2016 Kia Sorento power train problems
123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2016 Kia Sorento — 10% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I am filing a safety complaint regarding a severe, sudden electronic and mechanical failure of the shift interlock system and the Body Control Module (BCM) that compromises vehicle control and leaves the vehicle stranded in active traffic conditions. While attempting to operate the vehicle, the…”
filed Sep 8, 2026
“I recently took my 2016 Kia Sorento L to the Kia dealership for the Emissions update recall. The next day when I started it up and put it in drive, it started jerking hard when I was trying to speed up (going from first to second gear). I had to stop and then slowly push the gas so it wouldn't jerk…”
filed Jul 19, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever…Campaign 22V612000 · Aug 10, 2022
Power Train problems in other Sorento years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sorento | 19 | 26% |
| 2024 Sorento | 4 | 10% |
| 2023 Sorento | 20 | 17% |
| 2022 Sorento | 64 | 34% |
| 2021 Sorento | 133 | 55% |
| 2020 Sorento | 18 | 13% |
| 2019 Sorento | 51 | 12% |
| 2018 Sorento | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 Sorento | 37 | 5% |
| 2015 Sorento | 42 | 6% |
| 2014 Sorento | 71 | 7% |
| 2013 Sorento | 69 | 7% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Kia Sorento
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.