Lemon Law Check › 2016 Kia Sorento

2016 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Kia Sorento has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1228 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in engine. Owners whose Sorento has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 1228 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Sorento:

Engine517 complaints
Unknown or other123 complaints
Power train119 complaints
Structure99 complaints
Electrical system82 complaints
Steering80 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"The contact owns a 2016 kia sorento. the contact stated that while driving at 50 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed decreased. the contact was able to pull into a parking lot safely. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed …"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2025
"Has a steering control issue. i am now on my 3rd steering columm replacement. they do not correct the sticky on center steering control issues. kia has not come up with a workable solution for this. i have had it to 3 dealers so far. they all say the steering column needs to …"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2023
"We have to constant add oil to the engine in between our 3000 mile oil changes, at least a quart or more. there are no oil leaks anywhere on the engine. the engine makes a loud "ticking" noise and doesn't have the power. the transmission also has issues shifting from 1st to 2n…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2022

NHTSA recall campaigns (8)

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
19/12/2018 · 18V907000
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 …
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
14/07/2015 · 15V446000
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 23, 2014, to December 10, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the f…
Seats
24/10/2016 · 16V770000
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured March 3, 2016 to March 21, 2016. The driver's seatback frame may have been produced with inadequate weld joints and, as a result, the seatba…
Trailer hitches
30/11/2016 · 16V862000
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. The affected vehicles …
Suspension:rear
29/06/2016 · 16V480000
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
13/02/2015 · 15V089000
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to January 29, 2015. Due to an improperly soldered component in the accelerator pedal assembly, the driver may not be able to …

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Sorento been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Sorento has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

Based on 1228 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2016 Kia Sorento are engine, unknown or other, power train.

How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sorento have?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Sorento. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2016 Kia Sorento a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Sorento has had engine or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2016 Kia Sorento.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.