Federal safety data shows 7 recalls and 1,216 complaints for the 2016 Kia Sorento, a elevated safety profile overall. Check the known issues section below for the most common problem areas.

Recalls

1,216

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

22V6120002022-10-08

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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.

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

View at NHTSA

15V4460002015-14-07

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

16V7700002016-24-10

SEATS

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.

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

View at NHTSA

View all 7 recalls

16V8620002016-30-11

TRAILER HITCHES

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."

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

View at NHTSA

16V4800002016-29-06

SUSPENSION:REAR

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

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

View at NHTSA

15V0890002015-13-02

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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.

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

View at NHTSA

22V7030002022-19-09

TRAILER HITCHES

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.

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

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

Of 1,216 issues reported over 1 model years, engine problems are the most common for the 2016 Kia Sorento. A pre-purchase inspection should focus here first.

01Engine500

02Unknown Or Other84

03Structure81

04Steering55

05Power Train46

1,216 total across 1 model years (2016–2016)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Kia Sorento Fuel Economy

19–24mpg combined

17-21city

23-28hwy

$1,800-$2,300/yr

The 2016 Kia Sorento delivers 19 to 24 MPG combined across 7 powertrain combinations. If fuel cost matters to you, pay attention to engine and drivetrain. The spread is significant.

By Trim

Sorento FWD - Automatic (S6)

24mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

21 city28 hwy~$1,800/yr5/10 Average

Sorento FWD - Automatic (S6)

23mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Sorento AWD - Automatic (S6)

22mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

21 city25 hwy~$2,000/yr5/10 Average

Sorento AWD - Automatic (S6)

21mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

19 city25 hwy~$2,100/yr5/10 Average

Sorento FE AWD - Automatic (S6)

21mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

18 city25 hwy~$2,100/yr5/10 Average

Sorento FWD - Automatic (S6)

20mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

18 city25 hwy~$2,200/yr5/10 Average

Sorento AWD - Automatic (S6)

19mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

17 city23 hwy~$2,300/yr4/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2016 Kia Sorento

38States

28%in top 3

Texas has the most inventory at 11%, with options spread across 38 states. Willing to ship? Your selection opens up significantly.

TXTexas

2,15811%

FLFlorida

1,95810%

CACalifornia

1,4757%

PAPennsylvania

9355%

OHOhio

8244%

MOMissouri

7994%

ILIllinois

7844%

DCWashington DC

7104%

AZArizona

6843%

GAGeorgia

6673%

DEDelaware

6643%

NCNorth Carolina

6283%

NJNew Jersey

5923%

NYNew York

5803%

MDMaryland

5663%

OKOklahoma

4612%

INIndiana

4562%

UTUtah

4202%

WA380

CO367

TN351

OR337

MI309

MN296

NV253

NH246

WI203

VA181

AR171

WY154

RI153

AL148

ID141

KY136

SC135

MA124

CT112

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2016.

2016 Kia Sorento: Questions Buyers Ask

Pricing, reliability, and ownership answers

Is the 2016 Kia Sorento a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2016 Kia Sorento. There are 7 recalls to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2016 Kia Sorento?

Yes, 7 recalls on record. The good news: recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Check the safety report for specifics, and always run the VIN before buying.

What's the gas mileage of the 2016 Kia Sorento?

Fuel economy ranges from 19 to 24 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $576 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

ENGINE problems top the list with 1,216 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.

How does the 2016 compare to other Kia Sorento years?

Each Kia Sorento model year has different pricing, recall counts, and owner satisfaction patterns. Compare all available years on the Kia Sorento overview page.