Model year guide

2016 Kia Sorento

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2016 Kia Sorento is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 43 on record.

2016 Kia Sorento — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2016 Kia Sorento at a glance

Safety recalls8
Owner complaints1,230
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$17,168

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2016 Kia Sorento recalls 8

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #18V907000 · 19/12/2018

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine repl…

Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly NHTSA Campaign #15V446000 · 14/07/2015

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.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.

Seats NHTSA Campaign #16V770000 · 24/10/2016

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.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 9, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.

Trailer Hitches NHTSA Campaign #16V862000 · 30/11/2016

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. …

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #16V480000 · 29/06/2016

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

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this reca…

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal NHTSA Campaign #15V089000 · 13/02/2015

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.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC115.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift NHTSA Campaign #22V612000 · 10/08/2022

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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.

Trailer Hitches NHTSA Campaign #22V703000 · 19/09/2022

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, whi…

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia c…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2016 Kia Sorento common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 1,230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2016 Kia Sorento MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,893

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2016 Kia Sorento worth?

Low
$13,325
Typical price
$17,168
High
$21,998

From 35 comparable 2016 Kia Sorento listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2016 Kia Sorento costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,465
Depreciation (5 yrs)$6,050
Total$20,515
Per mile$0.27

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($17,168) with the same model 5 model-years older ($11,140), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2016 Kia Sorento trims & engines on record

Trims
L / LX · SX / SX Limited · EX
Engines
2.4L · 3.3L · 2.0L

2016 Kia Sorento vehicles on record

Other Kia Sorento model years

2016 Kia Sorento — frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Kia Sorento have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2016 Kia Sorento. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

Based on 1,230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, power train, steering.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Kia Sorento get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2016 Kia Sorento at about 21 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2016 Kia Sorento worth?

Comparable 2016 Kia Sorento listings run roughly $13,325–$21,998, typically around $17,168 (from 35 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.