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severe Owners of the 2016 Kia Sorento have filed 47 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Sorento | 23 |
| 2013 Sorento | 14 |
| 2014 Sorento | 19 |
| 2015 Sorento | 13 |
| 2016 Sorento (this page) | 47 |
| 2017 Sorento | 14 |
| 2018 Sorento | 6 |
| 2019 Sorento | 11 |
Of the 15 model years of Kia Sorento we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 47.
If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
OWNER LETTER: DEAR KIA SORENTO OWNER, KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPROGRAM THE LOGIC FOR THE ADVANCED SMART CRUISE CONTROL IN CERTAIN 2016 MY SORENTO SX LIMITED (SXL) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.3L V6 ENGINE AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2016 Kia Sorentos are filing complaints about a cluster of engine-control and cruise-control failures that create immediate traffic hazards. The most common issue: the vehicle stalls or loses all power during acceleration—often on highways at 60+ mph. RPMs spike to 5–6, then drop to zero. The car either restarts and resumes normal operation or enters limp mode, capping speed at 20 mph. Kia performed software reprogramming on early complaints, but owners say the problem persisted or returned worse.
Separately, unintended acceleration strikes without warning: the engine revs hard while the brake is depressed, or the vehicle lurches forward from a stop. At least three crashes resulted—into a garage, a cement barrier, and a storefront. In one case, a driver lost control of steering and braking during the event.
Cruise control cancel buttons fail to work roughly 30 percent of the time; drivers must use the brake instead. On hills, cruise has re-engaged itself after being canceled.
Several owners report engine failure or catastrophic damage: one at 47,000 miles (a reverse surge crashed the vehicle), another at 163,000 (stall, fire, total loss). Oil consumption is abnormal in some vehicles—no warning light, just low oil on dipstick checks. One owner's filter showed metal shavings and thick sludge, followed days later by engine seizure.
Owners cite NHTSA Recall 15V089000 (Vehicle Speed Control) and point to identical symptoms in their VINs, yet dealers and Kia deny inclusion. Repair attempts have included throttle body work and software updates, but outcomes are inconsistent—some vehicles still stall after service. Many owners were told no appointments were available or dealers couldn't replicate the issue, leaving vehicles unrepaired.
Same Kia Sorento cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2019
Engine stalls or loses power when accelerating, particularly when entering highways or merging traffic. RPMs spike then drop to zero before stabilizing. Vehicle may require restart to resume normal operation. Owners report near-collision situations in heavy traffic.
When: Occurs intermittently during acceleration, some reports at 3,000–163,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: RPM surge to 5–6 then drop to zero; Engine stalls during acceleration attempt; Loss of motive power on highway speeds (60–65 mph); Vehicle required restart to resume driving; Multiple stalling events during single trip
Codes mentioned: P0606 (throttle position sensor fault), Throttle body failure, Check engine light (specific codes not always recorded)
Repairs/costs cited: Kia performed re-programming of engine control module in some cases; throttle body replacement mentioned in later complaints. One dealer secured wiring; another replaced throttle after vehicle entered limp mode. Many repairs unsuccessful or incomplete.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V089000 (Vehicle Speed Control) referenced by owners but many VINs reported as not included in recall despite identical symptoms. Kia offered extended warranty to some but denied coverage to others based on VIN exclusion.
Engine failure resulting in complete loss of function, vehicle stall with inability to restart, or engine fire. Some owners report metal shavings in oil and evidence of internal engine failure (thrown rod, seized engine). Repair costs extremely high ($6,300 quoted) or vehicle totaled.
When: Occurs at 60,244–163,000 miles; one failure at only 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden inability to accelerate or loss of all power; Engine knocking under hood followed by stall; White/black smoke from hood/vents; Engine fire; Metal shavings in oil filter with sludge buildup; Oil loss and loss of steering/brake control
Codes mentioned: Check engine light illuminated in some cases, Oil analysis showing metal shavings and sludge
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement quoted at $6,300. One vehicle destroyed in fire and not inspected. Metal shavings found in oil at routine service before catastrophic failure. One owner reported engine threw a rod.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia denied warranty coverage when vehicle out of warranty; no further assistance offered. Owner pursued NHTSA complaint and contacted Kia about recalls but found facility closed due to COVID.
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input on accelerator pedal. Occurs while idling, at stop signs, or during normal braking. Engine RPM increases rapidly. In some cases, acceleration uncontrollable, leading to collisions.
When: Occurs at various mileages from 27,000–110,000 miles; some reported early (3,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs at high RPM while brake pedal depressed; Vehicle lurches forward without accelerator input; Violent acceleration after depression of accelerator; Engine races at idle in park; Vehicle surges in reverse from driveway
Codes mentioned: Throttle pedal position sensor fault, Check engine light may or may not illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: One crash into garage causing extensive damage; another collision into cement barrier (airbags did not deploy); one crash into store front. Repairs either not performed or unsuccessful. No parts specified in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V089000 referenced. Many owners informed their VINs not included in recall despite reporting identical symptoms. Kia stated no appointments available or declined to diagnose.
Cruise control cancel button fails to disengage the system. Brake pedal must be used instead. On some occasions, cruise control engages unexpectedly or will not activate at all. System may re-engage itself when ascending hills.
When: Reported from 3,000 to 110,000 miles; intermittent behavior
Symptoms owners cite: Cancel button on steering wheel does not respond (30% of the time in one report); Brake pedal required to disengage cruise control; Cruise control fails to activate immediately; Cruise control engages unexpectedly on hills; Cruise control re-engages after attempted cancellation
Codes mentioned: No codes reported; failures not duplicable at dealer in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; dealers unable to duplicate failure. One owner suggested cleaning debris behind steering wheel cover but recommended customer pay for inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V089000 referenced. Most complaints not duplicated at dealer; no diagnosis offered.
Vehicle hesitates or fails to accelerate when depressing accelerator pedal. In some cases, vehicle enters limp mode, restricting speed to 20 mph or lower. Check engine light illuminates. Issue can occur intermittently over weeks or become persistent.
When: Reported at mileages from 1,500 to 124,510 miles; intermittent to persistent
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation on acceleration; Failure to accelerate at all when pedal depressed; Vehicle restricted to 20 mph or slower in limp mode; Check engine light illumination; Engine Control System warning on display; Stalling at low speeds with delayed surge forward
Codes mentioned: Throttle position sensor fault (diagnosed by independent mechanic), Throttle body failure, Check engine light (codes not always recorded by dealer)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body repair identified but not always completed. One dealer replaced throttle but owner reports stalling continued after repair. Many vehicles not repaired despite dealer diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V089000 referenced by multiple owners. Kia offered extended warranty in some cases but denied coverage if VIN not on recall list. Many dealers unable or unwilling to replicate issue for diagnosis.
Engine oil level drops rapidly without warning. No oil-low warning light illuminates. Oil must be manually checked and topped up frequently despite regular scheduled oil changes. One owner reported metal shavings and sludge in oil filter at routine service.
When: Reported on vehicles with regular maintenance; no specific mileage noted for onset
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops between services without warning; No oil-low warning light; Engine runs hard when oil is low; Metal shavings in oil filter with sludge buildup (in one case); Black, dirty oil despite recent oil change
Repairs/costs cited: One routine oil change revealed 2 inches of sludge and metal shavings in filter; oil was changed but catastrophic engine failure followed 10 minutes later. No preventive repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented for this issue.
When unintended acceleration occurs, brake pedal is ineffective or requires excessive force to stop vehicle. In at least one case, owner lost control of steering and brakes during acceleration event.
When: Reported on affected acceleration incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal ineffective in stopping vehicle during unintended acceleration; Requires longer distance to stop than normal; Loss of steering control during acceleration event; Loss of brake control during acceleration event
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; vehicle had to be coasted to stop or shifted to neutral/park to control acceleration.
Engine idle RPM remains abnormally high (1,500 RPM) at all times instead of normal idle. Dropping idle back to normal triggers it to jump back to 1,500 RPM while driving. Restarting engine may temporarily reset to normal idle but problem recurs.
When: Reported on at least one 2016 model
Symptoms owners cite: Idle RPM stuck at 1,500 RPM constantly; Idle jumps back to 1,500 RPM while driving; Temporary reset to normal idle after engine restart but problem recurs
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented.
Transmission refuses to shift into gear while RPM climbs higher. Releasing accelerator pedal does not resolve the issue. Occurs on city streets, highways, and rural roads.
When: Reported on at least one 2016 model
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission stuck and will not shift into gear; RPM continues to increase; Accelerator release does not help
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented.
Synthesized from 47 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a meaningful issue. 47 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 24,400 and 83,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,400; a quarter make it past 83,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.