The Lemon Index2016 Kia Sorento.
The 2016 Kia Sorento is worse than average by owner complaints: 199 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 173, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 19 to 24 mpg combined. The best Kia Sorento year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2016–2020 Kia Sorento, 17.3M views. The 2016 is the same generation.
- Brakes & ABS410K views
ABS & TRACTION LIGHTS DIAGNOSED AND FIXED FAST & EASY DIY 2011-2017 KIA SORENTO HYUNDAI SANTA FEHidalgo Motors Co TV · 134K views · 5 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical255K views
How to Start A 2014 - 2020 Kia Sorento With Dead Remote Key Fob Battery "Key Not Detected"PYR Automotive · 182K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service208K views
2016 Kia Sorento - Service Reset ProcedureAutomotive Service Reset Procedures · 175K views · 2 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring181K views
2016 Kia Sorento Headlight Bulb ReplacementBallin' the Jack · 89K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- Transmission & shifter130K views
How to change transmission fluid on a 2016 kia sorentoJunkyard Junkie · 130K views - Windows, doors & mirrors80K views
2016 Kia Sorento Door HandleMarc Van Doren · 48K views · 2 videos - Spark plugs & ignition coils40K views
2016 - 2020 Kia Sorento 3.3 V6 Spark Plugs / Coils ReplacementBrian Balatbat · 40K views - Heat, A/C & blend door38K views
Kia Sorento Cabin Air Filter Replacement ( 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 )Undercar Experts · 38K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Kia Sorento SUV 3rd Generation 2015-201A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 466K views
2018 Kia Sorento 7-seat SUV buyer's guide | Auto Expert John CadoganAuto Expert John Cadogan · 86K views
Kia Sorento 3rd Gen 2016 to 2020 common problems, issues, recalls, defects and complaintsHOWSTUFFINMYCARWORKS · 61K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 1,255 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sorento year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 31K to 95K miles on the car (424 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 57K–110K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 25K–99K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 30K–66K miles
Recalls 8
- trailer hitches 2022
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
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.
Show all 8 recalls
- trailer hitches 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.
- seats 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.
- suspension 2016
A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.
- seat belts 2015
The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
- speed control 2015
Due to an improperly soldered component in the accelerator pedal assembly, the driver may not be able to accelerate the vehicle.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 275 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Oil intrusion into e-cvvt cover - when diagnosing a dtc related to the e-cvvt system, remove
- E-cvvt cover and motor plug replacement - this bulletin provides information about the…
- E-CVVT COVER AND MOTOR PLUG REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information about the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedLoss of motive power2023–2024
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
- ClosedEngine oil pressure switch leak2021–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
While driving my vehicle turned offno indication of any kind on dash board just automatically turned off
2016 Kia Sorento owner · NHTSA complaint 11058260
More owner reports
When pressing on the acceclarator pedal, the vehicle will start to accelerate then it will not accelerate. Check engine light comes on. This happens when I am in motion going over 20 mph.
NHTSA complaint 11283083
Driving on the highway and the car just shut down, no warning lights or odd sounds Kia dealer said they engine locked up
NHTSA complaint 11229955
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Kia Sorento reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 173; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sorento year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2016 Kia Sorento problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (27%), speed control (13%) and steering (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sorento have?
8 safety recalls (latest: trailer hitches). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Kia Sorento get?
19 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Kia Sorento safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Sorento problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 31,000 and 95,000 miles. The middle report was at 66,000 miles, from 424 complaints.
Does the 2016 Kia Sorento have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2016 Kia Sorento cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Kia Sorento have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl.
What Kia Sorento year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works