Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated
Year to avoidBest year
8 safety recalls for the 2016 Kia Sorento
Parts with a do-not-drive or park-outside recall come first, then the rest, largest first. Within a part, do-not-drive and park-outside recalls come first, then the newest. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for what is wrong, the fix and the full notice.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
70,887 vehicles.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership.
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Fix: 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.
Fails federal standard 108 (lighting) · 10,212 vehicles.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to August 26, 2016.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Fix: 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.
71,653 vehicles.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign.
NHTSA listing: SORENTO. Components: Engine; Fuel system: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Kia campaign SC172.
Powertrain 1 recall
automatic transmission · lever and linkage · column shift
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.
Fix: 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.
28,065 vehicles.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016 Sedona and Sorento vehicles.
Risk: 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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
Fix: 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.
2,587 vehicles.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 23, 2014, to December 10, 2014.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The driver's seatback frame may have been produced with inadequate weld joints and, as a result, the seatback may not function as designed in the event of a rear-end collision.
Fix: 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.
1,408 vehicles.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured March 3, 2016 to March 21, 2016.
Risk: If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
Due to an improperly soldered component in the accelerator pedal assembly, the driver may not be able to accelerate the vehicle.
Fix: 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.
12,361 vehicles.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to January 29, 2015.
Risk: The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
Fix: 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.
7,901 vehicles.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SORENTO. Kia campaign SC137.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2016 Kia Sorento; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Loss of motive power
Preliminary evaluation PE23019Closed Jul 23, 2024 (opened Nov 13, 2023)
On November 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-019) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power relating to head gasket and/or head bolt failure in Model Year… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: SORENTO. Components: Engine and cooling; Engine.
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 1,263 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Sorento. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement307 · 24%
Median 94,000 miles at failure, from 83 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off144 · 11%
Median 79,000 miles at failure, from 61 reports with mileage
Check engine light133 · 11%
Median 87,000 miles at failure, from 47 reports with mileage
Excessive oil consumption118 · 9%
Median 79,000 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode116 · 9%
Median 84,500 miles at failure, from 38 reports with mileage
Overheating or coolant loss108 · 9%
Median 99,900 miles at failure, from 34 reports with mileage
Smoke or a burning smell83 · 7%
Median 81,500 miles at failure, from 32 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration62 · 5%
Median 72,000 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
Median 83,000 miles at failure, from 181 reports with mileage
Powertrain126 · 10%
Median 71,000 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
Body structure111 · 9%
Most named: body (106) · Median 46,000 miles at failure, from 37 reports with mileage
Electrical system107 · 8%
Median 51,700 miles at failure, from 34 reports with mileage
Steering81 · 6%
Median 47,500 miles at failure, from 36 reports with mileage
Exterior lighting67 · 5%
Median 43,600 miles at failure, from 42 reports with mileage
Speed control62 · 5%
Most named: accelerator pedal (4) · Median 60,200 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
Unknown or other167 · 13%
Median 55,600 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Kia Sorento recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2016 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2011 Sorento drew the most (281) and the 2016 drew 128.
Owner complaints
2016: 1,263 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Sorento
Model year
Complaints
2011
1,520
2012
880
2013
985
2014
989
2015
755
2016
1,263
2017
811
2018
255
2019
437
2020
140
2021
278
2022
229
2023
170
2024
52
2025
139
2026
9
Safety recalls
2016: 8 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Sorento
Model year
Recalls
2011
7
2012
5
2013
5
2014
6
2015
3
2016
8
2017
4
2018
3
2019
2
2020
1
2021
5
2022
9
2023
4
2024
2
2025
4
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 1,263 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Sorento, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (307), stalling or shutting off (144), and the check engine light coming on (133). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2016 Kia Sorento safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2016 Kia Sorento earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2016 Kia Sorento?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2016 Kia Sorento. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Jul 23, 2024.
How do I check if my Sorento has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SORENTO.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.