2016 Kia Sorento: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine · VA

On or about XXX, my KIA Sorento LX FWD Auto 2.4-liter engine with an approximate mileage of 36,000, began having drivability problems, none of which occurred before that date. On XXX the vehicle was serviced at Ourisman Chantilly Kia (VA051) for a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign (SC340) THETA II 2.4L GDI ECM S/W Upgrade. Records reflect that it was a Theta II Emissions Logic Improvement 250A21R1 0.3 M/H. This was a voluntary campaign from Kia America, Inc., [XXX]. Failure to have this performed, as cited from the Kia Corporate Headquarters, could nullify warranty/warranties. What ensued was a vehicle that stalled, seized, hesitated, and/or jolted at low speeds that had the potential to cause severe injury or accident. Uncontrolled rough accelerating and seizing is a serious complaint, and the causation can be linked to the dealership performing the voluntary recall where the vehicle was purchased on March 15, 2015, in [XXX]. Further, this vehicle has a full and complete record of all repairs and symptoms, which includes, and is not limited to, maintenance, Service Campaign, Service Action, Recall, and Product Improvement. This vehicle, included in a class of vehicles with a history of potential engine failures, has a Lifetime Engine Warranty extension coverage included in PI1802 Y/Z Engine R&R Warranty Bulletin 2020-26 and PI1802W/X Warranty Bulletin 2018-10. Therefore, when the records were reviewed for the initial Voluntary Emission Service Campaign recall code SC234 completed in 2022, along with my former the federal safety agency Complaint Number XXX submitted electronically, an apparent history of obfuscation relating to material safety concerns emerges. KIA America, Inc. sold this Kia as a five-star safety rated vehicle. It now makes me feel uneasy with its defective drivability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 17, 2026 · Engine · MD

The vehicle made a scraping sound and hesitated. Attempts to accelerate were not immediately successful. The car seemed to loose power.

Filed Oct 15, 2025 · Transmission · MD

My 2016 Kia Sorento SX AWD shows a noticeable delay in the powertrain when shifting from Park into first gear. The car hesitates before moving, which affects drivability and feels like a transmission lag. I consider this a safety issue because the delay could cause the car to stall unexpectedly. I’m especially worried about driving with my children or merging onto highways, where a stall or hesitation could lead to loss of control and increase the risk of an accident.

Filed Apr 25, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · TX

The shift interlock system stopped allowing the car to come out of park however the vehicle would still roll when in Park, have to do a manual override to take it out of park but it will hesitate on the highway. I have had too many near miss accidents with this vehicle. Especially due to my break lights working intermittently although they've been replaced. I'm not sure if it's electrical (my locks would randomly lock and unlock) or due to the shifting gear.

Filed Sep 24, 2024 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while attempting to leave the residence, the vehicle hesitated and shifted out of gear independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V612000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

Filed Aug 14, 2024 · Engine · TX

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

Filed Dec 9, 2022 · 123,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that she heard an abnormal sound at the front of the vehicle. The contact then stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated. The contact was unsure of any warning lights being illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The contact then received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Apr 5, 2022 · Engine · NJ

I was driving and suddenly the car started to hesitate. I pressed the gas down more but the car continued to lose power. The car did continue to drive, but only at about 35 mph. I was luckily very close to a rest station on the New Jersey Turnpike. And as I was coming up to a toll, the rest of the traffic was slowing down. If this had happened a few miles later, I certainly could have been in an accident as I slowed down and the rest of the cars would have continued to speed by. The car was towed to my Kia dealer as the check engine light was flashing and I did not want to drive it there due to the distance I was from the dealership. Their analysis found that cylinder #1 fuel injector was stuck in an open position. This caused the spark plug to become fowled. Both the cylindar and the plug had to be replaced. To date, it appears that the fix was successful. The dealer said there was a possibility that the catalytic converter may have to be replaced if I drove too long with the fuel injector not operating correctly. I drove approximately 2 miles. There were not warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the problem. No police or insurance company representatives involved.

Filed Mar 21, 2022 · Acceleration · 69,500 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate or fail to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal; the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic code showed that the throttle position sensor was defective. Upon further investigation, the contact discovered the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V089000 (Vehicle Speed Control) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and he was informed that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided information about an extended warranty that the vehicle qualified for; however, upon calling the dealer, the contact was informed that his vehicle did not qualify for the warranty. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 69,500.

Filed Jun 18, 2021 · Engine · MO

My engine keeps burning oil at an extremely fast rate and the oil is very dark. Every time I take it in to get an oil change or top off, the mechanics tell me that my care has excessive oil consumption and something is wrong with the engine. My car also hesitates to start. I’ve taken it to get checked out twice stating my concerns, and the mechanics are not able to find anything wrong with it. Also, the indicator light does not come on when my oil is low, which has led to me driving my car with no oil In it.

Filed Jan 10, 2020 · Steering · 45,000 miles · TX

My 2016 ex turbo sorrento has a steering issue. The steering feels like it sticks or hesitates. The feeling is difficult to describe as it is not like any steering I have experienced before . It is as though something mechanical in the lower part of the assembly is hesitating or slightly jerking and not giving the correct feedback and not accepting the drivers input correctly . I know there are both electrical and mechanical systems involved in the steering and something between them is not working correctly. There are certain driving conditions when this is no doubt a safety issue , like in the rain when you are not getting the correct feedback from the steering and are are driving between 2 semi trucks at 70 MPH. This issue needs to be a safety recall and fixed before there are people injured or worse from the effects of this defect. I have taken this to a kia dealer and they said the drove it and did not feel a problem. I have reported it to kia consumer affairs before the car was out of warranty and again now that it is out of warranty . This issue can be felt when driving or when stationary . To be clear , the driver has to constantly make small adjustments to keep the car driving in a straight line , and when making these adjustments the steering feels sticky so it requires extra force to move. I would like to add that other than the described steering issue this vehicle has been excellent in every way and very dependable .

Filed Jan 17, 2019 · Engine · 96,000 miles · AZ

On september 3, 2018, while driving our sorento, there was a loud knocking noise that started under the hood. We pulled up the uvo information on the dash and it did not display any errors. Drove the car home and had to have the car towed the next morning to the nearest kia dealership. After having to provide 12 months of receipts for oil changes, kia agreed to cover the engine under their warranty. Waited months to get a new engine after being told 6 different dates that the engine would be in, we finally got our car back on january 16, 2019. After we picked up the car, we drove it home and the car hesitated and turned itself off and coasted. It turned itself back on and we drove it back to the dealer and here we are waiting for an update the next day. We have also had 5 different rental cars due to this. Our car is not part of a recall by the way.