- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 8
- on record
- MPG
- —
- combined
Heavily recalled
8 safety recalls on record. Confirm with the seller that every campaign has been completed.
Vehicle Summary
2016 Kia Sorento
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 8
- Owner complaints
- 1,240
- Complaints citing a crash
- 29
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
8 Recalls on Record
1 of these is high-severity. Contact a dealer to verify these have been completed.
Safety recalls
8 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 18V907000high
Fuel system issue
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
- 15V446000high
Safety restraint issue
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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 front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
Consequence
If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.
- 16V770000high
Safety restraint issue
SEATS
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 seatback may not function as designed in the event of a rear-end collision.
Consequence
In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 9, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.
- 16V862000high
Trailer hitches
TRAILER HITCHES
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 are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.
- 16V480000high
Suspension issue
SUSPENSION:REAR
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
Consequence
The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC137.
- 15V089000high
Vehicle speed control · accelerator pedal
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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 accelerate the vehicle.
Consequence
If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC115.
- 22V612000high
Drivetrain issue
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016 Sedona and Sorento vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.
Consequence
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.
- 22V703000high
Trailer hitches
TRAILER HITCHES
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2016 Kia Sorento.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 15%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2016 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall. NHTSA does not publish enough comparable results for this class and year to rank it against peers.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 15% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
The EPA holds no fuel-economy record for this model year.
The EPA does not publish a record for every model year.
Consumer complaints
1,240 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 1,240
- Total
- 29
- Crashes
- 49
- Fires
- 19
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE768
- OTHER129
- STRUCTURE94
- STEERING73
- ELECTRICAL44
Notable Issues
1240 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 19 reports involve injuries. 29 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2016 Kia Sorento, newest first.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE23019
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE23019
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP21002
Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak
- Recall
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Recall
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP21002
Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak
- Recall
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Recall
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Recall
In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
- Recall
The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
- Recall
If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Recall
If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Unknown
- Drive type
- Unknown
- Engine
- 0L 0-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Unknown
- Seats
- 0
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE23019
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE23019
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP21002
Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak
- Recall
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.


