When driving on the highway at 55 MPH the sunroof over the driver and front passenger compartment exploded. Glass showered into the car (2016 Kia sorento xls). We drove the car a lower speeds to the dealership in bellingham, wa (smith Kia).
2016 Kia Sorento body problems
severe 99 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
99
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
4fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 99 body complaints filed for the 2016 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 99 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Kia Sorento in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
When driving on the highway at 55 MPH the sunroof over the driver and front passenger compartment exploded and sent glass into the vehicle. We drove the vehicle at lower speeds to the smith Kia dealership in bellingham, wa and are awaiting repairs. We found an article from consumer reports that details how there glass roof fail and found a link to how to file the ntsb report.
While driving on the highway at 55 MPH the sunroof over the driver and front passenger compartment exploded sending glass into the vehicle. We drove the vehicle at lower speeds to the smith Kia dealership in bellingham, wa and are awaiting repairs.
While driving on the highway at 55 MPH the sunroof over the driver and front passenger compartment exploded sending glass into the vehicle. We drove the vehicle at lower speeds to the smith Kia dealership in bellingham, wa and are awaiting repairs.
Had body trouble with your 2016 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2016 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 99 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 30,000 and 62,500 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 62,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.