2016 Kia Sorento complaints

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop, the brake pedal was released, and the "check oil" warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The failure persisted, and the contact took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the spark plugs, and the piston rings had failed. The contact was informed by the dealer to add oil every 1,500 miles driven. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that since the piston rings and the engine had failed, NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) would not apply. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

See attached document for complaint.

THE PAINT ON MY PEARL WHITE CAR IS PEELING OFF.

My cars shift lock release keeps getting stuck. I replaced the shift solenoid but that didn't work. I see there was a recall for 2016 kia sorentos for this issue but my VIN was not included in the recall. Can you direct on where I can go from here please! Thank you

The car started to shake really bad and the engine light came on, pulled over called the tow truck service took it to the shop where they informed me the engine was blown

Starting getting rid of coolant and engine oil and starting smoking really bad out of nowhere .. had to park it and haven’t drove it since unfortunately … need it fixed

Without warning vehicle stalled. Started right up and had ticking sound at low rpm which went away. Oil change and next day same thing happened. Won't start and engine has seized.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving into the driveway, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's wife stated that on a separate occasion while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer jumpstarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact's wife stated that on a separate occasion, while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The Extended Warranty field technician later informed the contact that the repair could not be covered since the knock sensor was not installed back in 2021. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 62,598.

The instrument cluster blacks out in the middle of a drive or will not come on when initially started. Seems to work when it wants to. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection and we have a video of this defect. Yes, this is a safety issue because no other warning lights or warning system can work. Sometimes the speedometer shows 60mph while sitting still or 0mph while driving. This glitch makes it impossible to verify the speed, if lights and signals are working, airbags active, etc The dealership was advised but nothing done and was told no recalls so can't help without having to come out of pocket. At first it would flicker and get lines like a broken TV screen. We bought car in 2023 about 6 months in is when flickering started. It stopped for awhile. It is on more than off but presents a safety issue for my 18 yr old daughter who it was purchased for.

Car paint peeling

Engine blew. Getting on interstate, vehicle blew when accelerating on interstate and died right before getting on. Could have been very dangerous if it had made it on the interstate itself. No warning lights or indication ther was a problem. It was maintained regularly. It had 125000 miles on it. A/c fan quit working due to electrical issues. Drivers side brake light blew several times. It was life changing and not for the good. There have also been a few other minor problems.

Shifts hard at first crank up.

While driving my vehicle on a busy 7 lane highway the day after it was serviced by the Kia dealer, the engine died. There were no lights that flashed or warnings. i drifted into the left shoulder, which was the only place to get out of the traffic. (a picture of the location is included).A state police officer was called due to the danger of my position on this very busy highway. She obtained a tow service within 15 minutes due to the position of my vehicle and sat behind me with her lights on until she was summoned for another call. The tow truck drivers barely fit in the median and I had to walk out into the traffic lane in order to get into the tow truck. The vehicle was towed to the Kia Dealer where they informed me that they would replace the engine for $15,000. The only indicator light that ever came on in the vehicle was a low oil light 1-2 months prior to engine failure, which I immediately took care of. At no time after that did my low oil light or check engine light come on. Since replacing the engine was the only option by the Kia dealer and I did not trust the dealer to replace it and did not want to spend $15,000 on an 8 year old vehicle, I was forced to sell the vehicle for parts, which didn't even cover the $800 I spent the day before at the dealer, as well as the towing fees..

The paint on our Kia Sorrento is chipping and flaking off.

The paint on my vehicle has started to peel and is increasing getting worse. Will Kia repaint my car. It's looking very bad

Piston ring failure, resulting in loss of power and excessive smoke from the exhaust system.

Engine died, mechanic said needs to be replaced due to no oil. Low oil light never illuminated. Oil was changed 6 months prior. Only 140,000 miles, driven less than 10,000 miles a year if that. Why didn’t the low pressure gauge illuminate. Now I’m out over $5000.00. Not ok Kia

My heated seats stopped working when my new engine was installed and I took it to the dealership and they never fix it and charged me 200.00 and then my air and heat keeps coming on and off then I got my new engine installed

As I was driving on the highway, my car began to lose speed. I attempted to accelerate but nothing happened when I pushed the gas pedal. There were no weird noises or RPM changes as if revving. I pulled onto the shoulder and slowed to a stop. If there had been more traffic on the highway I would not have been able to get to the shoulder without causing an accident. There were no warning signs or indicator lights before the loss of ability to accelerate. When I restarted the car, an "engine control" system warning appeared on the screen. I continued driving, staying in the right lane with hazard lights. The same thing happened a few more times on my drive home. I would lose the ability to accelerate, pull over, turn off the car, wait a moment, turn it back on and drive until it happened again. The car has not been expected yet but I have noticed small oil puddles when parked, which hadn't happened before this incident.

Engine started knocking after an oil change. Taken to a Kia dealership, where they are refusing to fix the car, even with the class action lawsuit with a lifetime warranty on the engine. Engine needs to be replaced. Kia will not fix with the recall completed. No recalls showing on NHTSA or Kia websites.

Kia Case #[XXX] Dear NHTSA, I am filing a formal complaint against Kia America, Inc. regarding their failure to resolve a serious safety issue with my 2016 Kia Sorento. Kia confirmed my engine failure was covered under recall due to a known manufacturing defect, yet my vehicle has remained unrepaired at Allentown Kia for over four months, with no resolution from Kia corporate. Incident Details: On [XXX], while driving on [XXX] between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia with my young son, my engine seized without warning, leaving us stranded in heavy traffic, creating a severe safety hazard. My car exhibited no warning lights or issues beforehand. This issue stems from a known defect affecting the connecting rod bearings, which can lead to engine seizure, stalling, or even fire—a defect Kia has already acknowledged under a class-action settlement. Kia’s Negligence & Ongoing Harm: Despite multiple efforts to seek resolution, Kia has failed to act: Over 15 calls to Kia customer service with no resolution. Multiple visits to Allentown Kia with no repair timeline. Multiple written complaints ignored by Kia corporate. Still paying my car loan for a vehicle I cannot use. No loaner vehicle or reimbursement for transportation costs. Severe emotional distress, especially for my wife, who struggles with anxiety and depression. Requested Action: I demand immediate action to hold Kia accountable: A definitive resolution—either a full repair or replacement of my vehicle. Immediate provision of

Check engine light came on again after recall for engine bearing failure and engine block was determined to qualify for replacement by home Kia dealer , est July / August 2024 in North Hampton NH . After motor block changes the engine light came on and off while in Florida vacationing . Today’s date is February 17 , 2025 and my vehicle is presently in the hands of a local independent service center here in Florida . Other indicators recently noticeable were rough idle starting in the morning . The service center initially suggested problem might be injectors , and gasoline was noticeably in the oil pan . I’m presently waiting for a further / complete diagnosis from the service center . Relative to myself and my spouses safety further research on my own fire could be a potential with injectors causing a garage to be ignited and life threatening to us .

Received a notice of extended coverage regarding engine block concerns in September of 2024 took the vehicle in regarding a constant coolant smell when driving the vehicle. At that time the dealership checked out the vehicle and then proceeded to charge us for the appointment, even though the warranty extension clearly stated there was to be no cost incurred. After receiving the vehicle back we still experienced coolant smells while driving and informed the dealer accordingly. On [XXX] while driving to Henrietta Ok, the vehicle actually overheated while driving. We had to have the vehicle towed to our home. On Monday morning I contacted our Kia dealer and let them know about the event. On [XXX] we trailered the Kia back to the dealer, after I had performed the appropriate tests the dealer would be performing to verify a block issue with the vehicle. Once the vehicle was at the dealership they performed the same test with the same results I had received. They submitted their video evidence to Kia motors , at which time Kia motors requested a second block test be completed as they questioned the results. The dealership tried to duplicate the results to no avail. At this point Kia is not authorizing an engine replacement. We are three weeks into a process that Kia is well aware of the issue, but they will not authorize a repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The engine failed while driving. The dealer noted in case details they observed excessive scoring on the cylinder wall and damage to the piston ring, as well as a significant reduction in compression. Despite these findings the dealer and manufacturer said the repair "would not be covered under the PI campaign for engine failure" and "was not related to an engine rod bearing failure." Note that the dealer did not inspect the rod bearings. Worn or damaged connecting rod bearings can significantly reduce compression by allowing excessive piston movement and causing a leak in the combustion chamber. Moreover, excessive scoring on the cylinder wall indicates that the metal from failing connecting rod bearings has been scraping against the cylinder wall, leaving deep scratches and grooves, likely due to excessive wear on the bearings, causing significant damage to the piston and cylinder assembly. This model vehicle should have been included in the recall concerning connecting rod bearings that affected other Kia model vehicles.

Vehicle has paint that is delaminating in numerous places. It starts as a raised area then the paint just flakes off leaving bare metal exposed. My vehicle value has gone down and the cost to repaint is over $4000 because the damage is not isolated to one area, but is scattered across all sections of the car body. The paint color code is SWP, Snow White Pearl. We have been to the Kia dealership where the car was purchased new. They said we would have to call Kia corporate, which we did, but their answer was for us to pay out of pocket for repainting and then TRY to get reimbursed from them. Corporate told us they were not taking any action for paint beyond the 3 year / 36K warranty period.

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.

Driver side headlight keeps going out. Bulb doesn’t blow and fuses are fine….take the bulb out and put back in and after a couple minutes light starts working again for a couple days before it goes back out. If you go to the passenger side and pull that one out the bulb is smoking.

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.

UNKNOWN

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.

The rear camera on my 2016 Kia Sorento no longer works. Over the past year, the camera images have been getting blurry and smaller. Now, there is no indication or warning of cars or people behind my vehicle, which is a safety concern. I found online that there is a recall on the rear camera for this model, but the dealership claims they haven't been informed. I'm worried about the safety risks this presents.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V612000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the shift lever was easily moved without the brake pedal being depressed. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was rescheduled several times. The contact stated that once the parts were available, the dealer informed the contact that there would be a charge to replace the shifter assembly, even though the VIN was included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and assisted the contact with scheduling an appointment with another dealer. The failure mileage was 134,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

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

I am financing a 2016 Kia Sorrento from the Burns Ford of York by here pay here of South Carolina I had the car for less than two weeks and the car would not go in park and sometimes it would not come out of park . I am trying to find all recalls that have been fixed on the car before vin# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

My grandchildren and I were on our way to the Dentist, I stopped at a store, put the vehicle in park while waiting on my grandson to come out of the store. Then I proceeded to try to put the gear shift in drive but it was stuck in park. I could not remove the gear shift out of park. I was scared and so was my grandchildren.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after shifting the vehicle into park(P), the gear shifter would fail to shift out of the park(P) position. The contact would be forced to use a screwdriver to open the shift lock release button in an effort to shift gears. The contact also mentioned that the check engine had appeared on the instrument panel. The contact used a code reader that determined that the transmission range sensor circuit was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,747.

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.

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 $10,550.00. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident. There was a 1" X 1" hole in my intake manifold.

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.

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

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary when the engine stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was not towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted. However, the contact did not speak with anyone. The contact parked the vehicle to be not driven any longer as it was a safety concern. The contact received 3 notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V612000 (POWER TRAIN ). The failure mileage was 153,000.

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.

While sitting in park the parking shift level assembly was bumped by a hand bag by someone getting in the vehicle car shifted out of park into reverse and began to roll backwards while the person was still getting in the car. At the time the driver did not have any foot on the brake Or accelerator. Further discovery show that the car could be shifted out of any gear Including park at any time without applying the brake.

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.

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

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!

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that either while driving or while parked, the body control module failed to respond as designed while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taking to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the body control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

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.

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.