2016 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 357owner reports
- 86,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
718 of the 1,252 complaints on this car are about the engine. 357 of those describe engine failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Sorento.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (111 reports) · Engine seized (53 reports)
Tick what matches of 357 reports
Engine failure on other Sorento years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (342 reports) and the timing chain (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Sorento
Loss of motive power. Closed jul 23, 2024.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Engine oil pressure switch leak. Closed jun 26, 2023.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-224.
What owners paid
78 of the 357 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $8,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 57,000 and 108,000 miles, from the 152 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 21 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Kia Sorento that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY035) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY035) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2016-2017MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles equipped with ...
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY035) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY035) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub-assembly on 2016-2017MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles equipped with ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published PI1802 titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement"; equipped w/THETA II engine.
PITSTOP: INJECTOR HARNESS ROUTING FOR PI1802Y/Z AND PI1803Y/Z ENGINE REPLACEMENTS This bulletin provides information to address a no-start or hard start with poor running condition after engine replacement under PI1802Y/Z or PI1803Y/Z. Some replacement long blocks may come with pre-installed fuel rail, injectors, and injector wiring ...
17 more on the 2016 Kia Sorento page.
What owners wrote
“My engine failed while driving at 65 mph. There were no warning signs: no check engine light, no low oil pressure, and the temperature gauge prior to failure looked normal. My car had been well-maintained with regular oil changes within the recommended intervals with synthetic oil. The engine failed at approximately 103k miles; there were no known issues prior to failure.”
Filed Jan 12, 2023 · 103,000 miles
“My wife's 2016 kia sorento only had 86,000 miles on it and is knocking bad! So it's been sitting and I've seen others recanted for the same thing. It's a rod knocking no mistaking it! Very disappointed in the service, it had the 2.4 l so I tight it would be a good motor because we had a2010 optima with the same engine and put over 100,000 miles on it. It was running perfect and then it started knocking!”
Filed Sep 17, 2022 · 86,000 miles
“I was driving on freeway and all of a sudden my car stopped. The engine blew, I had no oil in car; the oil light didnât come on. I had recently changed the oil. We kept oil changes up to date every 3000 miles. Called Kia, they said they couldnât help us. What can we do?”
Filed Aug 11, 2022 · 3,000 miles
“Engine failure at 85,500 miles an hour into a road trip. Just had an oil change on it a few days prior. No warning lights came on before the engine started to rattle at 3000 rpms. Engine still rattles while car is idling.”
Filed Jun 30, 2022 · 85,500 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 357 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 216 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 163 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 124 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 121 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 70 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 55 reports
- Vehicle fire 45 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 44 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 39 reports
- Engine leaks oil 38 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 27 reports