Home · 2016 Kia Sorento · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,236)Crash / fire / injury (78)Engine (686)Transmission & drivetrain (119)Body & structure (107)Electrical system (106)Steering (80)Lights (66)Speed control (62)Fuel system (55)Engine & cooling (30)Brakes (23)

11 of 1,236 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jul 24, 2025Transmission & drivetrainCrash

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, she attempted to park the vehicle in her driveway. As the contact tapped on the brake pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated as the contact slammed on the brake pedal and steered the vehicle out of the way of her home. The contact ran over a gutter and a bird feeder before applying the emergency brake, which stopped the vehicle. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights had appeared on the instrument panel prior to the failure. The contact was not injured, the air bags did not deploy, and a police report was not filed. The next day, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The contact was informed that rust was discovered on the vehicle's brake rotors; however, they had yet to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the engine had been replaced almost a month prior to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11675852

Jul 15, 2024Transmission & drivetrainCrash

The button on the gear shift will not push in to move the shifter out of park.

NHTSA ODI 11602368

Feb 17, 2024Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine1 injury

We were driving on the [XXX] on [XXX] with a speed of around 70 miles per hour. We started to see a small amount of white smoke coming from under the hood and at the same time the truck started to slow down by itself unexpectedly and then started to jerk back and forth. No indicators showed up on the dashboard. The speed reduced quickly and hitting the gas pedal did nothing to accelerate our speed. The white smoke started to increase and it became difficult to see. We then saw the temperature gauge go all the way up to hot out of nowhere. There were vehicles all around us and the passengers in the car started to yell to try to get to the shoulder. We had to maneuver very quickly through traffic with the car continuing to jerk at a very slow speed, which was very scary and dangerous. We were finally able to slowly get over to the shoulder. We turned off the truck. When we opened the hood, white smoke was everywhere coming from the engine and the coolant in the plastic receptacle was bubbling. The coolant looked like it was about to explode and the driver got burned trying to remove the cap. There was significant heat coming from the engine. The coolant then drained out of the receptacle. When we tried to start the truck again it would not start. We spend hours trying to get a tow to a shop in NJ miles from where we live in NY. Several days later, the mechanic in NJ took a look at the car and he reported this week that the head gasket is blown and that we need a new engine. We plan to tow the truck back to NY to KIA where we have the car serviced normally to have it looked at. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11572483

Jul 31, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemFire3 injuries

Fire from fuel pump engine failure catalytic converter issues from engine

NHTSA ODI 11535533

Jun 27, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemFire

automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, fuel pipe exhaust causing fumes to come through the vent area causing fire and smoke. accelerator assembly issues when driving

NHTSA ODI 11529055

Jun 21, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemFire

Recently, while driving on a busy multi-lane highway my 2016 Kia Sorento suddenly lost power, started shaking and slowed down causing traffic safety hazard. The engine stalled after slowing down. The car needed to be towed at my expense.my check engine light came on for my KSDS, the engine went limp mode and unable to accelerate over 50 miles and hour on the highway. My engine is blown. gasoline smell fumes came through vent causing me to have an attack car started to catch fire.

NHTSA ODI 11528170

Apr 12, 2023Transmission & drivetrainCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 11516618

Jan 29, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemFire

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

Aug 13, 2020Transmission & drivetrainCrash1 injury

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

Aug 5, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody & structureCrash

MY WIFE HAD THE VEHICLE PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE IN HER MOMS DRIVE WAY MAYBE A 10 DEGREE HILL. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE MY DAUGHTER FINISHED A BIRTHDAY CARD SHE WAS MAKING IN THE BACK SEAT. MY WIFE STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO GET SOME TISSUE PAPER OUT OF THE BACK WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN SHE PRESSED THE REAR DOOR /HATCH RELEASE OR OPEN BUTTON LOCATED ON THE DASH. SHE PRESSED THE BUTTON AT THAT MOMENT THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK AND WENT INTO REVERSE NEARLY RUNNING HER OVER SHE TRIED TO GET IN BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF TO FAST SHE WAS KNOCKED OVER MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR ROLLING OUT OF CONTROL DOWN THE DRIVE WAY. THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED THE DRIVEWAY DOWN CROSSING THE MAIN ROAD ONLY DOING SOME LIGHT DAMAGE WHERE IT RAN OVER THE MAIL BOX AND STOPPED BY HITTING A TREE. WE CONTACTED KIA AND OUR INSURANCE. KIA OPENED A CASE #K3237787 AND THEN THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED SINCE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND LEFT IT THERE. WE HAVE STILL NO ANSWERS WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS EVENT HAPPENED ON 7-25-2016. WE ARE REQUESTING SOME HELP DUE TO NOT HAVING A VEHICLE WE FEEL IS SAFE TO PARK AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT IT COMING OUT OF GEAR AND POTENTIALLY KILLING SOMEONE IN ITS PATH. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR VEHICLE REPAIRED AND BACK TO DRIVE SINCE WE ARE PAYING FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI 10893348

Jan 6, 2016Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818332

Working with the data? Download all 1,236 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Kia Sorento verdict →