2016 Kia Sorento Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 8 NHTSA recalls and 1,255 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

10/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Kia Sorento

The 2016 Kia Sorento shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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NHTSA Recalls

8 recalls on record

1,255

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

49 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Kia Sorento (8)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Kia dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #18V907000

🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Buckle Assembly

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.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #15V446000

🔧 Seats

In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #16V770000

🔧 Trailer Hitches

If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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….

NHTSA #16V862000

🔧 Suspension: Rear

The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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,…

NHTSA #16V480000

🔧 Vehicle Speed Control: Accelerator Pedal

If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #15V089000

🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Lever And Linkage: Column Shift

A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #22V612000

🔧 Trailer Hitches

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

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #22V703000

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Most Common Problems — 2016 Kia Sorento

Based on 1,255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine

524

Unknown Or Other

127

Power Train

126

Structure

102

Electrical System

Steering

Vehicle Speed Control

Exterior Lighting

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Kia Sorento — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Kia Sorento VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2011 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2010, 2018, 2020 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Kia Sorento

Is the 2016 Kia Sorento reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Kia Sorento has 8 recall campaigns and 1,255 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sorento have?

The 2016 Kia Sorento has 8 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

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

The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Kia Sorento are: Engine, Unknown Or Other, Power Train, Structure. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2016 Kia Sorento safe to buy?

The 2016 Kia Sorento has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 8 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Kia Sorento should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia Sorento are: 2010, 2018, 2020. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2011.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.