10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,799 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Kia Sorento drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #84

Mar 042024

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear shift will not shift into Park and car will roll where parked depending on the incline. It also will not start unless I use the shifter bypass with a small screwdriver to shift it into neutral to start and then shift into reverse or drive.

- Montoursville, PA, USA

problem #83

Feb 082024

Sorento

  • miles
We were driving on the [XXX] on [XXX] with a speed of around 70 miles per hour. We started to see a small amount of white smoke coming from under the hood and at the same time the truck started to slow down by itself unexpectedly and then started to jerk back and forth. No indicators showed up on the dashboard. The speed reduced quickly and hitting the gas pedal did nothing to accelerate our speed. The white smoke started to increase and it became difficult to see. We then saw the temperature gauge go all the way up to hot out of nowhere. There were vehicles all around us and the passengers in the car started to yell to try to get to the shoulder. We had to maneuver very quickly through traffic with the car continuing to jerk at a very slow speed, which was very scary and dangerous. We were finally able to slowly get over to the shoulder. We turned off the truck. When we opened the hood, white smoke was everywhere coming from the engine and the coolant in the plastic receptacle was bubbling. The coolant looked like it was about to explode and the driver got burned trying to remove the cap. There was significant heat coming from the engine. The coolant then drained out of the receptacle. When we tried to start the truck again it would not start. We spend hours trying to get a tow to a shop in NJ miles from where we live in NY. Several days later, the mechanic in NJ took a look at the car and he reported this week that the head gasket is blown and that we need a new engine. We plan to tow the truck back to NY to KIA where we have the car serviced normally to have it looked at. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Oakland Gardens, NY, USA

problem #82

Feb 032024

Sorento

  • miles
My car was driving fine and then on Saturday we went to our daughters birthday party and the car started making noises and you could see white smoke coming out the back of the car. We were getting off the highway and thankfully we pulled over. We saw engine oil just spilling out. There were no warning lights beforehand. We took it to a shop and they said the oil burned a hole through the engine. I am very upset as I am still paying on the car and my only option would be to pay 5000 to have it repaired or they repossess my vehicle.

- New Britain, CT, USA

problem #81

Feb 032024

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car was driving fine and then on Saturday we went to our daughters birthday party and the car started making noises and you could see white smoke coming out the back of the car. We were getting off the highway and thankfully we pulled over. We saw engine oil just spilling out. There were no warning lights beforehand. We took it to a shop and they said the oil burned a hole through the engine. I am very upset as I am still paying on the car and my only option would be to pay 5000 to have it repaired or they repossess my vehicle.

- New Britain, CT, USA

problem #80

Jan 192024

Sorento

  • miles
The 2016 Kia Sorento engine apparently has excessive oil usage leading to engine failure while driving on highway. Dealers are aware of the problem but Kia is not addressing the issue. Took the car in 3 times for Diagnostic check with no indication of any fault codes to address issue specifically. Now engine has failed despite our efforts to get ahead of the problem, and provide regular maintenance to our vehicle. Apparently dealers are well aware of the issue and aren't owning to it because Kia isn't supporting it.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

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problem #79

Dec 152023

Sorento

  • miles
On 12/15/23 my wife was driving her father to a dental appointment and when trying to pass a slower moving vehicle on a rural stretch of our highway system. The car died after she accelerated to pass the slower vehicle. She was in the oncoming lane of traffic when she lost engine power, power steering, power brakes and electronics. The car she was passing slowed down to allow her to get over, as a semi truck had now appeared on the horizon. Without any power, she could not complete the pass and had to force the car back into the correct lane where the car came to a stop partially in the roadway. Two vehicles behind her witnessed the issue and could tell she was having vehicle problems and helped push her, her dad, and the car to the side of the road into an orchard for safety. There were no warning symptoms, no loud sounds, nothing, just the control panel flashing intermediately after the car died. The car was towed to a local shop that thought it was possibly an electrical issue and replaced the battery (as that somehow died during the incident) but they soon identified the motor had seized and we should have it taken to a Kia dealership for a known issue with the 2.4L engines. The Kia dealership advised that a "Product Improvement Campaign", not a Safety Recall, had not been performed on the vehicle and that Kia had a class action lawsuit for this exact issue. Kia claims that postal notifications were sent to the previous owner, but had our information on file and registered as an owner through the Kia Owner web portal. Kia is refusing to cover the repair costs because the original owner never had the work completed, and as a second owner, we were never notified of the Knock Sensor Software Update that needed to ensure the car would go into limp mode before a total engine seizure. We never took the Kia to an actual dealer, as we had all maintenance done at various oil change locations, and an independent auto repair shop do the milestone services as recommended.

- Willows, CA, USA

problem #78

Dec 202023

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle has 111k miles on it and is burning so much oil I have to spend 8 thousand dollars to replace the motor. This doesn-??t seem like it should be burning this much oil. Now the motor has a horrible knock on the inside of the motor. Garage says the whole motor has to be replaced.

- Coeburn , VA, USA

problem #77

Nov 062023

Sorento

  • miles
Car when into a low power mode, could not keep it running, took 5 times to go thru a very busy intersection and motor was making a knocking noise, smells like burnt oil-motor, misses out..The car was towed into a KIA dealership,3 weeks later they said it was fixed, drove off and didn-??t even make it a mile until it started knocking and having the same smell like burnt motor, went into a reduce power.now it-??s been 3 more weeks or more and still nothing is getting resolved. Yes the dealership knows about this issue. Yes warning messages came on when it went into low power mode. This is motor number two as the motor was replaced less than 12 months ago.

- Moore, OK, USA

problem #76

Nov 092023

Sorento

  • miles
17-year-old daughter driving 65 mph down the highway when engine just gave out. Loss drive power but was able to make it to the side of highway, once stopped coolant find blowing out. There was no overheating warning or light luminated on dash. Once towed to shop and inspected told head gasket blown out dur to loose head bolts & possible head crack due to lost coolant.

- Felicity, OH, USA

problem #75

Nov 092023

Sorento

  • miles
17-year-old daughter driving 65 mph down the highway when engine just gave out. Loss drive power but was able to make it to the side of highway, once stopped coolant find blowing out. There was no overheating warning or light luminated on dash. Once towed to shop and inspected told head gasket blown out dur to loose head bolts & possible head crack due to lost coolant.

- Felicity, OH, USA

problem #74

Nov 072023

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was unable to to get my gear out of park. I took to Kia immediately to inspect this issue. My safety is at risk if a collision occurs because I can-??t change gears or if I have my children in the car and I get stuck in a remote location. The problem is currently being inspected by a Kia dealership & no one else has been notified just yet. I was given no warning or message before this began on Nov. 7, 2023. After a thorough internet search it seems there are several KIA owners that have experienced the same problem.

- Ozark, MO, USA

problem #73

Aug 102023

Sorento

  • miles
My engine failed with no warning, my car shut down on the hwy. It was a safety issue because the car shut down while driving on the hwy and could have resulted in a traffic accident. This problen is all over the internet. There were no warning lights. Car ran fine up until it stalled and lost power and shut down. When towed to the repair shop, I was told it was completely out of oil, metal shavings were in the oil filter. The shop replaced oil and the car ran for a bit with knocking noise. On the way to the kia dealership, after learning this was an issue with my type of vehicle, the car shut down again and had to be towed to the dealership. My request for engine replacement was denied even though it is well within 100.000 miles and or 10yrs. It has 84,000 miles. I feel this is KIA's responsibilty to replace my engine. At this time, they are charging me $10,600 to replace my engine.

- Montgomery, TX, USA

problem #72

Aug 112023

Sorento

  • miles
Car shutters and stalls and metal shavings in the oil pan

- Cadiz , OH, USA

problem #71

Aug 142023

Sorento

  • miles
Was driving to work RPM's jumped up and stayed after releasing gas pedal. The engine started knocking. Pulled off the road at gas station near by. Shut car off. Had to have car towed to back to my house.

- Connersville, IN, USA

problem #70

Jun 172023

Sorento

  • miles
Total engine failure on highway with no warning. Kia dealership says a piston broke and a valve is stuck open. Total engine replacement required with a cost of $12,000. Kia refused to help with cost due to car being at 101,000 miles. Only 1,000 miles over the powertrain warranty.

- Felton, CA, USA

problem #69

Jun 072023

Sorento

  • miles
Fire from fuel pump engine failure catalytic converter issues from engine

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #68

Jul 222023

Sorento

  • miles
My shifting lever acts all wonky. Feels lose. It acts as if it does not want to go into the gears I put it in, especially park. I have to wiggle the lever before it will lock. When I put it in reverse it takes a minute before the R comes up and then my back up camera won-??t come on because I feel it-??s not telling it that-??s it-??s in reverse. Yesterday I was driving the SUV and going down the road and all of a sudden it was like my SUV was put into to neutral going down the road, nothing touched the shifting lever but it was as if the car had no idea what gear it was in. This worries me as if someone was behind me I could have been rear ended. This is a real safety concern to me and my family. The SUV only has 60,000 miles on it. Are there any issues with this make and model? I would really hate to get into an accident.

- Turin, NY, USA

problem #67

Jun 202023

Sorento

  • miles
Shift lock does not come out of park. Started September 2022. Excessive oil burning 2 quarts a month( every 500 miles) Started June 2022 Low oil light does not turn on ever Electrical issues. Locks turn on and of every time I open door. Check engine light is always on. Since I bought the car. Kia tried fixing but it didn't help. Now have engine failure.

- Waynesville, MO, USA

problem #66

Jun 272023

Sorento

  • miles
Yesterday while driving the engine began to shake and seize, it would not accelerate above 40 mph. I was seconds from entering the hwy but pulled into quick trip where it died and had to be towed at own expense. Oil pressure sensor had been flashing on periodically when breaks were applied between regular oil changes. Vehicle was consuming 3-4 qts of oil between oil changes, which is not normal. There were no signs of any oil leaks, oil light did not remain illuminated to suggest low oil levels, nor a check engine light warning. Vehicle has less than 100,000 miles. When contacting KIA was told I would need a warranty to fix. This is not a warranty issue, this is a KNOWN issue and class action lawsuit related to these symptoms. I was seconds from a possible fatal accident on the highway and I'm sure a buy back or vehicle exchange would be better than a lawsuit involving corporate negligence resulting in a death.

- Grain Valley, MO, USA

problem #65

Jun 042023

Sorento

  • miles
automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, fuel pipe exhaust causing fumes to come through the vent area causing fire and smoke. accelerator assembly issues when driving

- Jacksonville , FL, USA

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