Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2016 Kia SorentoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 1,262 owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Sorento. Most complaints involve engine (697) and power train (126). The EPA rates it 19–24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
19–24mpg
EPA · 7 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
8campaigns
Latest Sep 2022
Owner complaints
1,262
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

8 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Trailer hitches

Park outsideFree remedy

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.

Trailer hitchesReported Sep 19, 2022NHTSA 22V703000

Power train: column shift

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Aug 10, 2022NHTSA 22V612000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Dec 19, 2018NHTSA 18V907000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,262 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2015 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine697
  2. Power train126
  3. Structure111
  4. Electrical system107
  5. Steering81
  6. Exterior lighting67
  7. Vehicle speed control62
  8. Fuel/propulsion system54
  9. Engine and engine cooling31

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Sorento model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2003308
2004220
2005307
2006242
2007154
2008217
200955
20111,520
2012880
2013983
2014988
2015755
20161,262
2017808
2018255
2019435
2020140
202125
2022194
2023126
202444
202577
20266
Crashes reported
29
Fires reported
50
Injuries reported
19
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

697 reports4 crashes33 fires
“Vehicle caught on fire when driving, putting my mother's life and her passenger at risk. My mother is an elderly Deaf woman, but was able to pull over in time for Fire Department to help contain fire. There were no warning lamps or messages of any problems with car, the car started smoking (smoke also entered cabin) and they pulled over where there was a fire under hood and bystander call emergency services. The car is currently at a tow lot and should be available for inspection upon request. We are waiting for car to be inspected by insurance.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11773695

Power train

126 reports6 crashes4 fires
“Upon a catastrophic engine failure Tasca Kia replaced engine under Theta II settlement. I picked up my kia on 9/12. Engine is not running properly. It’s jerking and there is loud mechanical knocking. I don’t feel safe driving. I’ve contacted Kia corporate beginning 9/16 who contacted Tasca to arrange for tow and loaner. They said Tasca service mgr would contact soon to set up. They never did. I called corporate again later that day and after they called Tasca they were told service mgr went home for the day. As of this date Tasca Kia has not contacted me. I again called Kia corporate 9/17 asking to please escalate and allow me to use another service dept. The only other service location with loaner is a half hour away and I cannot afford another tow or another rental. I am stranded with a car that is not safe due to installation failure or another defective engine. No one from Kia will help in a reasonable time frame. I’m now told it can take up to 48 BUSINESS HOURS for any assistance. In the meantime I’m being forced to decide on whether to risk driving an unsafe vehicle to the service dept or to continue waiting for Kia to contact me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11765637

Structure

111 reports2 crashes4 fires
“I am the original, single owner of a 2016 Kia Sorento in Snow White Pearl. My vehicle currently has approximately 96,000 miles on it. Roughly one year ago, the factory paint began catastrophically peeling, flaking, and deteriorating in large sheets on the roof and near the passenger-side door. This damage is not the result of environmental wear, stone chips, or poor maintenance. It is a documented, widespread manufacturing defect—specifically, a factory primer-adhesion failure (delamination)—that uniquely impacts Kia and Hyundai vehicles painted in this specific Snow White Pearl finish. I contacted Kia Consumer Care to resolve this issue and was assigned Case Number 26409995. Despite my status as a loyal, original owner of a vehicle under 100,000 miles, Kia issued a blanket denial of assistance. Kia is well aware of this systemic manufacturing defect, as their sister company Hyundai has previously extended paint warranties to 10+ years for identical white paint delamination issues. Kia’s refusal to remedy this known defect constitutes unfair and deceptive consumer business practices under California law. My vehicle specifically features Kia’s "Snow White…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2026StructureODI 11767733
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

7 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 3.3L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sorento FWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212824$2,700377
Sorento FWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800396
Sorento AWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · All-Wheel Drive
212522$2,900397
Sorento AWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
192521$3,050418
Sorento FE AWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · All-Wheel Drive
182521$3,050434
Sorento FWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182520$3,200436
Sorento AWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · All-Wheel Drive
172319$3,400466
  • Sorento FWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento FWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento AWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 25 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento AWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    19 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento FE AWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento FWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento AWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    17 city · 23 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Kia Sorento SUV AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.0%
Overall
5 / 5
Kia Sorento SUV FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.8%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 10023Vehicle 10022
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2016 Sorento questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sorento have?

8 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2016 Kia Sorento problems?

Owners filed 1,262 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (697), power train (126), structure (111). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2016 Kia Sorento get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Kia Sorento at 19–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).

How safe is the 2016 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026