10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 28
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,223 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 1 of 31)

problem #601

Jan 262025

Sorento

  • miles

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

We experienced a large oil leak from the vehicle. Towing it to the dealer, we are told the oil feed pipe to the turbo charger part number 282402gta1 has failed spewing oil out of the turbo area. There are many recalls for similar parts on other Kia / Hyundai Models with 2.0T and 3.3 engine models. The dealer is telling me this is not covered by KIA. This is a safety concern of oil spewing from the engine which can get on hot exhaust components as well as burning from the engine compartment. My vehicle is currently at the dealership waiting to escalate the concern.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #600

Jan 172025

Sorento

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. The driver attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

- Winthrop Harbor, IL, USA

problem #599

Jan 022025

Sorento

  • miles
Car stalled in middle of road. Would not start. When did get it started told me there was engine problem. Took it to Smith Kia, told me my engine burning oil shutting down important sensors. No low oil light. Nothing no warning or anything. There used to be a recall for 2015 for same issue but my car isn-??t covered because of year but you can-??t tell me my engine is any different than the 2015.

- Sedro Woolley, WA, USA

problem #598

Jun 012024

Sorento

  • miles

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

I was driving my Car when it stalled the police helped me to get my car towed to my home I then had it towed to Gilbert Az Kia Dealership where it is now and waiting for Kia to approve Engine Replacement

- Florence, AZ, USA

problem #597

Jan 042025

Sorento

  • miles
Failed engine - piston rings broke randomly while driving down the road. Fourth cylinder not holding any compression. Not even 100k miles on the vehicle. Mechanic stated there was no contributing factors to the engine failing. No warnings and/or engine lights that something was wrong with the vehicle. One minute it was running fine, then the next minute it wasn't. Car is unrepairable without putting an entirely new engine in it.

- Clermont, FL, USA

problem #596

Dec 182024

Sorento

  • 145,500 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine, oil pressure, and the low tire pressure warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer; but received no response. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,500.

- Avon, IN, USA

problem #595

Dec 182024

Sorento

  • 145,500 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine, oil pressure, and the low tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer; but received no response. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,500.

- Avon, IN, USA

problem #594

Dec 072024

Sorento

  • miles
Vehicle check engine light came on, vehicle lost power, sputtered and died. Will not run. Towed to dealer.

- Poplar Bluff, MO, USA

problem #593

Oct 142024

Sorento

  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power. The accelerator pedal was depressed down to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact drove the vehicle for a mile to the workplace. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the head gasket and upper radiator hose had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred on 8 occasions. The contact stated that the engine overheating had persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine block was cracked. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #592

Oct 122024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving on the Thruway and suddenly my check engine light came on and a large plume of black smoke came from the exhaust. The car was misfiring badly. I nursed it home and the next day took it to my mechanic, hoping it was a coil or plug. I had almost zero compression in cylinder #2. I then took vehicle to his engine repair shop. The owner told me the next day that I needed a new engine. I picked it up the next day and took it to my dealer, and they also told me I needed a new engine as well as a new intake manifold. Cost was $10,550. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident. There was a 1" X 1" hole in my intake manifold.

- Lancaster, NY, USA

problem #591

Dec 042024

Sorento

  • 102,016 miles

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

The engine was smoking. I had smoke coming through the vents in my car. The turbo is leaking and now it-??s dangerous to drive. The dealership isn-??t even recommended fixing it. The car is not safe to drive and has not been since I purchased it.

- Conway , SC, USA

problem #590

Dec 062024

Sorento

  • miles
Kia is refusing to fix the engine. The car is supposed to have a lifetime replacement on engine. Kia is saying that I did not get a recall done, but none is listed on your website for what they said I needed done. I have been trying to reach a supervisor at Kia Corporate for 1 week without success.

- Glendale Heights, IL, USA

problem #589

Dec 062024

Sorento

  • miles
Blown head gasquet and stripped head bolts repaired 2023 Blown engine December 2024

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #588

Dec 102024

Sorento

  • miles
Car only has 89K miles on it and is garaged and maintained. Went to run an errand yesterday and all of a sudden engine started knocking and sputtering. I then experienced loss of power and the engine light came on. That was the first and only time the engine light has ever come on. Pulled over, checked oil and it seemed very, very low and a burnt smell. It had only been 4K miles since the car was serviced. Husband came and added oil, allowed to idle for about 5 miinutes to see if it improved. It did not. The knocking continued. Shut it off and called AAA and had it towed to the dealership. I just learned this was a known issue and there was a class action lawsuit that I apparently missed out on because I never received the notice yet I have lived at the same address for 20 years.I checked for recalls with the VIN # and nothing comes up, however, clearly there is something wrong with an engine that gets driven less that 10K miles per yesr. Dealer says they're not sure if Kia will replace the engine but they suspect that is what needs to happen. I am furious!

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #587

Nov 222024

Sorento

  • miles
Unknown component or system failed. My car suddenly stalled while on the highway, not allowing me to increase speed (over 40 mpg) and then stopped. I was scared to death when that happened on the highway as we could have been hit by other vehicles. I was able to restart it but it kept doing it, gradually reducing my speed to 20mpg then a lamp warning sign appeared. The car only has 50,000 miles on it and no warning light or prior failure before this happened on 11/29/2024. I took it to Kia for inspection and they told me if the engine will have to be replaced, it will take 3 months. They took my car in for inspection and I am now 10 days without a car and I have not yet heard from Kia.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #586

Dec 062024

Sorento

  • miles
I have warranty and extended warranty for my engine which completely died on my after 8 years.I went to file the warranty claim and it was denied now they are reviewing my extended warrenty.

- Mchenry, IL, USA

problem #585

Nov 272024

Sorento

  • miles
timing chain broke, destroyed the engine

- East Aurora, NY, USA

problem #584

Nov 252024

Sorento

  • miles
Engine just stop and it was maintance monthly

- Mchenry, IL, USA

problem #583

Nov 182024

Sorento

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil, the vehicle lost motive power before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the engine had recently been replaced due to the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 108,000.

- Richlands, NC, USA

problem #582

Sep 192024

Sorento

  • miles
There is a problem with the engine in my Kia. I believe that this is a similar problem to other recalled Kia vehicles from the same production year, 2016, that caused metal to be present in the engine. My local Kia dealership informed me that I need a new engine due to this issue, after other issues had been ruled out as the cause of continued check engine light warnings were fixed.

- Amsterdam, NY, USA

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