2016 Kia Sorento Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 0%of 1,261 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 256miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seats of the 2016 Kia Sorento, 0% of the 1,261 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 256 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“October 10, 2018 drove car into driveway, shut car off, parked, went into house for about 2 mins, came back to car, it was smoking from under hood. I turned on faucet in garage, and sprayed water on car. Called 911. Within 2 mins, I saw first spark, left area, ran over to my sisters house, next door, on phone with 911 and within 4 mins of car smoke, burst into flames, 2 explosions. Fire dept arrived with in 10 mins of smoke detection. Flames higher than the house. Car totaled, and house siding melted away from house.”
NHTSA complaint #11150346, filed 2018-11, 33,500 miles“When a cushion (small pillow) is used (I am a short person) on the front passenger's seat, the air bag detetecor turns off the passenger air bag leaving the passenger unprotected. I have contacted the dealer's service dept. And was told there was no work-around for this problem. I also contacted Kia motors and was told the same thing..not fixable. Sitting in the front passenger seat is uncomfortable for me (arm rest height, windshield visibility, etc.) without the small pillow. …”
NHTSA complaint #10744244, filed 2015-07, 256 miles“My heated seats stopped working when my new engine was installed and I took it to the dealership and they never fix it and charged me 200.00 and then my air and heat keeps coming on and off then I got my new engine installed”
NHTSA complaint #11644517, filed 2025-02“My front driver seat slips out of recline position to another position on its own Had engine replaced, got car back, made humming noise, took back to dealer, could not find noise, car still makes noise and now there’s seems to be louder noise coming from steering or front suspension while car is driven, dealer claims with no extension of warranty and over 60,000 miles, any work for this issue with steering/suspension is not covered, this was not an issue before engine was replaced under the engine recall”
NHTSA complaint #11608162, filed 2024-08“This model has 3 rows of seats. The 3rd row is pulled to the upright position from the back hatch access door. However, there does not appear to be a logical way to get to this 3rd row of seating without physically crawling on hands and knees. What am I missing ?”
NHTSA complaint #11124202, filed 2018-09Related recalls
- 16V770000Oct 24, 2016Kia 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…Covers: Kia Sorento 2016
Related service bulletins
- 10109862May 15, 2017TSB: FRONT SEAT HEADREST REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace both front seat headrests of some 2016MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced from November 17…
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% |
| 2017 | 3 | 0% |
| 2016 | 6 | 0% |
| 2015 | 6 | 1% |
| 2014 | 11 | 1% |
| 2013 | 33 | 3% |
| 2012 | 15 | 2% |
| 2011 | 21 | 1% |
| 2009 | 3 | 5% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% |
| 2005 | 8 | 3% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2016 Kia Sorento
697 complaintsOther or unknown
178 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
126 complaintsBody and structure
111 complaintsElectrical system
107 complaintsSteering
81 complaintsExterior lighting
67 complaintsVehicle speed control
62 complaintsFuel system
58 complaintsEngine cooling
31 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology