income whatsoever coming in due to job loss. Can't rely on car to get to work, but can work from home. Currently seeking employment, but competition has been tough. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11546920, filed 2023-09, 149,286 miles

   “The vehicle had 87000 miles. On two occasions the engine overheated , requiring a tow. After the 1st incident a local mechanic ran tests and thought the radiator cap needed replacing. It ran fine until a few weeks driving up a mt. pass it overheated again, leaving me stranded on a two lane hwy in 20 degree temps with no cell service. Had it towed to Reno ,nv kia dealership they said it had blown a head gasket and then a few weeks later said the entire engine would have to be replaced ( the threads to the cylinder were stripped). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11501559, filed 2023-01, 87,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shift lever stuck in park or rolling back

   • 204 complaints (16%)
   • median 58,575 mi at 4.2 yrs old (80 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the gear shifter remaining stuck in park, or the shift lock release not engaging, so a screwdriver was needed to shift out of park. Other owners describe the vehicle shifting out of gear or rolling backward on its own when parked or stopped. According to the complaints, the vehicle was sometimes not diagnosed, and some owners said the dealer declined to repair the shift lock. Reported from about 15,000 to about 190,000 miles, with many reports between about 55,000 and 85,000 miles.

   Recall 22V612000

   What to check: Shift from park to drive and back several times with the brake applied, and confirm the shifter moves freely and the car holds in park on a slope. Ask whether recall 22V612000 was completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “10 months now I've gone with driving my 2016 Kia Sorento by entering a screw driver in the override mode because I can't get out of park the moral way. I've taken this car into shawnee mission Kia so many times I've lost count and they have not only refused to take care of this problem, indicating that bcm or body control moduler isn't covered under my warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366555, filed 2020-10, 70,000 miles

   “My Kia Sorento does not shift out of p (park). The lock release button does not engage unless I activate the shift-lock override. I am extremely concerned for the safety of my children, toddler, and entire family. Please help us repair this and ensure the manufacturer is held accountable.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351686, filed 2020-08, 82,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering sticking or feeling loose

   • 49 complaints (4%)
   • median 42,500 mi at 3.9 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel sticking, hesitating or jerking to one side while driving, and a loose or wandering feeling at highway speed. Some say they have to correct the wheel by hand to keep the car in its lane. According to the complaints, one dealer said the steering column assembly needed replacement, and some owners said no recall was open for their vehicle. Reported from very low mileage to about 65,000 miles, mostly between about 30,000 and 65,000 miles, and often at highway speeds.

   What to check: Test the steering on a highway and in a slow turn, and check for sticking or play in the wheel. Ask the seller whether the steering has been inspected or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I do alot of highway driving. While at speeds of 65mph and in turns, the steering wheel sticks. And feels like it pulls even harder. So I have to give it a tug in the turn or stop it from crossing into another lane. Trying the dealership again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11404895, filed 2021-03, 20 miles

   “My 2016 ex turbo sorrento has a steering issue. The steering feels like it sticks or hesitates. The feeling is difficult to describe as it is not like any steering I have experienced before . It is as though something mechanical in the lower part of the assembly is hesitating or slightly jerking and not giving the correct feedback and not accepting the drivers input correctly . I know there are both electrical and mechanical systems involved in the steering and something between them is not working correctly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11298503, filed 2020-01, 45,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for full service records, including oil top-ups, coolant refills and any engine repairs, and listen for knocking on a cold start. Confirm the shift lever recall 22V612000 was completed and test the shifter before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.