Is snow white pearl paint delamination and peeling a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

20 NHTSA complaints have been filed about snow white pearl paint delamination and peeling on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-12 → 2026-06). Reported component: STRUCTURE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11691002): "We have a 2016 Kia Sorento that has the Snow White Pearl paint. Our vehicle has a tad over 100k miles and the paint is peeling. We take care of our car and always have it clean and do not understand why this is happening" Source: NHTSA.

Is hard shift from first to second gear on cold start a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

7 NHTSA complaints have been filed about hard shift from first to second gear on cold start on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2025-03 → 2026-07). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11739211): "2016 Kia Sorento 2.4 mileage 75,500 (just out of warranty as of Jan 2026), vehicle is having transmission issue, hard shifting/jerking from1st gear to 2nd gear on first cold start-up of the day. No warning lamps on" Source: NHTSA.

Is engine seizure and loss of motive power while driving a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

68 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine seizure and loss of motive power while driving on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-10 → 2026-07). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11752935): "While I was driving, my 3.3 V6 engine on my 2016 Kia Sorento seized up with no warning. There is no visible oil on the dip stick, although I have changed my oil routinely. There has never been visible oil outside of the engine or on the ground" Source: NHTSA.

Is excessive oil consumption without low-oil warning a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

25 NHTSA complaints have been filed about excessive oil consumption without low-oil warning on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-10 → 2026-06). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11745718): "The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and 3 quarts of oil were added every 1,000 miles. The Check Engine and Low Oil Pressure warning lights were illuminated" Source: NHTSA.

Is engine overheating and head gasket coolant loss a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

14 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine overheating and head gasket coolant loss on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-12 → 2026-06). Reported component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11715851): "The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, while driving to the residence, the coolant temperature gauge went from COLD to HOT. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that smoke was coming from the engine compartment" Source: NHTSA.

Is electric power steering lock-up while driving a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

6 NHTSA complaints have been filed about electric power steering lock-up while driving on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-10 → 2026-03). Reported component: STEERING. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11685439): "The red steering wheel with an exclamation point pops up on the dashboard and instantly I lose power steering the wheel gets really hard, it went out as I was making a turn and I almost hit the truck" Source: NHTSA.

Is engine compartment fire a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

8 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine compartment fire on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-12 → 2026-06). Reported component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11714474): "I was leaving my home and was pulling out of my driveway when my vehicle suddenly caught fire. I was able to exit the vehicle with no injuries and called the fire department to put out the fire. the vehicle was a total loss" Source: NHTSA.

2016 Kia Sorento Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

Q: Is gear shifter stuck in park and shift-lock override use a known issue with the 2016 Kia Sorento?

17 NHTSA complaints have been filed about gear shifter stuck in park and shift-lock override use on the 2016 Kia Sorento (2024-10 → 2026-07). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11667023): "Put vehicle in park while waiting at a gas station. It won't come out of park. Managed to get it to the pump, and used a screwdriver to bypass the shift lock control, and was able to drive home. With the bypass enabled, it puts my family at risk while driving" Source: NHTSA.

The 2016 Kia Sorento carries 8 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering hoses, lines/piping, and fittings and buckle assembly. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Gear shifter stuck in Park and shift-lock override use.” Kia uses Hyundai Motor Group's powertrains, so service intervals mirror Hyundai's. Kia Promise covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. Kia owners with the Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Optima, Sorento, Sportage 2011-2019) should adhere strictly to oil intervals due to known oil-consumption issues in Kia TSBs.

8 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign #18V907000 · Dec 19, 2018

Issue: 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.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Campaign #15V446000 · Jul 14, 2015

Issue: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 23, 2014, to December 10, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.

Risk: If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.

SEATS

Campaign #16V770000 · Oct 24, 2016

Issue: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured March 3, 2016 to March 21, 2016. The driver's seatback frame may have been produced with inadequate weld joints and, as a result, the seatback may not function as designed in the event of a rear-end collision.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 9, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.

TRAILER HITCHES

Campaign #16V862000 · Nov 30, 2016

Issue: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.

SUSPENSION:REAR

Campaign #16V480000 · Jun 29, 2016

Issue: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.

Risk: The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC137.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Campaign #15V089000 · Feb 13, 2015

Issue: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to January 29, 2015. Due to an improperly soldered component in the accelerator pedal assembly, the driver may not be able to accelerate the vehicle.

Risk: If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC115.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Campaign #22V612000 · Oct 8, 2022

Issue: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016 Sedona and Sorento vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.

Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.

TRAILER HITCHES

Campaign #22V703000 · Sep 19, 2022

Issue: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Kia Sorento.

Reported to NHTSA

Gear shifter stuck in Park and shift-lock override use

POWER TRAIN

17 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-07

“Put vehicle in park while waiting at a gas station. It won't come out of park. Managed to get it to the pump, and used a screwdriver to bypass the shift lock control, and was able to drive home. With the bypass enabled, it puts my family at risk while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11667023

“The contact stated that after shifting the vehicle into park(P), the gear shifter would fail to shift out of the park(P) position. The contact would be forced to use a screwdriver to open the shift lock release button in an effort to shift gears”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11635214

“The specific issue I’ve encountered is that the vehicle intermittently becomes stuck in “Park” and cannot be shifted into “Drive” or any other gear using normal methods”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11671966

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Snow White Pearl paint delamination and peeling

STRUCTURE

20 NHTSA complaints · 2024-12 → 2026-06

“We have a 2016 Kia Sorento that has the Snow White Pearl paint. Our vehicle has a tad over 100k miles and the paint is peeling. We take care of our car and always have it clean and do not understand why this is happening”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11691002

“Vehicle has paint that is delaminating in numerous places. It starts as a raised area then the paint just flakes off leaving bare metal exposed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11640621

“Paint on our Pearl White 2016 Sorento is beginning to delaminate on the front of hood and the two pillar posts. It began as a small bubble and continues to spread and chip off. Several quarter-sized spots now and two hand-sized places”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11681282

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Hard shift from first to second gear on cold start

POWER TRAIN

7 NHTSA complaints · 2025-03 → 2026-07

“2016 Kia Sorento 2.4 mileage 75,500 (just out of warranty as of Jan 2026), vehicle is having transmission issue, hard shifting/jerking from1st gear to 2nd gear on first cold start-up of the day. No warning lamps on”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11739211

“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 so hard, then it finally switched gears and was smooth”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11751409

“After recieving the car back, the transmission acts unpredictably and the throttle is erratic. This happens when started cold and continues until the engine reaches temperature. It did not do this previous to the update”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11749807

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine seizure and loss of motive power while driving

ENGINE

68 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-07

“While I was driving, my 3.3 V6 engine on my 2016 Kia Sorento seized up with no warning. There is no visible oil on the dip stick, although I have changed my oil routinely. There has never been visible oil outside of the engine or on the ground”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11752935

“Our 2016 Kia Sorento had 86k miles on it, loud knocking began and days later catastrophic engine failure. Rods and bearings are busted on my 3.3 Liter, V6 GDI engine. It died while my wife was driving it to the dealership. Estimated repair is 19k, metal shavings in the oil”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710564

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11624916

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive oil consumption without low-oil warning

ENGINE

25 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-06

“The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and 3 quarts of oil were added every 1,000 miles. The Check Engine and Low Oil Pressure warning lights were illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11745718

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11625713

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11626294

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine overheating and head gasket coolant loss

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

14 NHTSA complaints · 2024-12 → 2026-06

“The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, while driving to the residence, the coolant temperature gauge went from COLD to HOT. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that smoke was coming from the engine compartment”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11715851

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11670648

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11633196

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electric power steering lock-up while driving

STEERING

6 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-03

“The red steering wheel with an exclamation point pops up on the dashboard and instantly I lose power steering the wheel gets really hard, it went out as I was making a turn and I almost hit the truck”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11685439

“Driving on the freeway going 75-80 mph and my steering wheel locked up. When this happens I am unable to turn my steering wheel. Have to let my foot of the gas and try with all my muscle to get the car to go to the side of the road to put the car in park”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11681447

“While driving, when you try to turn steering wheel a fraction to one side or the other there is resistance and then a release which results in in oversteering that has to be corrected”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11718531

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

8 NHTSA complaints · 2024-12 → 2026-06

“I was leaving my home and was pulling out of my driveway when my vehicle suddenly caught fire. I was able to exit the vehicle with no injuries and called the fire department to put out the fire. the vehicle was a total loss”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11714474

“The vehicle had been operating normally and displayed no warning lights, alerts, or diagnostic trouble codes prior to the incident. The driver was forced to pull over immediately for safety. The fire caused catastrophic damage and resulted in a total loss of the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11713755

“On the way home we were driving on the interstate, car jolted and caught fire. something went through the oil pan and the oil dumped on the exhaust and caught flame. The car had to be towed to my parents and has been sitting since”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11742930

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 3 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L on Optima, Sorento, Sportage (2011-2019): full synthetic only, never extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Telluride and Sorento AWD owners benefit from rotation every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads and rotors every 7,500 miles. Forte and Soul front pads typically last 40,000-55,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required for ABS and ESC pump longevity.

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Optima, Forte, and Sportage; behind the dashboard panel on Telluride.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

78 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

complaints mentioning a crash

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Kia Sorento reflects Kia's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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