What 1,236 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sorento

On 12/15/23 my wife was driving her father to a dental appointment and when trying to pass a slower moving vehicle on a rural stretch of our highway system. The car died after she accelerated to pass the slower vehicle. She was in the oncoming lane of traffic when she lost engine power, power steering, power brakes and electronics. The car she was passing slowed down to allow her to get over, as a semi truck had now appeared on the horizon. Without any power, she could not complete the pass and had to force the car back into the correct lane where the car came to a stop partially in the roadway. Two vehicles behind her witnessed the issue and could tell she was having vehicle problems and helped push her, her dad, and the car to the side of the road into an orchard for safety. There were no warning symptoms, no loud sounds, nothing, just the control panel flashing intermediately after the car died. The car was towed to a local shop that thought it was possibly an electrical issue and replaced the battery (as that somehow died during the incident) but they soon identified the motor had seized and we should have it taken to a Kia dealership for a known issue with the 2.4L engines. The Kia dealership advised that a "Product Improvement Campaign", not a Safety Recall, had not been performed on the vehicle and that Kia had a class action lawsuit for this exact issue. Kia claims that postal notifications were sent to the previous owner, but had our information on file and registered as an owner through the Kia Owner web portal. Kia is refusing to cover the repair costs because the original owner never had the work completed, and as a second owner, we were never notified of the Knock Sensor Software Update that needed to ensure the car would go into limp mode before a total engine seizure. We never took the Kia to an actual dealer, as we had all maintenance done at various oil change locations, and an independent auto repair shop do the milestone services as recommended.

NHTSA ODI 11566291

My car was overheating and no coolant was leaking. Took it to a Kia dealership and they said that it was due to failed head bolts warping the heads and damaging the block. They said they need to replace the engine and that this is an issue with 2016-2017 Kia Sorento.

NHTSA ODI 11566027

Engine replacement needed due to faulty engine. Dealer confirmed faulty bolts in head gasket causing leaks. No signs of critical issue. The vehicle was taken in for a regularly scheduled oil change when the dealership discovered the leak and subsequent issue with the head gasket threads being striped requiring a full engine replacement. The manufacturer(KIA/Hyundai) should in good faith provide restitution for this issue as it has devalued the vehicle in the public market and is a public safety issue to have the potential for engines to fail without warning. The manufacturer, should also extend and fully cover future engine issues, not just the boilerplate 12k mile warranty on "new" engine replacements. Replacing one faulty engine with another does not negate the root issue and does not provide a good faith solution. The contact stated after being assured by the service department that the new engine would be free of defects the vehicle was driven roughly 300 miles when the warning lights for electronic steering, ABS, and traction control which was immediately followed by a burning smell in the cabin. When safely pulled over there was smoke coming from under the hood. Upon inspection there was almost no coolant left.

NHTSA ODI 11565586

My engine blew with no light to indicate there was even a problem with the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11565352

The car continues to have burning smell last few days and temperature Gauge past the H. Kia will not diagnose or look at for over 2 weeks and asks me to drive it with my young children. There are no rentals or loaner available while I wait to get my vehicle looked at. I do not want to be the next statistic with my vehicle burning on the side of the road. Please help.

NHTSA ODI 11564937

When taking 2016 Kia Sorento in for oil changes, I'm being told vehicle is low on oil. On Nov 6, check engine light came on, with code P0010 Camshaft position Sensor, so my mechanic replaced both Camshaft position sensors. December 3, check engine light came back on, same code, when mechanic did a further diagnostic he said it is the variable valve timing actuator which happens to be causing the oil consumption. Indicated to take to Kia dealer because they are well aware of the issues with the Gamma motors. I haven't taken it yet to the dealership, I have done some research and seen where there are thousands of Kias and Hyundais with the same issues and it seems the corporations are not doing anything about this.I am really scared to drive now not knowing if I am going to be in the middle of the interstate and my vehicle just quits and then I am in an accident. I am waiting for all documentation of all oil changes and repairs from the shop.

NHTSA ODI 11564105

Engine stalled while driving on highway. Took it to a Kia dealer and had it diagnosed as an engine block/head gasket failure. I have documentation of service. Service document reads “owner states vehicle runs rough when first started and a/c doesnt cool properly, started vehicle, a/c is currently working normally, upon inspection, found coolant about 3/4 gallon low and has bubbles coming up in reservoir tank, topped coolant, performed engine block test, photo of yellow fluid in tester indicates combustion gases are getting into cooling system and not going out exhaust as it is supposed to, took video of bubbles coming up into tank, advise more than likely due to overheating of engine either has crack in block or warped heads or a combination of the 2, advised recommended long block replacement as tear down is not cost effective , gave estimate, owner declined repairs at this time”. I have been made aware of other customers and people experiencing exact same issue with their Kia sorento models. We have only had this car for over a year from a reputable dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11563827

The engine failed and stopped while driving on the highway going about 50 mph. Fortunately was able to pull off to side of the road without crashing. Took the vehicle to the kia dealer it was determined that the engine failed due to rod bearing failure. It stopped without any warning. It also appears that there is a current recall and class action lawsuit on v4 2.4 engines identifying the same problem. This needs to be checked into

NHTSA ODI 11563201

To whom it may concern, I recently came across an article stating the NHTSA is investigating KIA about the faulty engine. I personally found out the hard way when my family vehicle, a 2016 KIA Sorento EX V6 3.3L V6 lost power on I75 while driving back from a trip to Disney World Orlando. I was able to pull aside but almost got hit by a speeding car. I looked in the engine bay and the coolant was overflowing from the reservoir and was very hot. I towed it back home and then followed up with my mechanic who said the head gasket was blown and that it needed to be replaced. The car is only shy of 50,000 miles and I got it with 4000 miles. I tried to get the engine replaced but KIA doesn’t have any engines for replacement. I have been looking to buy a car to get the engine from a newer KIA because I’m 100% sure this is a factory defect that they won’t fix on their own. I just received a letter stating to take the car to the dealer for a diagnostic on this exact issue and that they would fix it if they found the fault. Well, they said the issue was not about the head gasket and that the motor of the cooling fan was at fault. Yet I talked in person to the tech that diagnosed the car and only VERBALLY they would acknowledge the issue is the head gasket but not only that, they even said the entire engine needed replacing. Are they trying to get away from taking responsibility? Why they wouldn't state it in the paperwork? But if I send you the diagnostic they produced it would only say yellowing tires and wiper replacement to be necessary. This confirms there is a “cat in the bag.” But what they don’t know is that there was a prior inspection at another dealer that stated the head gasket was indeed blown. You are welcome to contact me at any time. My name is [XXX] . The vehicle is under my wife’s name [XXX] . My direct number is [XXX] . Thank you for your help and I hope you make KIA accountable for this really bad experience. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11563401

Oil Consumption issue in which the oil is burning in in the engine. It's a known issue KIA acknowledges however; will not recall to replace the engine. My car has gone through the oil consumption test which they acknowledged it is consuming oil but would cost 1600 to correct a 92% success rate. I don't have the money to fix. Solution from the service dealer was to wait for the engine to go so it can be replaced in its entirety. I am having to check my oil every 1000 miles to top the oil off-quart low and change the oil every 3k. So unsafe to say wait for the engine to go. I am scared to drive my car any further than in the city limits. Is there anything that can be done. Where is the accountability on their end?

NHTSA ODI 11561977

I purchased this car in august of this year 2023. Since purchasing it has spent about half of the time I’ve had it at the dealership being repaired (all listed in carfax) Things that have been fixed are thermostat, car has been pressure tested multiple times due to hidden coolant leaks, Oring replaced, thermal module where coolant pipe connects & now it is having oil consumption issues & im in the process of testing. This car only has 60k miles and I’ve only put about 3500 of them on it. It has a good carfax showing it has been maintained properly. The dealership has told me that they are unsure if approval would be given for oil consumption. However this hadn’t been happening before all the coolant issues occured which leads me to believe this is somehow related. & now it is a huge concern to me as the idea that my engine could blow or catch on fire with two little kids in the car is extremely scary. Also there was no engine light on when car started having oil loss, luckily I was just checking fluids regularly and noticed & when we started this process the dealership had to put 3 qts of oil in.

NHTSA ODI 11562023

Daughter was traveling at highway speeds (60 mph) when engine loss all power and hard to merge over in lanes due to loss of speed and other traffic. Once to side of road found coolant blowing out of reservoir under hood. Towed to service station where they said head gasket blown on back cylinder bank. Replacement motor needed to make repairs as 7 of 8 head bolts found loose and 3 threads striped from aluminum block which they said is common issue with Kia engines.

NHTSA ODI 11561324

On the morning of October 31st, 2022 I used my remote starter to warm the engine in my driveway for approximately 10 minutes, when I got into the car I noticed the air blowing was ice cold and when looked at the temperature gauge the needle was in the red. I allowed the engine to cool down for about an hour, checked the coolant level and found it empty. I looked all around and under the engine for signs of leaks, none were found. I purchased a gallon of coolant, topped off the system and brought the car to my local garage to check the problem. They replaced the thermostat and bled the cooling system. About a week later it started overheating again so I topped off the coolant again and took the car to the nearest Kia dealer. After keeping my car for a week they concluded that the head gaskets were leaking and the repairs would be more than the value of the car and they'd be happy to trade what's left of my car for a new Kia. I had my car towed to a reputable independent shop and ended up paying a total of $12, 274.84 for a re-manufactured engine and for labor involved in stripping down the old engine for the extended warranty who inspected the engine and denied the claim. I purchased this vehicle on 1/9/2021 with extended warranty from and authorized Kia Dealer for $20,522.78. I have since found out that this is an ongoing issue with the Kia/Huyndai V6 engines from 2016-2019. As a Mercedes-Benz employee for 30 plus years I am appalled at Kia for their unwillingness to stand by their products.

NHTSA ODI 11561111

Car when into a low power mode,could not keep it running ,took 5 times to go thru a very busy intersection and motor was making a knocking noise,smells like burnt oil-motor ,misses out..The car was towed into a KIA dealership,3 weeks later they said it was fixed,drove off and didn’t even make it a mile until it started knocking and having the same smell like burnt motor,went into a reduce power.now it’s been 3 more weeks or more and still nothing is getting resolved. Yes the dealership knows about this issue. Yes warning messages came on when it went into low power mode. This is motor number two as the motor was replaced less than 12 months ago.

NHTSA ODI 11560803

There is a common issue with these year model Sorentos that poses a dangerous safety hazard for those in the car as well as others on the road. This model has a manufacturers defect that causes the head bolts to strip from the block, causing overheating engine, power loss, and other symptoms. A car that overheats and has these symptoms while on the road could cause a fire, cause hot steam or coolant to burn skin, and risks lives if it happens while on a fast paced roadway. The issue is common and pretty much guaranteed to happen to these model Sorentos. There are thousands of people complaining and report the issue. KIA is aware and not concerned of the issue. The only solution offered is an engine replacement, which most people can’t afford so will more than likely keep driving the vehicle regardless of the risks. My Sorento has been at the dealership already. I’ve contacted KIA corporate as well as attorneys seeking litigation of the issue. My insurance completed a full investigation by U.S. Forensic and determined the cause to be two of my head bolts stripped the threads out of the block. I have the final report from the investigation. We had no early warnings of the issue. We first noticed something was wrong when the car started over heating. You could, then, smell coolant and there was white smoke from the exhaust. There was a loss of power and bubbling in the coolant reservoir. The car would drive without overheating as long as you kept the radiator full of coolant. In summary, this is a common issue that has been ignored by KIA. It is clearly a safety concern and could pose life threatening risks. KIA won’t care and will never do anything about this unless they are forced to.

NHTSA ODI 11560576

Been dealing with oil issues for over a year. With a closely monitored oil level the car engine blew a hole and is now not drivable. There was never a low oil light or any warning.

NHTSA ODI 11560577

while driving engine suddenly got hot and blew radiator hose causing overheating to engine cylinder head and leaking coolant. No warning light or gauge indicating coolant overheating. Car was towed to dealership and they indicated no safety recalls on this engine exists despite known common problems of head gasket failures and head bolts coming undone.

NHTSA ODI 11559825

At an ODO of 87,337 the Sorrento turned off while at a speed of >45 mph on a highway, luckily near an exit. There were no warnings before the car turned off. The car allowed for a slow crawl off the highway. The Sorrento could not be restarted. After towing it to an independent mechanic we were told that the car engine had seized, likely due to low oil. The car did not indicate anything before the catastrophic event. This was a danger to the young driver and everyone on the highway at the time due to the sudden slowing of the car, likely without brake lights. This occurred after dusk which added totes danger.

NHTSA ODI 11560015

Knock sensor goes bad. Car does not receive fuel to engine. Cuts off while driving and will not accelerate over 20 mph

NHTSA ODI 11559249

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that as he had parked and shut the vehicle off, he saw smoke emitting from under the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and saw flames from under the front of the vehicle. As the contact was stepping away from the vehicle he saw that flames were issuing from the rear passenger side wheel well where the fuel filler door was located. The contact stated that there was no warning light. The fire department was called and extinguished the flames. The police were on the scene and issued a report. The vehicle was towed away to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

NHTSA ODI 11559179

I’ve had my 2016 KIA Sorento for a month. The engine locked up. So, I would like for it to be repaired at no cost to me since it was within the 30 period of purchase. I need to know what to do at this point. My car is at the dealership where I bought it from. Thank you for a speedy response.

NHTSA ODI 11558035

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to push the vehicle off the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11557947

Last year before my 100,000 mile warranty was up, my vehicles engine light and oil light came on. This was following an oil change which was approximately 3000 in. I checked the oil to find out there was no oil. After adding oil, I took it to the Kia dealership and was told the place who changed the oil didn’t tighten my oil filter which was not true because there was no oil on the garage floor where it was parked. They then proceeded to tell me this engine uses a quart of oil every 1000 miles. Fast forward, to last week, I was driving on the highway when my car all the sudden had high RPM but wouldn’t accelerate. The vehicle started stalling and died. I pulled over and again tried to start the car which it died again. The oil level was fine. I took it to a mechanic to find out the engine had 3 cylinders misfiring due to not getting the compression needed resulting in the engine failing. The oil consumption resulted in needing a new engine and now outside of warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11557384

My 2016 Sorento LX is consuming 3quarts of oil in 1000 miles, I have asked the dealership and mentioned this to them and now after warranty is over they finally did oil consumption test and my car needs a new engine, I was told it could blow up at anytime, I have all maintenance papers and was told I would have to pay $7,000 to replace engine

NHTSA ODI 11557313

Does not show low oil light when the car has no oil in the engine

NHTSA ODI 11557070