The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and overheated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the head bolts had a gap between the head gasket and the engine block. The mechanic recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
2016 Kia Sorento engine complaints
Page 13 of 25: complaints 341 to 370 of 722, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking sound from the engine while the vehicle was idling and upon depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, resulting in engine damage. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
While driving on i95 the car suddenly stopped without warning. After getting the car towed twice, to find out the engine seized up after a mechanic took a look at it.
Rod bearings failed while driving down busy road had to immediately pull over. Car was just recently serviced. Even after engine failed the check engine light never came on which is highly unsafe!
In 2020 Kia replaced the engine on our 2016 Sorento. The new engine is doing the same thing with regards to oil consumption and causing us to repeatedly have to put oil in the vehicle at almost every fuel stop. There are no obvious oil leaks observed by us or Kia, we are also experiencing error code 0420 on the vehicle as often as 2-3 times a week. The dealership states that the engine replaced in 2020 only had a 1 year, 12000 mile warranty on it and it is no longer covered. The check engine light was unable to be diagnosed by the dealership despite being illuminated when taken to the dealer. We believe the engine oil leak and 0420 code are related as there are no other codes being shown on the vehicle.
I was driving the car when I suddenly smelled coolant. No warning lights came on and the temperature gauge was in the normal range when I first smelled coolant. Then, steam began to come through my vents. This is when the temperature gauge began to rise. I drove the car to get it to a safe place before shutting it off. I had it towed to a service center to get the problems diagnosed. The service center told me the engine and cooling system would need to be replaced. I can provide the diagnostic assessment. This could have been extremely dangerous if the problem occurred on the highway, as I fear the engine could have caught fire. I was blessed that this happened on a city street. There was a very sudden loss of coolant, and the inspection revealed metal shavings in the oil. I have had this vehicle regularly maintained and checked the oil myself to keep it at the proper level. None of my prior service visits noted any presence of metal in the oil.
The engine was built with a known defect. The bolts securing the head to block were all fine thread bolts. Fine thread bolts will strip out under torque and compression. The antifreeze will flood the compartment.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle overheated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was informed that there was no failure with the engine. The contact stated that the failure was ongoing. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the thermostat needed to be replaced. The water pump and engine were pressure tested. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
The engine was going through over 5 quarts of oil about once a month. There were no visible leaks. For months, there was no check engine light illuminated so the dealership couldn't help determine and fix the problem without charging over $10,000 to open the engine, which I couldn't afford. A Service Advisor, in their words, told me to, "Run it until it dies," so that they can start using the warranty. This to me was very unsafe, especially for my infant who was there when she said this. Months later, the car started shaking intensely and the check engine light finally came on. The car stopped working in the middle of the freeway but I was able to exit and take it to the nearest dealership. They were able to run a diagnosis and said it was an engine misfire and they replaced it (I was able to use my warranty for some of the repairs but still had to pay about $4000). It didn't take long for the car to stop working again. They then said there was a problem with the fuel pump so I had them replace it. I had barely just left the dealership when the car stopped working again. They replaced the catalytic converter, which was a part of a voluntary recall. For months after, they've been trying to figure out the issue with no success. It has been sitting at their service center since November 2022 with no solution.
Most recently the engine burned up the oil prior to my next service date. After oil was added and the engine drove fine. The next day the engine ran fine and after driving through an intersection 1/2 mile from my house the car died. It lost complete power, putting myself and my family in danger. (Thank God we were able to get off to the side of the busy roadway safely). At that moment, a battery light came on first, then an oil and engine light illuminated at the same time. The car wouldn’t start and had to be towed off the side of the road. The mechanic that looked at it said it needed an engine. Due to lack of maintenance records, the extended warranty company chose to deny my claim. The dealer has my car and will do a diagnostic test. About a year ago I had the transmission looked at for hard shifting into first and the dealer said it needed a flush. The problem continued not too long after they flushed it. It only happens if you release the brake and push to start too quickly and put in gear too quickly. No recalls I’m being told for that issue as well. ZERO indicators on dash prior to any issues happening that would have given me the opportunity to maintenance/service my vehicle before resulting in engine failure and potentially costing my thousands I don’t have. I love my Kia and want my baby back in great working order but I’m afraid I won’t be able to have her back if the repairs are more expensive than the cars worth. I’m still financing this vehicle as well. Please KIA/Hyundai I need your grace and good faith to repair my vehicle under warranty.
At an intersection, the vehicle’s engine died unexpectedly without warning. No lights or alarms. The vehicle would not start. Once towed to the repair shop, I was told that the engine had seized and that the engine would need to be replaced at a huge cost. The vehicle had only been driven 1500 miles since last oil change. No oil light or check engine light ever went on.
Excessive oil consumption. Less than 3,000 miles between changes, consuming roughly 2 quarts less than 3,000 miles. Up on reading others having same engine experiencing same problems. My car serviced religiously. Still runs, now going to dealer.
While daughter driving home on interstate, Sorento started losing power and slowing down, no warning lights turned on. She pulled off interstate when she noticed it was missing and cut the car off. When trying to start the vehicle again, engine light came on, but the car was missing so bad, we had it towed home. Next day had it towed to auto repair, was told it was losing compression in one and two cylinder and coming out tailpipe. The oil was checked and good and the vehicle did not have any warning lamps, even when it failed her on interstate. The vehicle never register or run hot. No lights came on until after pulled over and turned off and then on again. Had the knock sensor installed for recall when received in mail and it was updated. Vehicle has not been repaired because I can't find anyone that will work on a Kia! Making payments & Insurance on a car that cannot drive.
I was driving down the road and heard a grinding noise from engine. I pulled over to check under the hood for fluid leaks or check engine lights which everything checked out good temp gauges and everything giving normal readings. I then proceeded to keep traveling my route and about 5 minutes in I was loosing power and my car wasn't accelerating any more. I contacted the dealership I received my car from letting them know of these problems and informed them of a recall that was in affect a couple years back and also about the recent one I then asked if they fixed this problem or had any Knowledge of these defects which they stated it's not on them I have to take it up with the manufacturer even though I wasn't informed of these problems before my vehicle purchase. I then contacted the manufacturer and let them know of the troubles and got them in contact with the mechanic that was in charge of my diagnostic at the time and they did an investigation and turned out the recall caused this problem but since the problem already occurred they can't help me with repairs. This shouldn't be on me when they sold me a faulty vehicle without disclosing the recalls that needed attention which in return could've cost me or someone's life that day.
My engine stalled while Driving, There was no warning it just cut off. The car would not turn over to start only a click. I held the key in the start position it started, the engine shook and it cut off immediately. What is wrong with my car ???? The oil is good, the coolant is good etc.
My vehicle abruptly went into catastrophic engine failure 01/03/23. After diagnostics run by both a third party repair shop and a Kia dealership, we were informed that a knock sensor failure had led to the lack check engine light as the problem was evolving. This knock sensor is a known defect in Kia's product and has previously been labeled a "product improvement" issue. I was not notified of this product improvement recommendation and could therefore not reconcile it. I contacted Kia directly who state a letter was sent in December 2018 and June 2019; these communications were absolutely never received. This issue directly led to a serious safety event of the vehicle and therefore for my family. As a "product improvement" this known defect is not searchable through the federal safety agency or Kia website for consumers awareness. This issue needs to be escalated to a product safety recall to prevent further serious safety events
The motor oil is disappearing at a rapid rate and I have to fill up the engine oil every week because they just disappear. A few weeks ago my vehicle started jumping while on park and when I took it to the mechanic he said the oil is leaking out to the coils and there were several misfires. It cost me over $200 to repair it and I am still filling up the engine oil every week. This issue is showing up in other similar models as well.
It started making a knocking noise, checked the oil and there was none in it. No warning light came and I was not due for an oil change.
While driving at highway speed, the battery light and oil light came on and the throttle became unresponsive. The driver pulled over safely. The vehicle had to be restarted before the throttle became responsive again. The vehicle was taken to Maguire Kia Service (Ithaca, NY), where the engine was subsequently replaced.
I was driving my Kia Sorento and the check engine light came on. Took to Autozone to scan the code. And it came back as a KNOCK SENSOR CODE. It went to LIMP MODE I couldn’t accelerare and Was so slow. And consuming oil. And the engine had a knock. Problems with the shift gear. I took it to GREENBRIER KIA DEALERSHIP IN CHESAPEAKE VIRGINIA. They told me that it just need it a software update. I told them that I hear many owners having the same issues. Now they did a diagnostic for $199 dollars. They told me it needs a new knock sensor. The total I will have to pay is close to $600 dollars. I told them if they do ROD BEARINGS TEST. They say they do. I’m just frustrated because it seems like the engine needs to be replaced. The technician told me my Kia Sorento was not on the knock sensor recall nor engine recall. I can’t drive the car and still making payments on it.
The cooling system was not heating or Cooling and the car was shaking when turned on. There was also fluid leaking from under the car. The mechanic reported that the head gasket is loose and leaking coolant and engine oil. He stated this is been a common problem with Kia sorento's and it is a manufacturer defect during the installation of the engine. The bolts are loose which causes the gasket to come loose which causes the leaking. He advised me not to drive the car because it could cause the engine and the head gasket to blow completely and possibly even start a fire.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced with a refurbished engine. Approximately three years later the engine began to leak oil. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the replacement engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,994.
Oil consumption problem with GDI engine. No leaks, it is burning oil on a weekly basis and the oil light does not come on. There are several online blogs and YouTube videos of people with the same issue but no fix. I am constantly having to add oil. This is a known issue with GDI engines.
Car stopped accelerating on highway. Is unable to drive safely at this time and needed to call tow truck to tow vehicle to nearest dealership.
Car uses more oil than it is supposed to. Oil consumption problem. The engine can use more oil that it is supposed to and cause disruption to the engine running. It can also cause problems with the catalytic converter and cause the check engine light to come on.
Over the course of 12 months the vehicle is exhibiting worsening excessive engine oil consumption. There is no oil leak. Engine Oil Warning Light does not come on to alert oil is low. And at times within a week the oil level is almost none on dipstick. Using 4-5 quarts a month between regular oil changes. Loud knocking noise occurs after driving and engine is turned off. The engine fan is constantly running and remains running up to 10 minutes after engine turned off even in mild temperatures and very short drives. Violently Hard Shifting occurs. This is intermittent and unpredictable but has worsened and become more frequent over last 1 year. This hard shifting can be so hard and severe to cause pain from seat belt and mild whiplash. Cold weather does increase the frequency and severity however it also happens in mild and warm weather at an alarming rate. At times the shifting is so hard and violent that it feels as though you just drove off a 3 foot ledge hitting front end hard. It happens at both high and low speeds. Vehicle has been taken to mechanics on several occasions. Each time they find no problems. Current Mileage is 95,000 miles. I purchased 18 months ago from dealership and almost immediately problems began.
The vehicle started severely overheating and making weird noises out of no where one day and is now not drivable due to overheating.
Driving home from dinner with a friend, we proceed on to intersection. We hear a loud sound, we find out once car has stopped we notice that there no longer any oil in engine. Call for a tow, and find out that our engine had blown a rod. Noticed that are other owners with same issue. Car is in the process of being towed from my mechanic to the kia dealership.
My car has 65,000.00. I keep the oil and filter maintained every 7,500 miles. I was driving the other day and went to exhilarate and my car starting shacking and made a loud bang, smoke came out everywhere. I was able to make it to the side of the road before it died. No check engine light, no oil heat indicator came on. I looked under the hood and there was oil everywhere. I have now been told by a Kia dealership where I had the car towed that I had a catastrophic engine failure.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound and then a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle was stalling with the oil warning light illuminated. The contact then saw smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was inoperable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2016 Kia Sorento?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history