Federal safety advisory

Park this vehicle outside and away from structures until the repair is completed.

Model year record

2016 Kia Sorento

8 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,878 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V703000

Trailer hitches

Component: Trailer hitches
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Vehicles affected: 70,887
Reported to NHTSA: 2022-09-19
Owners notified: 2023-07-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V612000

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift

Component: Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Vehicles affected: 28,065
Reported to NHTSA: 2022-08-10
Owners notified: 2022-10-07

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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 service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V907000

Engine

Component: Engine
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected: 71,653
Reported to NHTSA: 2018-12-19
Owners notified: 2019-01-17

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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 at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V862000

Trailer hitches

Component: Trailer hitches
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected: 10,212
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-11-30
Owners notified: 2017-01-19

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V770000

Seats

Component: Seats
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected: 1,408
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-10-24
Owners notified: 2016-12-09

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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 contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V480000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected: 7,901
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-06-29
Owners notified: 2016-07-27

Defect description

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC137.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V446000

Seat belts: front: buckle assembly

Component: Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected: 2,587
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-07-14
Owners notified: 2015-08-18

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V089000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Component: Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected: 12,361
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-02-13
Owners notified: 2015-02-20

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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 number for this recall is SC115.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Engine	792	83,000 mi
Unknown or other	194	54,136 mi
Power train	143	75,000 mi
Electrical system	126	50,000 mi
Structure: body	121	43,500 mi
Steering	87	45,000 mi
Exterior lighting	67	38,097 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	67	62,625 mi
Vehicle speed control	57	60,244 mi
Service brakes	28	63,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	26	80,000 mi
Air bags	19	59,151 mi
Visibility/wiper	18	30,000 mi
Seat belts	12	10,000 mi
Suspension	12	39,000 mi
Trailer hitches	12	119,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	9	24,000 mi
Seats	7	256 mi
Wheels	7	38,650 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	6	30,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection	5	—
Structure	4	215,640 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	4	60,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings	3	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication	3	91,023 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	3	100,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	75,000 mi
Lane departure: assist	3	—
Structure: body: door: handle: exterior	3	215,640 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer	2	—
Exterior lighting: headlights: bulbs	2	49,014 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	2	100,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	2	58,000 mi
Structure: interior panels: dashboard	2	86,711 mi
Vehicle speed control: throttle	2	107,000 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking	1	—
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera	1	—
Electrical system: body control module/BCM	1	135,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: immobilizer/proximity: key/sender	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger: intercooler	1	143,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pipes, hoses, and fittings	1	143,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump	1	115,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: seals/gaskets	1	120,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	115,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	1	—
Exterior lighting: back up lights: bulbs	1	80,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	152,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	76,000 mi
Firerelated	1	—
Forward collision avoidance	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	1	10,555 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	1	50,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	89,300 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch	1	110,000 mi
Parking brake	1	100,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	190,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	3,000 mi
Visibility	1	95,000 mi

The 2015 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.