general problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Sorento - part 2

1) I bought this car in October 2021, when it had ~79,000 miles on it. After ~2,000 miles, it showed a low engine oil sign, and it has been showing this issue since then, I. E. , I have to change my oil/filter after every ~2000 miles. It has incurred a huge cost. I talked to the dealers, but they did nothing to solve this problem and charged me ~$1200. Funny part. Whenever I go for an oil change, they say that kia/Hyundai cars have this engine problem. It's a joke to this system that the govt still allows them to roll on the USA roads. 2) today, this car had a flashing engine light. I will go to a mechanic tomorrow, but afraid of how much they will charge.

Driving in traffic at night. Engine suddenly began running erratically, lost power and died. Upon opening the hood I found oily coolant all over the engine compartment that had shorted out the engine electrical systems. I determined that it has shorted out from coolant because after sitting for about 30 minutes the coolant apparently evaporated and the engine started again. This could have been life threatening to my wife, me and others if the engine had died on the very curvy road we'd just gotten off of. I have since found out that there is a TSB (wty035) that extends the warranty due to faulty head bolts. But this is also a safety issue.

Engine failure.

This scenerio happened and fire resulted with total loss. Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings recall date 2018-12-18 recall no. 18v907000 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 replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak. Hide details recall consequence a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. Recall action 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.

As I drove on the highway, the car made a loud rattling sound and all the lights on the dashboard lit up. I pulled over immediately and turned off my car. I let it sit for a few minutes and tried to turn it back on - it would not start. I was on the side of a 4-lane highway in the early evening, with my 3 children in the car with me. I had the car towed to a mechanic - they discovered the oil tank was completely empty - I was not overdue for an oil change. They conducted an oil change - the car started and then immediately the engine seized and shut down. However they could not conclude what happened to cause the engine to fail. I took the car to the kia dealership for an evaluation. The engine had seized due to bearing failure (bottom end). There is an open class action lawsuit and engine warranty for the same system failure, but on a different-sized engine. There were no warnings of an engine failure or a problem with the vehicle prior to the engine shut-down. It all happened within a matter of seconds as I was driving. The transmission, catalytic converter and flex hose had been replaced 8,000 miles prior to this incident.

I purchased my kia Sorento in August of 2024 in April 2025 my kia went into limp mode p1326.   it was determined to be part of the ksds recall but all they did is replace the sensor.   something caused that sensor to go off and I feel they just masked the problem.    at the same time in April I was told that there is a severe case of oil consumption that the kia dealership requested information I do a $700 engine cleaning but actually made the oil consumption worse.    also just in the last 11 months ive had excessive paint issues where overall there's random chips, then peeling on the hood, side of the windshield and top of vehicle.   I messaged kia USA where I was informed neither situation is covered under warranty.    my thoughts on oil consumption is I myself and the previous owners via carfax show consistent maintenance which in turn make it seem to be a manufacturer issue.   I'm in imperial mo 63052 USA  not sure if your company can help or refer me to someone who can.  .

Driving my kia on a highway, no engine light came on and it slowed down and eventually turned off. Tried starting it and heard rattling noise. Had it towed to kia dealer in fargo, nd and told me it was normal wear and tear.

He component that failed was the engine. Specifically, the engine block burst while the vehicle was traveling on the highway at over 50 miles per hour. The explosion of the engine block during driving posed a serious risk to my safety and that of other drivers. The sudden failure could have caused a loss of vehicle control, a collision, or even a fire. Fortunately, I was able to stop in the emergency lane in time without causing an accident. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, who verified the structural damage to the engine block and its complete loss of functionality. At no time before the incident did any warning lights—oil or engine—come on. There were no messages on the dashboard indicating a potential imminent failure. The engine is available for inspection if necessary.

See attached document for complaint.

Without warning vehicle stalled. Started right up and had ticking sound at low rpm which went away. Oil change and next day same thing happened. Won't start and engine has seized.

While I am driving it can be jerking anytime and also the slippery light come on the dashboard. Sometimes the engine light come on too.

Engine blew. Getting on interstate, vehicle blew when accelerating on interstate and died right before getting on. Could have been very dangerous if it had made it on the interstate itself. No warning lights or indication ther was a problem. It was maintained regularly. It had 125000 miles on it. A/c fan quit working due to electrical issues. Drivers side brake light blew several times. It was life changing and not for the good. There have also been a few other minor problems.

Engine failed. Took car to johnson city kia dealership as advised by kia of north America. The dealership said the engine failed due to carbon build up which is a problem with the engines, that it was not covered under warranty. I paid over $6,400 to have the engine replaced. When I was driving the car home the engine light came on and I lost power on the interstate causing me to almost get hit by a semi-truck. I took the car back to kia of johnson city TN. The next day. Kia stated that the high-pressure fuel pump had went bad from the time I left the dealership and got home. I paid over $1,350 to replace a high-pressure fuel pump. On the way home engine light and loss of power. I returned to kia. They stated that gas had gotten into my oil. They changed the oil and I headed home, same issue engine light and loss of power. I told kia of johnson city I wanted a refund, and they could put the old part back on. Kia of johnson city told me to take the car to another dealership that I was not getting a refund, and they would not fix my car. The engine codes and problems were the same as when I picked the car up from kia. I have tried twice to have kia of north America buy the car back due to it not being fixed and I do not feel safe in the car. I have taken the car to a Hyundai dealership in johnson city TN. And asked them to check the engine code and loss of power. Another $223. 05. They stated the high-pressure fuel pump was defective. Fixing same issue multiple times.

The engine failed. Had a new engine put in the car. Driving the car home the car lost power on the interstate causing me to almost get hit by a semi trailer. Called kia dealership and was told to bring car back. They said it had a bad high pressure fuel pump. I had it replaced, same issue. They said they would not fix the engine to take it somewhere else. Called kia of north America to report the safety issue and I didn't feel safe driving the car. I wanted the car to be bought back. They denied it and would not honor the warranty. They said I could not file a lawsuit against them? engine is bad. I sent a written statement to kia of american with all paperwork notarized.

The car started to shake really bad and the engine light came on, pulled over called the tow truck service took it to the shop where they informed me the engine was blown.

Engine died, mechanic said needs to be replaced due to no oil. Low oil light never illuminated. Oil was changed 6 months prior. Only 140,000 miles, driven less than 10,000 miles a year if that. Why didn’t the low pressure gauge illuminate. Now I’m out over $5000. 00. Not ok kia.

Piston ring failure, resulting in loss of power and excessive smoke from the exhaust system.

We experienced a large oil leak from the vehicle. Towing it to the dealer, we are told the oil feed pipe to the turbo charger part number 282402gta1 has failed spewing oil out of the turbo area. There are many recalls for similar parts on other kia / Hyundai models with 2. 0t and 3. 3 engine models. The dealer is telling me this is not covered by kia. This is a safety concern of oil spewing from the engine which can get on hot exhaust components as well as burning from the engine compartment. My vehicle is currently at the dealership waiting to escalate the concern.

Received a notice of extended coverage regarding engine block concerns in September of 2024 took the vehicle in regarding a constant coolant smell when driving the vehicle. At that time the dealership checked out the vehicle and then proceeded to charge us for the appointment, even though the warranty extension clearly stated there was to be no cost incurred. After receiving the vehicle back we still experienced coolant smells while driving and informed the dealer accordingly. On [xxx] while driving to henrietta ok, the vehicle actually overheated while driving. We had to have the vehicle towed to our home. On Monday morning I contacted our kia dealer and let them know about the event. On [xxx] we trailered the kia back to the dealer, after I had performed the appropriate tests the dealer would be performing to verify a block issue with the vehicle. Once the vehicle was at the dealership they performed the same test with the same results I had received. They submitted their video evidence to Kia Motors , at which time Kia Motors requested a second block test be completed as they questioned the results. The dealership tried to duplicate the results to no avail. At this point kia is not authorizing an engine replacement. We are three weeks into a process that kia is well aware of the issue, but they will not authorize a repair. 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 the contact's husband was driving, the engine seized. The vehicle was started, however the vehicle failed to start as intended. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

Failed engine - piston rings broke randomly while driving down the road. Fourth cylinder not holding any compression. Not even 100k miles on the vehicle. Mechanic stated there was no contributing factors to the engine failing. No warnings and/or engine lights that something was wrong with the vehicle. One minute it was running fine, then the next minute it wasn't. Car is unrepairable without putting an entirely new engine in it.

Car stalled in middle of road. Would not start. When did get it started told me there was engine problem. Took it to smith kia, told me my engine burning oil shutting down important sensors. No low oil light. Nothing no warning or anything. There used to be a recall for 2015 for same issue but my car isn’t covered because of year but you can’t tell me my engine is any different than the 2015.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine, oil pressure, and the low tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer; but received no response. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,500.

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.