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The 2016 Kia Sorento has 1,248 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 8 active recall campaigns.
The 2016 Kia Sorento has 1,248 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 551 complaints (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Sorento | 981 | 5 |
| 2014 Sorento | 984 | 6 |
| 2015 Sorento | 749 | 3 |
| 2016 Sorento (this page) | 1,248 | 8 |
| 2017 Sorento | 801 | 4 |
| 2018 Sorento | 252 | 3 |
| 2019 Sorento | 426 | 2 |
Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2016 Kia Sorento SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 8 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
If you’re looking at a 2016 Kia Sorento, the first and almost only question that matters is which engine is in it. Get that right and the rest of the car is a perfectly good family SUV. Get it wrong and you’ve bought one of the most documented engine failures of the last fifteen years.
The 2016 Sorento has over 1,200 NHTSA owner complaints and one of the weaker reliability scores in our database. It’s the first year of that generation, so some of that is launch-year teething. But the heavy part of it is the engine.
If the Sorento has the 2.4L four-cylinder, that’s the Hyundai/Kia Theta II. It’s the second-worst platform in our entire database — over 24,000 owner complaints across the vehicles it went into. We wrote up why a handful of engines and transmissions account for most of the complaints and the Theta II is one of the biggest reasons that pattern exists.
It fails from rod-bearing oil starvation. The bearing wears, the engine starts knocking, and then it either spins a bearing or seizes outright — often well under 100,000 miles, sometimes with no warning a driver would recognize in time. In a fraction of cases it has led to engine fires.
Hyundai and Kia were hit with a large class-action settlement over this. That settlement is the single most important thing for a used buyer to understand, because it cuts both ways:
A 2016 Sorento 2.4 is buyable, but only on these terms:
If it’s the 3.3L V6 (Lambda), that’s a completely different and far more durable engine — it does not share the Theta rod-bearing problem and isn’t on our list. On this generation, the V6 is the one to want by a wide margin.
The transmission, AWD, and the rest of the Sorento are ordinary and fine. This is an engine decision, full stop. Before you commit on a 2.4, it’s worth running the warranty math on it — the complaint data and the class-action coverage status genuinely change the answer here.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed decreased. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot safely. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to…
Has a steering control issue. I am now on my 3rd steering columm replacement. They do not correct the sticky on center steering control issues. Kia has not come up with a workable solution for this. I have had it to 3 dealers so far. They all say the steering column needs to be…
We have to constant add oil to the engine in between our 3000 mile oil changes, at least a quart or more. There are no oil leaks anywhere on the engine. The engine makes a loud "ticking" noise and doesn't have the power. The transmission also has issues shifting from 1st to 2nd…
Driving on highway, vehicle lost power. Ultimate diagnosed as a seized engine. Car was towed to our mechanic. After contacting Kia, they had us tow it to a local Kia dealer. After they diagnosed the same seized engine, they said they would not pay for repair, despite their being…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.0 out of 10 based on 1,248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Kia Sorento has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Kia Sorento is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 20 fire-related complaints and 3 crash-related complaints on the engine; Powertrain: 123 complaints, classified severe; Electrical system: 83 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 5.0/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 551 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 1,248 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 551 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,248 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.