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Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2016 Kia Sorento

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
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.

Recalls8
Complaints1239
Safety
Fuel

Vehicle Summary

2016 Kia Sorento

8 recalls
1239 complaints
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Check all recalls are completed
Review consumer complaints
Verify no crash-related complaints
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
8
Owner complaints
1,239
Complaints citing a crash
29

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised 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 We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.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.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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."

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Consumer complaints

1,239 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

1,239
Total
29
Crashes
49
Fires
19
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE767
  • OTHER129
  • STRUCTURE94
  • STEERING73
  • ELECTRICAL44

Notable Issues

1239 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 19 reports involve injuries. 29 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)767
miscellaneous issues129
body/structure issues (rust, door problems, trim)94

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

Data sources

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Kia Sorento years

Common problems

Kia Sorento problems

3,963 owner complaints analysed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation PE23019

    Loss of Motive Power

  2. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation DP22003

    Loss of Motive Power

  3. Investigation opened

    NHTSA opened investigation PE23019

    Loss of Motive Power

  4. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation DP21002

    Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak

  5. Recall

    Recall 22V703000

    A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.