2016 KIA Sorento Problems: Engine (1,251 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 KIA Sorento is Engine (46% of 1,251 owner reports). There are 8 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,251 complaints · 8 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 KIA Sorento?

570 of 1,251 filings named Engine (46% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (92 reports).

There are 8 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Cruise / speed control, Seat belts, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2015 has 750 reports on file; this year has 1,251. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2016 KIA Sorento

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 8 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 570 complaints · 45.6% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 29
  • Fires 49
  • Injuries 19
  • Deaths 0
All KIA Sorento years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 570 of 1,251 owner complaints (45.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 570 complaints, 45.6% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 crash reports 26 fire reports 570 · 45.6% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 92 complaints, 7.4% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 6 crash reports 1 fire reports 92 · 7.4% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 90 complaints, 7.2% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 90 · 7.2% Steering (STEERING): 64 complaints, 5.1% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 64 · 5.1% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 59 complaints, 4.7% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 crash reports 59 · 4.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 53 complaints, 4.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 4 fire reports 53 · 4.2% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 53 complaints, 4.2% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 crash reports 1 fire reports 53 · 4.2% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 26 complaints, 2.1% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 4 fire reports 26 · 2.1% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 15 complaints, 1.2% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 15 · 1.2% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 303 complaints, 24.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 4 crash reports 12 fire reports 303 · 24.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 570 45.6% 3 crashes · 26 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 92 7.4% 6 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 90 7.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 64 5.1% 2 crashes · 1 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 59 4.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 53 4.2% 1 crashes · 4 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 53 4.2% 4 crashes · 1 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 26 2.1% 0 crashes · 4 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 15 1.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 303 24.2% 4 crashes · 12 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2015; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2015. 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2016-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2018-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2018-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2019-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2019-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2019-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2019-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2020-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 2020-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2020-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2020-Q4: 27 owner reports 27 2021-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2021-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2021-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2021-Q4: 37 owner reports 37 2022-Q1: 50 owner reports 50 2022-Q2: 56 owner reports 56 2022-Q3: 55 owner reports 55 2022-Q4: 59 owner reports 59 2023-Q1: 75 owner reports 75 2023-Q2: 65 owner reports 65 2023-Q3: 55 owner reports 55 2023-Q4: 54 owner reports 54 2024-Q1: 66 owner reports 66 2024-Q2: 55 owner reports 55 2024-Q3: 29 owner reports 29 2024-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2025-Q1: 34 owner reports 34 2025-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2025-Q3: 39 owner reports 39 2025-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2026-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2026-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2026-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2026-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Jan 2015 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 15V089000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V089000 Recall campaign 15V446000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V446000 Recall campaign 16V480000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V480000 Recall campaign 16V770000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V770000 Recall campaign 16V862000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V862000 Recall campaign 18V907000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V907000 Recall campaign 22V612000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V612000 Recall campaign 22V703000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V703000 Investigation DP21002 ● Investigation DP21002 Investigation DP22003 ● Investigation DP22003 Investigation PE23019 ● Investigation PE23019
  • Campaign 16V480000 was reported 233 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V612000 was reported 2,408 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 3
2015-Q3 Owner reports 4
2015-Q4 Owner reports 9
2016-Q1 Owner reports 5
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q3 Owner reports 8
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 6
2017-Q2 Owner reports 10
2017-Q3 Owner reports 7
2017-Q4 Owner reports 15
2018-Q1 Owner reports 11
2018-Q2 Owner reports 11
2018-Q3 Owner reports 19
2018-Q4 Owner reports 12
2019-Q1 Owner reports 18
2019-Q2 Owner reports 14
2019-Q3 Owner reports 23
2019-Q4 Owner reports 16
2020-Q1 Owner reports 24
2020-Q2 Owner reports 14
2020-Q3 Owner reports 25
2020-Q4 Owner reports 27
2021-Q1 Owner reports 29
2021-Q2 Owner reports 31
2021-Q3 Owner reports 34
2021-Q4 Owner reports 37
2022-Q1 Owner reports 50
2022-Q2 Owner reports 56
2022-Q3 Owner reports 55
2022-Q4 Owner reports 59
2023-Q1 Owner reports 75
2023-Q2 Owner reports 65
2023-Q3 Owner reports 55
2023-Q4 Owner reports 54
2024-Q1 Owner reports 66
2024-Q2 Owner reports 55
2024-Q3 Owner reports 29
2024-Q4 Owner reports 33
2025-Q1 Owner reports 34
2025-Q2 Owner reports 19
2025-Q3 Owner reports 39
2025-Q4 Owner reports 20
2026-Q1 Owner reports 25
2026-Q2 Owner reports 22
2026-Q3 Owner reports 18
2026-Q4 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 15V089000
Recall campaign 1 15V446000
Recall campaign 1 16V480000
Recall campaign 1 16V770000
Recall campaign 1 16V862000
Recall campaign 1 18V907000
Recall campaign 1 22V612000
Recall campaign 1 22V703000
Defect investigation 1 DP21002
Defect investigation 1 DP22003
Defect investigation 1 PE23019
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (8)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Cruise / speed control, Seat belts, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline.

  1. Recall campaign 15V089000

    Cruise / speed control

    Report date
    Component:
    Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC115.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 15V446000

    Seat belts

    Report date
    Component:
    Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 16V480000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC137.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 16V770000

    Safety recall 16V770000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 9, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 16V862000

    Safety recall 16V862000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 18V907000

    Safety recall 18V907000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 22V612000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 22V703000

    Safety recall 22V703000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 3 of 1,251 complaints · page 1 of 51
2026-10-06AIR BAGS
NHTSA ODI 11769430
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Dear Kia America Customer Care Team, Thank you for your response regarding Case Number While I understand that my vehicle is technically outside the standard factory warranty period, I am formally requesting a managerial review of this decision. This is not a request for a cosmetic repair, but a critical safety concern regarding a life-saving component. The dashboard material directly above the passenger airbag is cracking. As you are aware, the structural integrity of the airbag cover is essential for its correct deployment. My primary concern is that during a collision, these cracks could cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly, or worse, turn fragments of the brittle dashboard into dangerous projectiles aimed directly at the front passenger. A vehicle’s airbag system should not degrade into a safety hazard under normal operating conditions, regardless of warranty mileage. This structural degradation points to a potential material defect rather than standard wear and tear. Before I take further action, I request that Kia America reviews this case under a goodwill consideration (Goodwill Policy), as it directly impacts the crashworthiness and occupant safety of the vehicle. For your records, I am also documenting this issue with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ensure it is registered as a potential safety risk for this model line. I look forward to your reconsidered response and hope we can resolve this matter safely and professionally. Sincerely Dear Thank you for contacting Kia America, Inc. We appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to address your concerns. We have concluded the research regarding your request for assistance. Your vehicle is out of warranty as outlined in your Warranty and Consumer Information Manual and the
2026-10-02Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11768490
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission failure at 99,000 miles Replaced by dealer under warranty
2026-09-29Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11767733
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am the original, single owner of a 2016 Kia Sorento in Snow White Pearl. My vehicle currently has approximately 96,000 miles on it. Roughly one year ago, the factory paint began catastrophically peeling, flaking, and deteriorating in large sheets on the roof and near the passenger-side door. This damage is not the result of environmental wear, stone chips, or poor maintenance. It is a documented, widespread manufacturing defect—specifically, a factory primer-adhesion failure (delamination)—that uniquely impacts Kia and Hyundai vehicles painted in this specific Snow White Pearl finish. I contacted Kia Consumer Care to resolve this issue and was assigned Case Number 26409995. Despite my status as a loyal, original owner of a vehicle under 100,000 miles, Kia issued a blanket denial of assistance. Kia is well aware of this systemic manufacturing defect, as their sister company Hyundai has previously extended paint warranties to 10+ years for identical white paint delamination issues. Kia’s refusal to remedy this known defect constitutes unfair and deceptive consumer business practices under California law. My vehicle specifically features Kia’s "Snow White Pearl", which is widely documented to have a latent factory defect. The core issue stems from an original chemical failure where the white base paint layer did not properly bond or fuse to the factory primer layer. Over time, exposure to atmospheric heat, rain, or vibration causes the top layers to completely delaminate and flake off in massive chunks, often exposing the bare gray primer underneath. When multiple panels peel, it presents a safety hazard if paint flakes off into the vision of drivers behind me.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 KIA Sorento?

Owners named Engine most often — 570 of 1,251 reports (46%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 KIA Sorento?

NHTSA lists 8 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Cruise / speed control, Seat belts, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2016 KIA Sorento?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources