general problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Sorento - part 2

Engine started knocking after an oil change. Taken to a kia dealership, where they are refusing to fix the car, even with the class action lawsuit with a lifetime warranty on the engine. Engine needs to be replaced. Kia will not fix with the recall completed. No recalls showing on NHTSA or kia websites.

Car only has 89k miles on it and is garaged and maintained. Went to run an errand yesterday and all of a sudden engine started knocking and sputtering. I then experienced loss of power and the engine light came on. That was the first and only time the engine light has ever come on. Pulled over, checked oil and it seemed very, very low and a burnt smell. It had only been 4k miles since the car was serviced. Husband came and added oil, allowed to idle for about 5 miinutes to see if it improved. It did not. The knocking continued. Shut it off and called aaa and had it towed to the dealership. I just learned this was a known issue and there was a class action lawsuit that I apparently missed out on because I never received the notice yet I have lived at the same address for 20 years. I checked for recalls with the VIN # and nothing comes up, however, clearly there is something wrong with an engine that gets driven less that 10k miles per yesr. Dealer says they're not sure if kia will replace the engine but they suspect that is what needs to happen. I am furious!.

Vehicle check engine light came on, vehicle lost power, sputtered and died. Will not run. Towed to dealer.

I have warranty and extended warranty for my engine which completely died on my after 8 years. I went to file the warranty claim and it was denied now they are reviewing my extended warrenty.

Blown head gasquet and stripped head bolts repaired 2023 blown engine December 2024.

Kia is refusing to fix the engine. The car is supposed to have a lifetime replacement on engine. Kia is saying that I did not get a recall done, but none is listed on your website for what they said I needed done. I have been trying to reach a supervisor at kia corporate for 1 week without success.

While driving my vehicle on a busy 7 lane highway the day after it was serviced by the kia dealer, the engine died. There were no lights that flashed or warnings. I drifted into the left shoulder, which was the only place to get out of the traffic. (a picture of the location is included). A state police officer was called due to the danger of my position on this very busy highway. She obtained a tow service within 15 minutes due to the position of my vehicle and sat behind me with her lights on until she was summoned for another call. The tow truck drivers barely fit in the median and I had to walk out into the traffic lane in order to get into the tow truck. The vehicle was towed to the kia dealer where they informed me that they would replace the engine for $15,000. The only indicator light that ever came on in the vehicle was a low oil light 1-2 months prior to engine failure, which I immediately took care of. At no time after that did my low oil light or check engine light come on. Since replacing the engine was the only option by the kia dealer and I did not trust the dealer to replace it and did not want to spend $15,000 on an 8 year old vehicle, I was forced to sell the vehicle for parts, which didn't even cover the $800 I spent the day before at the dealer, as well as the towing fees. .

The engine was smoking. I had smoke coming through the vents in my car. The turbo is leaking and now it’s dangerous to drive. The dealership isn’t even recommended fixing it. The car is not safe to drive and has not been since I purchased it.

My 2016 kia Sorento (VIN: [xxx] ) has suffered a head gasket failure due to a known manufacturing defect identified in a kia technical service bulletin (TSB wty035). The defect causes head gasket failure, which in my case has resulted in external oil leakage. While kia issued a TSB acknowledging this defect, they are denying warranty repair on a technicality — stating that the failure must involve coolant entering the combustion chamber to qualify, despite acknowledging the underlying part defect. The vehicle’s engine is losing oil through the failed gasket, and the issue poses increasing risk of engine damage or sudden performance loss. Kia’s denial is inconsistent with the intent of the warranty and the federal magnuson-moss warranty act. This problem affects vehicle function and reliability. It is also being experienced by other owners of the same model and engine. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA is aware of this known defect and the manufacturer's refusal to take accountability unless the failure meets arbitrarily narrow criteria. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Timing chain broke, destroyed the engine.

Engine just stop and it was maintance monthly.

Unknown component or system failed. My car suddenly stalled while on the highway, not allowing me to increase speed (over 40 mpg) and then stopped. I was scared to death when that happened on the highway as we could have been hit by other vehicles. I was able to restart it but it kept doing it, gradually reducing my speed to 20mpg then a lamp warning sign appeared. The car only has 50,000 miles on it and no warning light or prior failure before this happened on 11/29/2024. I took it to kia for inspection and they told me if the engine will have to be replaced, it will take 3 months. They took my car in for inspection and I am now 10 days without a car and I have not yet heard from kia.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil, the vehicle lost motive power before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the engine had recently been replaced due to the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 108,000.

We purchased our 2016 kia Sorento brand new in 2015. From the start, we had problems with the car burning oil at a rapid rate. We would get an oil change and less than 2,000 miles later the oil would be very low. After one year oil was low after 1,000 miles or less. No oil light warning would ever come on and there were times when the dipstick had no oil on it. I called kia customer care several times over the years regarding this issue and was told there was nothing kia could do unless the engine blew due to the connecting rod and the engine needed to be replaced. We are now well past the 100k warranty and have dealt with this problem for the last 9 years. 2 weeks ago the engine started making a knocking noise and would not accelerate. We checked the oil and it was low and the coolant was also empty. We took it into the kia dealership and we were told the radiator was empty and burning and that the coolant was leaking into the cylinder and that the engine needed to be replaced. Never once did an engine light, oil light or coolant light come on. There were no visible leaks. The car never overheated and the temperature gauge never changed from the middle. This engine has had constant problems with burning oil from the start. I have done my part to reach out to kia customer care numerous times. This model kia has had known problems with oil consumption and coolant leaks. I know there is a reported problem with the 2016 kia Sorento v6 regarding coolant leaking into the cylinder heads, while I do not have a v6 I had the same problem. This engine has multiple problems which lead to its failure not just the coolant leak. Oil consumption, coolant leak and worst of all there was no warning that there was a problem with the engine (I. E) no engine, oil or coolant light. While there is a lifetime engine warranty on the rod bearing failure which I believe we had along with the coolant leak. Kia is not honoring this warranty and will not reimburse us.

The engine failed while driving. The dealer noted in case details they observed excessive scoring on the cylinder wall and damage to the piston ring, as well as a significant reduction in compression. Despite these findings the dealer and manufacturer said the repair "would not be covered under the pi campaign for engine failure" and "was not related to an engine rod bearing failure. " note that the dealer did not inspect the rod bearings. Worn or damaged connecting rod bearings can significantly reduce compression by allowing excessive piston movement and causing a leak in the combustion chamber. Moreover, excessive scoring on the cylinder wall indicates that the metal from failing connecting rod bearings has been scraping against the cylinder wall, leaving deep scratches and grooves, likely due to excessive wear on the bearings, causing significant damage to the piston and cylinder assembly. This model vehicle should have been included in the recall concerning connecting rod bearings that affected other kia model vehicles.

We were driving down [xxx] near toledo ohio during rush hour on our to michigan, when the car, with no warning at all, stopped running. There were no lights on the dash, no warning at all. The car just stopped. We were able to steer it to the shoulder and stop. There was no indication of what was wrong. After having it towed to the kia dealership I was informed the engineer blew. There was no knocking, no oil use, no indication at all that there was anything wrong with the car. I had to rent a hotel until my son could come and get me and then the next day. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Starting getting rid of coolant and engine oil and starting smoking really bad out of nowhere . . Had to park it and haven’t drove it since unfortunately … need it fixed.

In our experience, roughly 1 quart of oil is displaced per 500 miles. Kia corporate stated that the vehicle does not display any safety concerns and would not honor the recent 150k warranty. After speaking with the service manager and consulting with the kia dealership mechanics for proper diagnosis, the manager shared that there are several premature failures with engine components. They will not honor a repair. It is obvious that kia has significant issues with their gdi engines. A simple search on the internet provides overwhelming evidence of this. Who is holding kia accountable?.

On [xxx] was driving home approx. 30mph all of a sudden my 2016 kia Sorento ex loss power! vehicle went into limp mode and no lights came up on the display at all. I was only 2 miles from home and got it home. It is now making a knocking noise and I was told by two mechanics that the engine is blown. The car was bought new and has had regular oil changes by dealer in prince frederick, MD except for the last change was done by a local mechanic. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 20 mph and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power. The accelerator pedal was depressed down to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact drove the vehicle for a mile to the workplace. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the head gasket and upper radiator hose had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred on 8 occasions. The contact stated that the engine overheating had persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine block was cracked. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

I was driving on the thruway and suddenly my check engine light came on and a large plume of black smoke came from the exhaust. The car was misfiring badly. I nursed it home and the next day took it to my mechanic, hoping it was a coil or plug. I had almost zero compression in cylinder #2. I then took vehicle to his engine repair shop. The owner told me the next day that I needed a new engine. I picked it up the next day and took it to my dealer, and they also told me I needed a new engine as well as a new intake manifold. Cost was $10,550. 00. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident. There was a 1" x 1" hole in my intake manifold.

Driving @ nite on[xxx] [xxx] doing 70mph on cruise control all of a sudden my 2016 kia Sorento loss power! then the instrument cluster lit up like a x-mas tree. Check oil, check engine, and everything else in between was blinking on and off. Very lucky there was an exit ramp up ahead and no vehicles on the right lane. Safely got off the freeway and parked on the side of the road. Very fortunate it was late nite because the area is usually busy during the day and vehicles usually be going 10 to 20+ above the 70 speed limit and my whole family was with. We waited about 10 min. To see if the vehicle would start back- up but no luck. Called for a tow truck and a family friend came and pick up the wife and kids. Kia service guy @ the dealership says the engine ceased and is waiting to here from kia hq. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

There is a problem with the engine in my kia. I believe that this is a similar problem to other recalled kia vehicles from the same production year, 2016, that caused metal to be present in the engine. My local kia dealership informed me that I need a new engine due to this issue, after other issues had been ruled out as the cause of continued check engine light warnings were fixed.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed, the oil warning light flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the engine was consuming oil at an excessive rate. The contact was informed that an oil consumption test would have to be performed to determine the extent of the failure which may result in the need for an engine replacement. The contact stated that the engine was replaced before under an unknown recall and was instructed to contact the dealer who performed the repair. The dealer was notified and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 60-65 mph, the temperature gauge was fluctuating from normal(n) to hot(h) very quickly. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and allowed the engine to cool down. The contact had received a notification regarding an extended warranty coverage for the engine overheating and oil consumption. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided a fee for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered due to the mileage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.

My SUV is having all of the problems associated with a bad engine. This started a week ago and on Thursday, [xxx] my SUV completely stopped running and I had to get it towed to my residence. I had an ase certified mechanic to check it out and he said your engine is bad. I have had all of my required oil changes as well as servicing as recommended. I got this SUV in 2020. It has a little over 100,000 miles. I cannot afford a engine repair at this time. Please advice. Thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On [xxx], I was on my way to the orlando airport to pick up my daughter in her car (kia Sorento 2. 4l gdi). At about the halfway point to the airport, I increased my speed so I could go around a slow moving truck on the turnpike. After I passed the truck, I guess maybe a few 10ths of a mile give or take. The car just died. I looked at the dash and I see it's lit up like a christmas tree. I pulled over to the side of the road and onto the shoulder. I put the car in park, turn off the car, and then try to start it. It didn't start so I popped the hood and first thing I checked was under the car to make sure there was no oil or coolant leaks. Then I checked the oil dipstick and there was plenty of oil and the coolant tank was at the full mark. I called my insurance agency to get roadside assistance and the car was towed to the city of clermont in florida. We charged the battery due to it being low from trying to start the car. After the battery was placed back in the car we tried again to start the car. I was told to stop because there was smoke coming from the front of the engine. No fire, but it may have been the starter smoking trying to start the car. After trying several times, I gave up and filled out paperwork for the christian bros auto group to check the car to see what is wrong with it. After a few days we were told that the motor was seized up and needs to be replaced. We have all the documentation of all oil changes and repairs since my daughter got that SUV. Vehicle was well maintained and documented. I see that there is a class action lawsuit against kia for this size engine. Our next step is to see what we have to do to get the car repaired. She still owes over 18k still on the car. I heard that kia was a good car but we'll see what happens now. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated, with an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to a lack of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the previous oil change was approximately three weeks before the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,990.

I was driving in fast moving traffic on a highway when my car suddenly shook and lost power. The check engine light came on. I pulled over and turned the car off for a few minutes. Restarted the car, no light came on, so I continued. After a little while the car started hesitating as I would press the gas peddle then it would rev high rpm's and then take off very fast. The engine light came back on. I was able to get to a garage where they checked it. They said it was total engine failure. A spark plug broke inside the cylinder causing internal damage. I then towed it to a kia dealership but have not heard back from them yet what their diagnosis might be. I could have been run over from behind by a semi truck or at least hit from behind when my car suddenly slowed down. I looked on line and have seen countless failures of this same engine for various reasons. It seems to me that this engine is a lemon in many ways. Kia has a settlement in place but only if the failure is caused by one certain thing. This engine as a whole is dangerous. Reports like mine are numerous, also engines catching fire. How is this engine not recalled? 1. Engine failed 2. Could have been hit from behind 3. Automotive garage confirmed internal damage 4. Still at kia dealership with no response yet 5. Engine light came on.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 60-70 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal loud cracking sound and stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the freeway. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a safe location. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The contact stated that upon opening the hood to inspect the vehicle, the contact noticed that the coolant reservoir had exploded, causing coolant to splash underneath the hood and to leak out on the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the engine was taken apart. The dealer diagnosed that there was oil intrusion in the coolant, and that the engine had overheated excessively, causing the engine block to become distorted. The extended warranty field technician later informed the contact that the repair could not be covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Was driving the vehicle down the highway going about 65mph. Vehicle went into limp mode, check engine light came on and started flashing. There was no warning signs prior to this! had the vehicle towed home and threw a code reader on it, to find the code p1326 come up. Says it's a code for knock sensor. After reading other forums found that most likely I will need to replace the engine. I have only had this vehicle for 2 months!! it is the same 2. 4l engine that has been recalled on several other kia vehicle but not mine. I bought this vehicle to have a reliable vehicle for my family and now I will be out more money!.

While driving on the parkway, the vehicle would not accelerate and would stall. After pulling over, vehicle would restart but repeated the pattern. Made it to advanced auto who ran codes and had the camshaft modulator changed. Vehicle made it back onto parkway. 40 miles from home, the vehicle began to shake, loose power, made loud sound and died. Towed home. Mechanic said out of oil but I had oil changed less than 1000 miles ago when vehicle purchased. New codes showed crankshaft position sensor. Changed part. Replaced starter and a new battery. Still nothing. Stating probable engine failure. I've only owned this vehicle for 2 months!.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel had seized and there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 76,800.

I change my oil regularly and driving my car started knocking and I let a mechanic checked it and he said the engine was blown and I didn't understand why that happened. It was not out of oil and I still don't know why it happened.

I purchased a used 2016 kia Sorento during the used vehicle rise in pricing back in 2021. I owned a 2012 Hyundai sonata (which also required an engine replacement), but I my grandmother's car died, and I needed a better vehicle for a new job. June 16th I was driving with my daughter at around 9am and suddenly the vehicle started to shake and loss of power with the radio system beeping all dash lights flashing "engine system component" and check engine light remained on. (very similar to how my sonata died before engine replacement). I pulled over got the vehicle towed to my house due to it being a weekend and unable to reach a shop. I have a code reader, which I read the codes. Upon getting it to the dealer they said it was the cam shaft phaser and new spark plugs, costing about $4800. As a single mother and one income I need a vehicle to survive (and still owing over $6,000) and pay my bills. Now here I am September 15, and I get an "engine system component" and check engine light back on. Now I have read so many similar issues on kia blogs and nothing is being done to fix these issue and I am stuck with a vehicle that I still owe money on and overpaid because of covid, and continues to break down. I'm disgusted with kia as they could care less.