Kia Sorento Complaints (2016)

1,262 consumer complaints on file.

#11555799November 18, 2023
ENGINE
While driving car sputtered, was able to get to side of road. Turned car off, waited and then turned on again and was able to proceed, engine light on - got occasional performance issues. Kia dealer checked out and servicing, informed me of the oil was depleted issue and in need of substantial engine repair. (Provided written estimate, approx $4800). Able to continue driving but risk of stalling, told eventually timing belt will fail. Got estimates for repairing, and total engine replace to compare options. (Have not done either option as yet).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555446November 16, 2023
ENGINE
Engine began regularly overheating. Problem began in May 2023. No warning lights, other than the temperature gauge going up. Thermostat was replaced, radiator was cleaned and checked, without defects found. No leaking hoses. Problem continued to get worse, requiring coolant be added every time the car was driven. Mechanic decided the head gasket was failing. Due to the nature of the head bolts, the recommendation was to replace the engine. This has not been done and the car is unusable and unsellable due to the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555546November 16, 2023
ENGINE
The engine has not worked properly in over a year and has problems accelerating and skipping. Engine light remains on at all times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555309November 15, 2023
ENGINE
2016 Sorento 3.3L with approximately 136,000 miles on it. Did not have heat. Diagnosed with low coolant and possible head gasket leak due to loose head bolts. No warning lights. Seems to be a common manufacturing issue with these engines.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555333November 15, 2023
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
17-year-old daughter driving 65 mph down the highway when engine just gave out. Loss drive power but was able to make it to the side of highway, once stopped coolant find blowing out. There was no overheating warning or light luminated on dash. Once towed to shop and inspected told head gasket blown out dur to loose head bolts & possible head crack due to lost coolant.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555039November 14, 2023
ENGINE
Engine stalled when merging in the freeway. Mechanic said that the engine stalled because there was not enough oil. I did an oil change a month prior, and no oil light indication came on until after the car broke down.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554702November 12, 2023
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
At 45mph or faster, when turning left.. the steering sticks briefly and the EPS (electric power steering) over-corrects it. Makes the steering wheel jump. So the driver has to perform constant corrections. I believe it’s very serious safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554608November 10, 2023
ENGINE
2016 Kia Sorento SX 3.3l engine failure at 87k miles. Head bolts backed out. Kia dealership verified the issue. The engine could have seized why driving which is a safety risk. No warning lights at all.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554119November 8, 2023
ENGINE
I was taking my mom to her knee appointment after her surgery, and my temperature gauge started to rise. No lights or warnings came on in the car what so ever. I pulled over before it reached the red, let it cool and checked fluids. From what I could see the oil, and coolant were fine. The heat in the car stopped working, and the car kept wanting to over heat in the lower gears. I got it to Lion Country Kia in St.College and diagnosed it as finding a cylinder head gasket. My car could no longer be driven, from St.College to my home in St.Mary’s. I had to have it towed, as well as checked here as well to find they were right with a cylinder head gasket issue. I was under the assumption I had the power train warranty as well because it’s under 10/100,000 but unknown to me I didn’t. I could’ve been in an awful accident if I wasn’t paying attention to my gauges and my car overheated and locked up while driving. If anything would’ve happened to my children and my mom in the car that day, all because of a fault in the car manufacturing, Id be knocking on doors! To see all the recalls on the years previous to this for the same issue, you would think it would’ve either been taken care of, or a recall put on this year as well. From what I’ve been reading it’s been happening all too often. Something needs done.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554141November 8, 2023
POWER TRAIN
I was unable to to get my gear out of park. I took to Kia immediately to inspect this issue. My safety is at risk if a collision occurs because I can’t change gears or if I have my children in the car and I get stuck in a remote location. The problem is currently being inspected by a Kia dealership & no one else has been notified just yet. I was given no warning or message before this began on Nov. 7, 2023. After a thorough internet search it seems there are several KIA owners that have experienced the same problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553996November 7, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the headlamps became inoperable. The contact stated that the light switch was jiggled, and the lamps illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553130November 2, 2023
ENGINE
I noticed one day when filling up my wiper fluid that the engine was just slightly below the coolant low level. I topped off the coolant and tried to see if there was any leaks under the car. I couldn't see any. I started the vehicle and noticed there was bubbling in the coolant reservoir.I called my local mechanic and scheduled an appointment to bring the car in. The car wasn't driven until the day it was going in to be looked at. When driving the car in it started rough and slugish but then went back to normal. I drove it to my mechanics and on the way the car started running very rough engine shaking and the check engine light started flashing. I was only a few blocks away from the shop so I coasted in. They took the car in said it had a code for a cylinder misfire and started the car saying it was blowing white smoke out of the exhaust. They ran a test on the car and said they didn't want to take anything apart and to tow it to Kia. The car was towed to Kia in Wheat Ridge, CO. Car was inspected and the diagnosis was that the engine had overheated. The block is made of aluminum and so is the head. The headbolts that hold the two pieces together are a different type of metal. This manufacturing defect caused the threads in the aluminum block to strip or pull and loose tension on the head gasket. This allowed coolant to enter into one of the cylinders. Kia is recommending the engine be replaced for $11,910 and change. Car was regularly serviced and drove perfectly fine up until the day it went into the shop. Dealer service dept says this is very common on Kia and Hyundai 3.3L engines. Multiple cases around the same mileage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553067November 1, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Paint for this car has been delaminating and peeling off from regular use of the car. No accidents or scratches caused the paint to begin peeling, it just started on it's own. I am reporting this because I found it was a common issue for Kia owners with a pear white paint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552514October 29, 2023
ENGINE
The engine threw a rod while driving on a flat stretch of US HWY 285. The vehicle is available for further inspection if needed. The engine has 61,300 miles on it. We were forced to stop on a small 2-lane highway and wait for hours for a tow. This was inspected by the dealership and needs to be replaced for the vehicle to be safe to drive again. This is not covered under warranty as I am the second owner with a warranty up to 60,000 miles. No warning lights or messages occurred prior to the rod being thrown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552265October 27, 2023
ENGINE
Vehicle is burning excessive amounts of oil. The check engine light nor low oil light has came on and vehicle was (4) quarts low (according to independent mechanic). Was told by KIA dealership that they would not repair unless the engine was completely blown up. I was told to add oil, get more frequent oil changes, trade vehicle, or come up with $8,500. The engine only has 61,000 miles on it and is a 2016 model. This is a widely known issue and KIA needs to admit the failures and fix the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11551321October 23, 2023
ENGINE
My car has been having high oil consumption. I have taken it to my Kia dealership. They informed me this is a problem with the make and model. They told me this is the beginning of an engine problem that will ultimately cause engine failure affecting connecting rods and bearings. My options are to drive the car until it fails then Kia will replace the engine. I a,so co tacted Kia corporate Customer service a d was told the same thing. I ask her to file a complaint and accelerate it. She said 5hat was. Ot he process. I am 77 year old widow. I'm active and drive my car day a night almost every day. I am usually alone. The solutions are not acceptable. There is a danger for me getting suddenly stranded alone at my age. I think the engine should be replaced now. Can you help me with this? Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550764October 19, 2023
ENGINE
In November last year, my car caught fire while I was driving on a highway at a rate of about 70 mph. Some good Samaritans flagged me down and I was able to pull off the road and escape injury. My car was a total loss as were the contents of it. The fire department tapped out the fire. Kia admitted responsibility saying it was a manufacturing defect (I have the email conversation saved) but only wanted to pay my insurance company back and refund me my deductible. Kia would not pay for my lost iPhone and belongings because they said they could only do so if I provided a receipts for those items. Who has a receipt for everything in their car? I didn't claim to loss a Rolex or anything crazy. I refused the offer and am out for the loss of my car, deductible and its contents (though insurance cut me a check for the blue book value of my car minus the deductible). Kia is the worst.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550698October 18, 2023
ENGINE
Car started making a knocking noise and before I could pull over the car shut off. Told now engine needs to be replaced. Kia could not look at it until November 1st and will not give us a car to use. We only have this car as a mode of transportation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549395October 11, 2023
ENGINE
car has been burning oil, I'm filling it every other week and i barely drive it (less than 30 miles a week). Was driving to the dealer to have it looked at and it failed - I suddenly could not accelerate on a busy highway over 3mph! No warning lights came on at all and it is not throwing any codes. I was almost rear ended. One Kia dealership told me "just keep topping off the oil and drive it till it fails" That seems like an unsafe solution. Will Kia be responsible if I get into a collision if my car suddenly fails?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549072October 9, 2023
ENGINE
Excessive oil consumption, concerned about engine seizing while driving due to this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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