10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 27
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,379 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 3 of 29)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #535

Oct 132023

Sorento

  • 129,000 miles

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

While traveling to Atlanta, GE from Ohio, I stopped for gas south of Chattanooga. Immediately after ( within 10 miles), my 2016 Kia Sorento began to lose power and acceleration. In trying increase speed, the car started shaking and acting erratically. I pulled over to try to discern the issue, but could find nothing. ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I thought it might be bad gas but this was not the case. I drove the car the rest of the way to Atlanta as this was late Friday night and Saturday I had a gig in Atlanta with no chance to visit a garage or dealership. On the return trip to Ohio the car continued to stall and I had to shift to N in order to keep the engine running during several traffic jams-?? still running erratically, That next Monday, [XXX], I took the car to a local garage. They reported a misfire in cylinder 2 and no compression in this cylinder. They suspected a burnt exhaust valve and recommended rebuilding the engine. I got a 2nd opinion at the dealer 15 miles away and they recommended a new/ rebuilt engine as it would have a 3 year warranty. I ok-??d the repair and spent $13,600 plus another $400 for an engine bolt after the install. The newer engine lasted a week and it was another 4 weeks for the 2nd engine re-install. So-?? $117.66 for the first diagnostic and $14,000 after the installed engine. I checked with Kia and there were any with this engine. The answer was no. Since then, I have read complaints on forums concerning this Kia 3.3 Lambda engine. I would like to add my name to the list of complaints. There is no reason this engine should have failed. I kept up on service, changed the oil within 3-5k miles. I bought the car in Dec 2018 with 59k miles and since then have generated another 60k miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Urbana, OH, USA

problem #534

Apr 222024

Sorento

  • miles
Driving a 2016 Kia Sorento on I75 at 70 mph, the engine experienced total failure with no warning lights. Towed to local Kia dealer who has it today. Dealer said it had total engine failure and the rods were severely knocking. Dealer said there were multiple engine failure existing recalls with the 4 cylinder but none yet for 6 cylinder vehicles though Kia had multiple 6 cylinder failures.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #533

Apr 012024

Sorento

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle in 2021, with about 82k miles on it. No problems were reported to me at that time and I did purchase the vehicle from an auto dealer. I have driven the vehicle approx. 23k miles; my current mileage is 105k. That's an average of about 700 miles per month. I have taken this vehicle for numerous oil changes as I have noticed my oil light will start flashing but it is no where near time for an oil change. There are no leaks, I have had that checked by 3 separate mechanics and myself. It is simply burning through oil. My most recent oil change was at 103k and, at around 104,500 miles, I had to take it in the shop because the engine began knocking. Due to the way the oil flows within the engine it "spills" onto the spark plugs, shorting them out. That repair cost me $300 and that was just 1 spark plug. I was told to expect this to be recurring due to the defect of the motor and how it consumes oil. The oil was 3 quarts low, meaning the engine had burned through 3 qts in 1500 miles. I am going to be taking it to a local Kia dealership so that they can do a "marker test" with a $90 oil change. This whole oil issue is starting to cost more than the car and if I don't keep pouring oil into the motor it will blow. The Kia engine is basically a money pit of problems all related to oil consumption. Reports are that Kia MAY cover the cost of a replacement motor but only after the motor blows, and only if it meets certain "breakdown" criteria. They cover that repair at about a 2-3% average. Kia KNOWS this problem exists but they refuse to place a recall to fix the issue. They did change the motor oil system around 2019/20 because there were so many complaints about oil consumption but they refuse to acknowledge the existing problem in those 2016-2020 motors hat are still on the roads. My fear is a blown motor at 70mph on the interstate. Kia needs to be more responsible.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #532

Apr 162024

Sorento

  • miles

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

Engine Failure. The vehicle is available for inspection. Engine Failure while driving put my own and children's lives at risk. The problem has been confirmed by both the dealer and independent service center. No warning lights prior to the problem appearing. Symptoms included rattling sound from engine on start up and acceleration as well as coolant leak from engine. Dealership told us the engine seized due to no lubrication despite vehicle receiving timely service for oil change. Kia is denying all responsibility for a fix.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

problem #531

Apr 142024

Sorento

  • miles
On 4/14/24 I was turning the corner and my car cut off on me in the middle of the turn. I coasted to the nearest store. My engine light, oil light and battery light came on upon trying to restart the vehicle. The vehicle will not start and those lights still remain on. I had to have the vehicle towed home. As of today the vehicle still won't start. I am traumatized as this could of ended very badly. I could of been killed and or collided with another vehicle. When my car cut off I was unable to really steer the vehicle luckily there was a nearby gas station I was able to just sharply Coast into and slam on brakes. I believe this is a major safety concern and needs to be addressed as I'm pretty sure I am not the only one with this issue. Upon trying to restart the car

- Winston Salem , NC, USA

problem #530

Apr 122024

Sorento

  • miles
I took my vehicle into the Kia dealership here in Visalia, California. The first time I took my vehicle in, it was due to oil consumption. I was burning off over 1qt of oil every 700-1000 miles. This being a concern I asked what should I do next. When this happens the dealership recommends a fresh oil change by them, then they tag your oil cap, dip stick, and drian plug so its not to be tampered with. We drove the care as told and took it back. Upon return the motor was then confirmed that it was burning off almost 2 qt of oil. The dealership stated that I needed to do an engine "clean out". The service costs $500 dollars to have done. As suggested I did the service in hope that it would rectify the problem. We did the service, drove the car as instructed, brought it back, and I was told it was still burning oil. Now, according to KIA this is a well known issue and that the next step was an engine replacement. Now this is typically covered under the original warranty and a replacement motor is usually done by kia, BUT since I am the second owner of said vehicle this service doesn't apply to me. On the other had, kia also has a known issue with the rod bearings! Now, from what I was told is that rod bearings tend to fail due to lack of lubrication. Kia then proceeds to tell me that unless my rod bearing fails, they will not replace my motor at no cost, but the service manager told me on a recorded phone call "off the record" that I should drive my car until the motor ceases. Please tell me how this is safe and fair practice by the company? Kia has knowingly sold vehicles with faulty engines and they are not held responsible. I'm supposed to allow my wife to drive this car until the motor ceases and hope she doesn't get into an accident. I have filed claims with Kia North America and with my local dealership. The local dealership has denied my claim twice. Once by the service manager, and again by their DSM (district service manager). I have yet to hear from Kia HQ.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #529

Apr 042024

Sorento

  • miles

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

I was driving down the road in a 45. My car started to have no power. I no warning came on. Literally Cruising down the road it sounded like the motor blew. Had it towed to my local mechanic and he said it wasn-??t good. Never had any faulty components prior to. No warning lamps have come on still and when started you get smoke and a loud knock. When driving I could-??ve been hurt or hurt another driver. I contacted Kia and was told that their is no coverage on this motor but when you call the dealerships (called 4) this particular motor that isn-??t covered by an extended warranty is back ordered in PA alone an estimated 4-6 months

- Riddlesburg, PA, USA

problem #528

Apr 032024

Sorento

  • miles
I have been the first owner of my Kia Sorento car and it has always been well maintained. The oil change has always been done on time. I was driving on the highway going 65mph when out of nowhere the check engine started flashing, a rattling noise started, and I noticed it wouldn-??t accelerate. There was never any warning lights of any kind to warn me of something malfunctioning. I had a mechanic check it and said there was an oil loss and affected the engine and I would have to replace it. He mentioned that there has been a lot of issues about the engine failing in Kias but that there is still no recall for it. I have read so many articles of this being true and Kia should fix this! It is definitely a hazard driving a Kia car that does not warn you of the oil loss causing a failed engine.

- Kerman , CA, USA

problem #527

Mar 272024

Sorento

  • miles
The engine gave out while driving on the highway going 65-70 mph on the left lane, vehicle started shaking and slowing down really loud cars started going around luckily I was able to get to the right breakdown lane as it stalled. I could have caused a major accident on the highway, I restarted the car it shakes as I drove it slowly to the exit at every light the car stalled when I stopped. Brought to the dealer they confirmed the engine is gone, no prior warning of any issue. Car isn-??t even paid off til next month! They state only option is to put a new engine which is lots of money.

- New Bedford , MA, USA

problem #526

Feb 202024

Sorento

  • miles
I have filed a complaint with the South Carolina Attorney General which is pending and spoke with KIA Consumer Affairs twice about the failure of the Knock Sensor device which has caused engine failure in my 2016 KIA Sorento. I was told by KIA Consumer Affairs that the Upgrade Knock Sensor Campaign was mailed to the first owner of the vehicle in 2018 and was not replaced. I bought the SUV in November 2019 from Carvana. I have the original carfax report which states No Recalls on my SUV. I had no knowledge of the knock sensor upgrade Campaign and of course didn't receive a Recall notice. The only Recall notice I have received, just recently, is for a wiring harness for tow hitch, however, I don't have the tow pkg./hitch on my SUV. Until my engine failed due to the knock sensor, I had no indication of anything being wrong with the SUV. KIA refuses to pay for the engine replacement. My SUV is still at the dealership service dept. until this is resolved. I am a [XXX] lady with 32 years Federal Service with the Veterans Administration in SC. I do not have the money nor should I have to pay for the engine replacement. It's a lot of money! I am appealing for your help to force KIA to take responsibility and replace the engine. When the engine died without warning, I was in a dangerous intersection, during rush hour. An off duty police officer assisted me with directing traffic & obtaining a tow truck to pull me safety until AAA could come tow it. I called the dealership the next day, on [XXX], & was told why they thought the engine died & that warranties on the motor had been extended to 100,000 miles to cover it. I was told to have it towed there. A couple days later a technician called & said he did not think KIA would cover it because the knock sensor was not replaced during the "Recall." Any assistance you can provide is appreciated. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #525

Mar 262024

Sorento

  • miles

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

The engine (I think engine) stalls out, and several times the engine has completely died. Almost causing me and the other car involved a very serious accident. The vehicle stalls when sitting at the traffic light and I go to turn to accelerate and it stalls and after pushing/tapping the gas pedal repeatedly it will eventually stop and I'm able to then drive on. Also the car does not shift properly at all, it winds up and seems the get stuck and have to try accelerate before it shift. I keep getting errors on my dash saying "possible engine condition, please press schedule service" and then I run the diagnostic report and this is what it says CATEGORY (2) PowerTrain P0456 Evaporative Emission System - Leak Detected (Very Small Leak) Possible condition(s) with your Engine Control System has been detected. KlA recommends a full system check when convenient. To schedule an appointment with a KIA dealer, select Schedule Service on the screen. P0303 Cylinder 3 - Misfire Detected Possible condition(s) with your Engine Control System has been detected. KIA recommends a full system check soon. To schedule an appointment with a KIA dealer, select Schedule Service on the screen. Request Appointment I have taken my vehicle in the KIA Service Center twice and have given them the errors and described the issues I am having along with several other issues. The Kia service department has failed to provide me with a resolution to the problem stated above or any other issues I reported. They didn't even check oil as I requested. They advised me the oil levels were "fine" but once I checked it myself it was actually low, proofing they did not do any type inspection on the vehicle as requested. The advised me that there was nothing they could do about the stalling of the vehicle or the engine shutting down because they couldn't duplicate it. I'm not sure exactly what they are meaning by the statement. I then called KIA corporate number and the representative submitted a case onveh

- Beckley , WV, USA

problem #524

Feb 092024

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55-60 MPH, a loud explosion was heard coming from the vehicle. The vehicle then lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a hole in the bottom part of the engine, causing oil to leak from the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the engine, starter, and exhaust manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer denied the engine replacement. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. The contact stated the safety issue of the vehicle losing all power without warning while driving is due to a specific engine that Kia installed in several of its cars/suvs. It is called a Theta II engine that was used in 2.0 and 2.4 liter cars.

- Chapmanville, WV, USA

problem #523

Mar 062024

Sorento

  • miles
On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, I was driving my vehicle to work. I have a 12 mile commute and take both highways and local roads. When I started driving, I noticed that the engine would make a knocking/rattling sound when I accelerated. While in the final mile of my commute, I stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green and I applied my foot to the accelerator, the vehicle did not respond and dashboard lights for the oil, engine and battery all illuminated. These lights did not illuminate at anytime prior to this point. Being that I was on local roads, I was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. I turned off the engine and attempted to restart. The engine did not start but all other electric components in the vehicle appeared functional. Roadside assistance attempted asses whether the vehicle had a dead battery using a portable battery back but were also unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle had to be flatbed towed to the dealership. After a week, I was informed that the engine had seized and was non-responsive. As of this date (3/18/24), I am still waiting for backordered parts and do not have an ETA for the return of my vehicle. I also have not been provided a loaner.

- East Greenbush, NY, USA

problem #522

Mar 012024

Sorento

  • miles
Check engine light turned on. The crankshaft has given out and the mechanic confirmed it needs a new engine. Cylinders 2&4 are misfiring. It has a rough idle and does not accelerate. Many online forms confirm that this is a Kia problem and different years have had a recall. I can not drive my car due to the shaking of the car and the unknown of possible breaking down. It revs up high before it shifts gears and shakes.

- Hollister, CA, USA

problem #521

Dec 162022

Sorento

  • miles
In December 2022 while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to overheat. No warning lights illuminated. I pulled over and let the engine cool down. Then coolant was added to the reservoir. I waited before restarting the vehicle. I took the vehicle to an independent mechanic the next day and was informed that the head gasket was blown, and the engine would likely need to be replaced. Kia dealership was contacted and notified. The vehicle was not repaired.

- Averill Park, NY, USA

problem #520

Jan 212024

Sorento

  • miles
The engine overheated. We were able to get to a place and stop. We continue to have overheating issues. An independent shop believes it is being caused by the issue of stripped head bolts. They advised I take it to the Kia dealer who denies being able to recreate the overheating. No further inspection has taken place. The temp gauge was topping out but no other warning lights or gauges were triggered. After reading numerous other accounts of issues with this engine in this car I was concerned about continuing to drive the vehicle for fear of being stranded or the engine seizing while driving.

- Van Meter, IA, USA

problem #519

Feb 242024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving on an interstate coming down a mountain and my car stopped accelerating. The check engine light also began flashing. I glided along the interstate to the nearest exit. I had my car towed to a mechanic who told me my engine blew due to a defect in my engine. Months prior to this incident, my car would not retain oil so I took it to Kia and they replaced my oil gasket thinking that was the issue. However, it turns out the problem was with a defect in my engine. This is a very dangerous issue. Please please recall these cars.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #518

Jan 232023

Sorento

  • miles
My 2016 Kia Sorento 3.3 L V6 starting over heating and smoking and loss of power and would no start when it was running hot. In January of 2023. We towed the car to Kia and they could not find the problem told us we need to replace the thermostat for $1000 and that would fix the problem we left and had it towed away. We took the car to a radiator shop two days later and they change the water pump and thermostat. The overheating continued we took it back to the radiator shop and they performed a head gasket pressure test and the car failed and they said the head gasket was leaking and we need to get the heads repaired they quoted $6900. We later took the car to a engine rebuilder and they certified that the heads gasket was blown with the same test and the bolts were wore off on the cylinder heads and the engine needed to be rebuilt or replaced. We went to Kia they did not do anything. We had to get the engine totally rebuilt on our cost total cost $4712.04 and it took 3 months to find all the Kia parts. KIA issued a letter to cover the repairs for these engines and this model on Janurary 2, 2024 and it and has not been paid it has been sixty days which was there time frame in the letter to cover the claim they won't answer us at all with a verdict the most terrible car company around.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #517

Oct 012023

Sorento

  • miles
Car excessively burns oil. Within 1,000 miles burned through about 4qts of oil with no type warning light. Refilled with 4 more quarts then burned within 3 weeks of average driving. Vehicle only has 90k miles wirth no sign of oil being burned or oil stains in normal parking area.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #516

Mar 012024

Sorento

  • miles
My 2016 Kia Sorento burns excessive amount of oil and Kia fails to fix the problem regardless of the warranties on the vehicle. The engine was never inspected by the dealer!

- Bellevue, OH, USA

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