What 1,237 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

Car will not drive, sputters and will not accelerate at all. Car shakes and then loses power.

NHTSA ODI 11516618

In March of 2023, my 2016 Kia Sorento was stolen in Shorewood, Wisconsin as several teenagers broke the window and ripped open the ignition system. Due to a design flaw in the ignition system and no immobilizer in Kia vehicles that were created from 2011-2022, theft became very easy and a widespread problem ensued in the Milwaukee area as well as other cities in the Midwest. The vehicle was stolen by these teenagers and ultimately crashed and totaled. Law enforcement officials in Milwaukee, WI were able to apprehend the teenagers but this was after they had crashed and totaled the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11515656

While driving on a major high my vehicle suddenly caught fire. There were no warning lights and my vehicle was not in a collision. The road was clear and I was in a steady flow of traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11511016

Smelled something burning. Pulled over and noticed smoke coming from under hood. Called the fire department. It was fully engulfed by the time they got there. Pictures of it burning are available. The vehicle is a total loss. Police report taken today 2-9-2023. Insurance company being notified. No warning lamps. No check engine light. No inspections made yet.

NHTSA ODI 11506372

October 19,2022 I was driving (cruise control about 70 mph) and hit a deer. The impact and damage was quite a bit however no airbags deployed. The car is still being repaired at Blakely Chevrolet in Blakely GA and they are having issues with airbag sensors.

NHTSA ODI 11499326

Vehicle uses excessive amount of engine oil. It burns appx a quart of oil every 750 miles. There is no evidence of a leak in the driveway or on the undercarriage of the car. Informed dealer and was told it may be a bad oil drain plug. This is not evidenced by any visible oil loss. Loss of oil in this amount could cause engine failure where traffic conditions would put driver and other vehicles at risk.

NHTSA ODI 11494315

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and the check engine light had illuminated. After stopping the vehicle smoke and flames were present coming from under the hood. The fire and police departments were called to the scene and the flames were extinguished. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified. The failure mileage was 73,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469711

My 2016 KIA SORRENTO caught fire. I was driving off of the highway, with no issues, when i heard a tapping noise. I stopped at the light, turned right, and as I started turning it suddenly sputtered and stopped. I tried to accelerate to get the car out of the lane of traffic, when smoke started coming out from under the hood. People next to me started yelling that my car was on fire and that I should get out. At this point I got out of the car, and within minutes the entire undercarriage and front part of car was engulfed in flames. The fire dept put the fire out, and the fire marshal and my insurance is investigating.

NHTSA ODI 11468493

After 30 minutes parking in driveway rear underneath rear hatch erupted in flames. Flames engulfed entire rear of vehicle. Only outside no damage from fire inside vehicle. Started in trailer hitch rear area. Hitch was installed by Kia dealership when we purchased vehicle. Hitch was never used.

NHTSA ODI 11461289

We drive, a lot. Across state. On highways. Our car engine caught fire and everything shut off. Prior to that. I kept hearing a knocking noise, it was hard to accelerate. Jerky to brake. I was advised by Kia we were in that awful theta 2 claim, but now they won’t reimburse us for this mess. Don’t they have a responsibility after putting my entire family in danger?

NHTSA ODI 11444910

I was driving, when my car started making an unfamiliar sound. I have never heard of it before because I have never had problems with my car so I decided to pull over on the side of the road. Before I was able to do so, another driver rolled down her window and yelled, “you know your car is on fire!” Realizing my safety was at risk, I immediately merged to the right side of the road and noticed flames igniting from under the hood. I put the car in park and jumped out of the car and called 911. Within minutes, the Whitley County Sheriff’s and Fire Department arrived. I am unsure the specifics on what caused the fire. Luckily enough, no other vehicles were involved. My car was inspected by Geico Insurance Fire Adjuster and his lack of communication with Kia Motors of america, they were unable to inspect the car. According to Kia Settlement, I am unable to receive money but I do not understand because this was a situation that I had no control of and I am at a loss of money because I was not been able to get all of my personal belongings recovered and had to put an additional down payment on another car.

NHTSA ODI 11433816

In May 2021, my husband was driving the car and was bout 50 miles away from home when the engine caught fire. The car was towed to a repair shop where they confirmed the engine fire and stated the engine had thrown a rod. The car is only 5 years old and has 107,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11430428

NOT SURE !!! We were on the Interstate and all of sudden smoke starting coming out of rear end of our vehicle.Our Car started sounding slow and not sounding good, It was me and my husband in the Car. My husband was driving, I started panicking and told my husband about the smoke coming out of the back of our vehicle. Suddenly we saw "Good People "who were on the Interstate right behind our vehicle. They immediately drove passing our car and shouting loud "Get out, Your Car is on Fire". They stopped ahead of us and started calling 911. We both jumped out in a shock. God was with us on this day!!!

NHTSA ODI 11425054

THERE ARE NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES I HAVE FOUND WITH THIS CAR I JUST FINANCED. FIRST, AT RANDOM MANY DIFFERENT LIGHTS JUST BLOW, THEN ON MY DASH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS WILL GO ON AND OFF, ON TOP OF THAT MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF FOR NO REASON AND SO ARE MY PASSENGER AIR BAGS. MY BRAKES SCREAM SOMEDAYS AND ARE TOUCHY OTHERS IVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND ONLY OWNED IT 3 MONTHS. I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES YET THE SUSPENSION IS AWFUL THE FUEL IS GOING FAST AND MY OIL NEEDS CHANGING VERY OFTEN AND IT IS UNDER 100000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11406983

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT. ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD, ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. ONCE PULLED OVER LOWER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WAS NOTED. PROPER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED THROUGH OUT LIFE OF OWNERSHIP

NHTSA ODI 11406728

HELLO I AM GOING TO BE BLUNT AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. YOUR $30,000 VEHICLE, FINANCED, APPROVED AND PAID FOR BY ME NEARLY STOLE MY LIFE ON JAN 16, 2021 : ON MILE POST 46 ON I-40, EAST BOUND LANES IN KINGMAN, ARIZONA AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 PM ON WHAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL TRIP THROUGH ROUTE 66, WHICH SOON BECAME A DEATH TRAP MY PARTNER: ANTHONY [XXX], CO-FINANCER AND SIGNER OF THIS DEATH-TRAP AS WELL AS OUR TWO INNOCENT PARSON RUSSELL TERRIERS WERE NEARLY BURNED TO DEATH IN WHAT COULD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION LIKE THAT OF THE PRESS KIA & THE LIKES ARE BEING SUED FOR. NUMEROUS INNOCENT LIVES HAVE BEEN EXCRUCIATINGLY ENDED DUE TO GREED, DECITE AND BLATANT DISREGARD FOR LIFE TO ADD TO AN ALREADY GLUTTONOUS BANK ACCOUNT, AS YOU SUCK AND DRAIN ME DRY ALL THE WHILE AWARE OF THE DANGER YOU KNOWINGLY MAKE US LEGALLY PAY FOR. I FILED AN EXTENSIVE REPORT AND COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND NOW YOU. MY CASE NUMBER IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS LETTER, I SUGGEST B YOU GET A HOLD OF KIA CUSTOMER CARE, JUST AS I HAD TO AFTER NEARLY LOSING MY SOULMATE, DOGS AND LIFE TO BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE WE HACE NEVER BEEN, NO MONEY, FOOD OR VEHICLE NYIU JUST CHARHED ME FOR. I HAVE PROVIDED MY CASE NUMBER AND I EXPECT ALL PAYMENT TO CEASE AND BE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID INVOLVEMENT IN THIS DISGUSTING ACT OF DISTASTE OF HONESTY. I AM NEVER PAYING A PENNY MORE FOR YOUR DIRECT, IGNORANT AND ABHORRENT YET BLATANT ACTIONS. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT REGULAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ODI 11390697

COMPLETE ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11386205

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AND BLOW THEIR HORN AT THEM. THE CONTACT STATED THEY DECIDED TO PULL OVER TO FIND OUT THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH WHERE THE FUEL LINES WERE. THE FIRE CAUSED GLASS TO SHATTER AND CAUSED A LARGER FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER (BUCHANAN KIA 119 RAILROAD AVE, WESTMINSTER, MD 21157; (410) 876-2251) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND PROVIDED THE PAPERWORK FOR ALL PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION PURPOSES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11363234

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO A STONE LINING UP THE PATHWAY. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED IN REVERSE CRASHING INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN INJURY TO THEIR SHOULDER AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP (FRIENDLY KIA 5819 US-19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652; (877) 544-6719) WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE, HOWEVER, THEY ATTEMPTED TO FILE A CLASS ACTION FORM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 11354461

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A STAND STILL, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK ON IT'S OWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TWO POST AND A STAIRCASE OF THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NOTED THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID SUSTAIN INJURIES TO THE LEFT LEG AND BACK INJURES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY FACILITY. THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERS WERE CONTACTED, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 11349078

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WE WERE ALERTED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT THERE WAS FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BURST IN FIRE. WE CONTACTED KIA MOTORS REGARDING THIS AND THEY SIMPLY DENIED RESPONSIBLY FOR THIS, DEEMING THE CAUSE OF FIRE TO BE UNRELATED TO FAULTY ENGINE COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11322056

MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST BEEN HOME FOR AN HOUR AFTER A 20 MIN IN TOWN DRIVE. SOMETHING HAD MADE ME LOOK OUT SIDE OF OUR SECOND STORY APARTMENT AND I ASKED MY WIFE IS YOUR CAR RUNNING? THE ENTIRE REAR END WAS ENGULFED IN BLUE SMOKE. SHE SAID NO! SO THEN BEGAN PANIC MODE! I RAN DOWNSTAIRS TO THE SMELL OF ELECTRIC FIRE. SO I INSTANTLY WHEN TO MY PICKUP TRUCK GRABBED A PAIR OF PLIERS RAN BACK TO MY WIFE'S KIA AND UNPLUGGED BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CONNECTIONS FROM THE TERMINALS WHICH INSTANTLY STOPPED THE SMOKE. I GRABBED MY FLASHLIGHT (IT WAS DUSK) AND CRAWLED UNDERNEATH THE REAR BUMPER TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. A LITTLE BLACK BOX TUCKED BEHIND THE BUMPER BETWEEN THE SPARE AND THE BUMPER. LOOKED LIKE A JUNCTION BOX OF WIRE HAD MELTED AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHAT IF WE WHERE NOT AROUND? THE CAR WOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11306480

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS THAT SECURED THE ENGINE HEAD TO THE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,999. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11301533

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INCREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN FACILITY WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST, BACK, ARM INJURIES AND A BRUISE TO THE LEFT BREAST BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT PROVIDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HIS REPAIR FACILITY WITH CAUTION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V089000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,244.

NHTSA ODI 11299586

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION ON FRIDAY, JAN. 3, 2020. I WAS STOPPED/STATIONARY BEHIND A VEHICLE TURNING LEFT ON A ONE LANE (IN BOTH DIRECTIONS) ROAD TRAVELING SOUTH. THE CAR BEHIND ME STRUCK MY VEHICLE GOING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH. MY VEHICLE WAS THRUST FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME STRUCK MY AGAIN, FELT LIKE BUMPER CARS. DURING THE INITIAL REAR IMPACT MY FACE SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING MY NOSE TO BLEED PROFUSELY FOR AT LEAST 25 MINUTES. I STILL HAVE BLOOD COMING OUT OF MY NOSE FOUR DAYS LATER. DURING THIS ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BOTH FRONT AND REAR COLLISION DAMAGE MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEATBELT LOCK. AS A RESULT I SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY BOTH FRONT AND BACK OF MY HEAD.

NHTSA ODI 11297553