46 complaints reported

2016 Kia Sorento Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
46
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2023

Engine Failure - 3.3L Head Bolts Backed Out of Block Emissions Seeping In to Cooling System (coolant blowing out of reservoir tank) Dealer Verified Issue and Know this to Be an Issue (with various 3.3L cars) Overheating Claimed to Be the Cause - Car Maintenance By Dealer Only on Routine Basis Vehicle Driven Around Town - Not Pushed Beyond Local Driving Internet Search Shows Others with Same Problem Reports from Mechanics of Blocks with Poor Castings and Material/Quality Issues 119,000K miles with no prior mechanical issues Dangerous Issue Repair Estimate $10000 - Unethical, Unsafe, Predadatory for those who Still paying off vehicles

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2023
Mar 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while pulling the gear shift lever to shift the vehicle into reverse, the lever then would not shift into drive or any other gear. The check engine warning light illuminated but turned off after a couple minutes. The contact noticed that the gear shift lever was locked and placed a screwdriver into the shifter lever lock and the contact was able to shift the lever to reverse and drive. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 190,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2023
Feb 2023

Would not shift out of park Dealership repair cost $1000 - told “not part of transmission so not under the warranty “ - now reading online and on recall site lever and linkage column shift issue but now dealership says “not the same” but reading lots of Kia owners reporting same problem? Should be a recall!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Jan 2023

Car started to make a knocking noise, however no lights on dash indicated anything was wrong. Checked oil and the oil was low, had to add 4 quarts of oil, checked for leaks and nothing was leaking. Two weeks later noticed the car was driving a little different, checked oil and had to add two more quarts of oil.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2022
Sep 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, his wife was unable to shift into drive (D) as the gear shifter remained stuck in park (P). The contact's wife used a screwdriver to depress a button as instructed by an online tutorial. The contact's wife was then able to shift into drive (D) and continued driving; however, the failure reoccurred whenever the vehicle was parked. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not be repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V612000 (Power Train) as the VIN was not included due to the manufacturing date of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2022
Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the gear shifter would not shift out of PARK. The contact had to use a screwdriver to override the gear shifter. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
May 2022

-I was driving my vehicle in a parking lot, stopped at the stop sign to let a car pass and hit the gas pedal and the car did not move. - My concern is what could have happened if the transmission died while I was driving. -The problem has been confirmed by the dealer that the transmission needs to be replaced. The car has less than 31,000 miles on it. I am a 2nd owner, and I only put 7,000 miles on it in 3 years but it was out of warranty. KIA even denied a Good Will replacement. - There were not any warning signs, message or symptoms. Unfortunately I have to pay 3200.00 to have it replaced and I spoke to KIA and they said that there was nothing they could do. It seems strange that a vehicle with less than 31,000 miles would have a transmission just die without any warnings.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
Feb 2022

The gear shift will not come out of park. I had to stick something in the manual brake release hole to shift out of park.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Aug 2021

Shifter cannot be moved out of PARK without pushing down on the SHIFT LOCK RELEASE. I must do this every time I want to go forward or backward. A reliable service center informed me this is a frequent problem with the 2016 Kia Sorento and he suggested a recall may be forthcoming. Owners manual states that when using the RELEASE, depress the brake pedal so vehicles does not lurch forward or back. The additional step to move the car may be hazardous when attempting to get out of the way. Service center isolated the problem to Body Control Module which is expensive and OEM only. This happened without warning when I parked briefly in the road adjacent to a friend's driveway. I blocked the road until I discovered how to use the RELEASE button.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Mar 2021

leaks oil like crazy and constantly adding oil but no obvious leak engine shaking very bad, idling very hard and not shifting properly

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Dec 2020

TWO OIL CHANGE STATIONS TOLD ME I NEED A NEW POWER TRAIN. I KNOW POWER TRAIN IS COVERED UNDER 100,000 MILES FOR KIA. WANT TO SEE IF I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE PROCESS FOR DEFECT OR ANYTHING ELSE TO ASSIST ME AT NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2020

MY KIA SORENTO DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF P (PARK). THE LOCK RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT ENGAGE UNLESS I ACTIVATE THE SHIFT-LOCK OVERRIDE. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, TODDLER, AND ENTIRE FAMILY. PLEASE HELP US REPAIR THIS AND ENSURE THE MANUFACTURER IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2020
Aug 2020 Crash 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2020
Apr 2020

THE KIA WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SOLENOID

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
Feb 2020

THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES ON THE TRANSITION FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT PREVIOUSLY WOULD ONLY DO THIS ONCE AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY DRIVE, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS DURING EVERY ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. IN OTHER WORDS, AFTER EVERY STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, THE SUV WILL KICK WITH A SIGNIFICANT JOLT AS IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST UP TO 2ND GEAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
Oct 2018

NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN PRESSED AT IDLE WITH CAR STATIONARY IN GEAR. PRESSING MORE ON ACCELERATOR TO GET CAR MOVING CAUSES CAR TO THEN ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
Sep 2018

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING, STOPPING AND PICKING UP BECAME UNSAFE. I TOOK IT INTO A KIA DEALERSHIP SINCE IT BECAME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A TSB SA292 PATCH THAT WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT THIS EXACT ISSUE. KIA IS ONLY WILLING TO COVER PART OF THE COST. I FEEL THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Jul 2017

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO 2ND GEAR THE TRANSMISSION DOES A HARD DOWNSHIFT RIGHT AROUND 25-31 MPH CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
May 2017

THIS 2016 KIA SORENTO (MFG 10/27/14) WILL LOSE POWER/TRACTION IN A PARKING LOT WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC, CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS HE IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX IT. I CANNOT SELL/GIVE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE TO A FAMILY MEMBER UNTIL IT IS CORRECTED. VERY DANGEROUS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Oct 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHUT OFF WHILE IT WAS ENGAGED IN ANY GEAR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING PARKED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET UP AND STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT CRASHED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,300.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2015
Jun 2016 Crash

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Kia Sorento has 46 Power Train complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.