4.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,609 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 accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2016 Kia Sorento Owner Comments

problem #14

Jun 032024

Sorento

  • miles

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

The problem started after a quick stop at a convenient store on the way to work. After starting the engine the vehicle would not shift from park. I was able to bypass this after a quick Internet search by removing a small cover near the stick shut and a small straw to bypass the shift control. I've had the car twice at the mechanics without a diagnosis as to a possible cause and was able to have the mechanic permanently disabled the shift lock but was warned the vehicle could be shifted to drive or neutral at any time and moved with a key. About a month later I found myself without headlights and shortly after this without wiper controls. Another visit to my mechanic would this time show the problems, shift lock, headlights and wipers were all from a faulty PCM. My mechanic has shipped my PCM out twice for repair but both time only caused the replacement part to blow. It's not suggested they use the dealer to further repair the problem. I've been 3 weeks without my vehicle and it's another week before the earliest availability from my local dealer. I'm only hoping now it's not a long backorder to gets the parts necessary to fix my vehicle. I have also read this has been a common problem and costly repair with other 2016 Kia Sorento owners.

- East Hartford, CT, USA

problem #13

Oct 172022

Sorento

  • miles
There was an instance where I was driving in heavy rain and the windshield wipers just stopped working. I had to drive about 5 more miles without them working. They worked the next time it rained a couple of days later. There has been 2 instances in the last week where I have had my car parked in my driveway off and locked. In the middle of the night, the headlights and taillights come on on there own. The headlights setting has been set to auto. I end up having to go out and start and turn off my car, then when I lock it back the lights go off.

- Greeneville, TN, USA

problem #12

Nov 262021

Sorento

  • miles
1. ABS system- anti-lock braking system sensors goes out and not working correctly reading which creates safetly hazard in preventing possible collisions 2. lighting-interior instrument panel-light dims and or goes out completely while driving which creates saftely hazard in vehicle operation. 3. windshield wiper system and reservior defectives- wiper motor issues and leakage from faulty tubing and reservior leakage issues.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #11

Dec 212020

Sorento

  • 57,000 miles

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

2016 Kia Sorento V6 LX fwd automatic -- one day, suddenly, the wiper fluid leaked almost the entire tank on our garage floor immediately after filling. No other small leaks were noticed before this major fail. I found Kia blogs in abundance and a large number of youtube videos reporting the same issue. There was even speculation in several Kia forums that the problem was so prevalent Kia should, at a minimum, publish a service bulletin, and some urged for a bona fide recall. I checked the point of failure as suggested in several videos and blogs, and indeed it was a crack in the washer pump mechanism, apparently around the white bulbous piece that bifurcates on opposite sides where rubber tubes are attached to plastic protrusions, and from there the fluid is dispensed to each of two nozzles near the base of the windshield that release the fluid on demand.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #10

Sep 132020

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
Driver's side mirror: Side mirrors automatically lower when in reverse, but the driver's side mirror will often aim too low--almost straight down at the ground. Once in drive, the mirror will reset to the incorrect position, often too high - aiming toward the sky.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

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problem #9

Mar 202020

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
Sometimes while driving at night with my lights in the auto position, they will turn off for about 5 seconds before coming back on. This is very dangerous and has happened to me while on a dark highway before.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #8

Feb 152019

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles

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

I've seen a few reviews and complaints on how Kia's (Sorento's in particular) have been losing their headlights for no reason. This has also happened to me, but just on my driver side fortunately. The main bulb is not illuminating and will not come on. I changed the bulb and this did not fix the problem. I looked at the old bulb I replaced and it was fine, nothing was shot or burnt out. I have seen a couple of people saying this could be a connector problem which in fact has nothing to do with the bulb itself. Seeing that this can come up spontaneously worries me and a lot of other drivers on the road who would need to travel at night. This should be addressed by Kia and be made a recall due to the fact this happens on practically newer vehicles (my mileage is 31000) I will refrain from keeping my lights on the "auto" setting (which will be a waste of money now) since the problem may occur from having the lights on this setting. I have not gotten the problem fixed due to how much it would cost (replacing the entire light fixture ~ $600) and this not covered by their warranty either (another waste of money if purchased) I will be reconsidering my choice with Kia come next auto purchase.

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

problem #7

Nov 262018

Sorento

  • 49,000 miles
While driving the panoramic sunroof imploded suddenly with out warning or being struck by anything. My husband wasn't driving at a high rate of speed or under bad weather conditions other than basic rain, luckily our inner sun shade had been closed or the glass which completely shattered could have fell on top of my self and our 3 year old daughter possibly injuring us greatly as we were sitting in the rear seats directly under it when the even occur.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 162018

Sorento

  • 33,000 miles
While driving at night while my headlights are in auto position they will randomly turn off for a few seconds and then click back on. This has happened twice in one week. The last time, was while driving 70 mph down the interstate and my headlights went out without warning.

- Orono, ME, USA

problem #5

Jan 172018

Sorento

  • 24,000 miles
It was cold outside and went to get in the parked car in the morning and the back windshield shattered when I closed the driver side door.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #4

Oct 072017

Sorento

  • 38,000 miles

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

My rear window shattered for what appears to be no reason at all. My vehicle was parked on the street, and when I went out to leave, I noticed my window was cracked. By day 2, the glass was caving, and had a hole the size of a quarter in the middle.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #3

Mar 242017

Sorento 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,529 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. While driving 45 mph, the contact noticed that the coating on the air conditioning vent housings was reflecting into both side view mirrors, which made it very difficult to see. The dealer stated that they could paint and replace the housings on the vents. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would refer the issue to their interior design engineers. The approximate failure mileage was 12,529. Updated 07/11/17 updated 9/28/18

- Cerritos, CA, USA

problem #2

Nov 082016

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. While driving various speeds, the head lamps flickered and turned off without warning. The contact was given a loaner vehicle to drive, but the same failure occurred. The manufacturer was notified, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The failure mileage was 10,000. Updated 05/16/17 updated 09/07/2017

- Monett, MO, USA

problem #1

Jul 112016

Sorento

  • 24,000 miles
The ECM failed engine light on engine stammering wouldn't accelerate they reprogramed ECM I drove it 22 miles engine light on slowly it will speed up won't shift correctly tech told me I had better hope the fix works, rear view mirror won't change unless you hold flash light to sensor, light through back window won't darken mirror tech tested with flash light on the sensor and told me there wasn't a problem he didn't test through back window I have complained at 2 dealerships about the mirror no repairs

- Kennedale, TX, USA

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