2016 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

687Engine complaints

55.5%Of all 1,237 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE687 · 55.5%

Unspecified / other164 · 13.3%

POWER TRAIN117 · 9.5%

STRUCTURE:BODY103 · 8.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM103 · 8.3%

Share of the 1,237 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Kia Sorento overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT SMOKE…”NHTSA complaint 11132836 — filed 10/02/2018

“WHEN STARTING UP CAR, VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM ENGINE, AND THEN DIES. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE KIA TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM…”NHTSA complaint 11123623 — filed 08/31/2018

“WE BOUGHT OUR CAR FROM CARVANA JUNE 19, 2018. ON JUNE 27TH THE VEHICLE WASN'T RESPONDING TO ACCELERATION. IT WAS STALLING. IT WOULD GO INTO…”NHTSA complaint 11121787 — filed 08/22/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Kia Sorento have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Kia Sorento: 687 of 1,237 complaints on file (55.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Kia Sorento have in total?

1,237 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 49 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.