2016 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Engine rattles or ticks
- 55owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- $6,100median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
718 of the 1,252 complaints on this car are about the engine. 55 of those describe engine rattle.
Tick what matches of 55 reports
Engine rattle 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: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group hear something before anything breaks. Most describe a ticking or tapping at idle, a rattle that's worse on a cold start and fades as the engine warms, or a noise that comes and goes over weeks. Some report the check engine light following a while later. It's the early-warning end of the engine complaints, and the reports that end in a named part are useful to anyone hearing the same sound.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (6 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
11 of the 55 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $12,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 95,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“premature engine failure due to excessive oil consumption, without indication from warning light of low oil. Checked my oil and registered 0 on the dip stick. the engine knock became present pulling into my driveway”
Filed Oct 6, 2023
“I have had my car less than a month as Iâm driving my car starts to rattle loudly and loses power I go to a nearby auto zone and they run a test which says I have a recall on my engine”
Filed Feb 4, 2023
“Was driving my car and the engine began to knock and then died. Looked at the oil and there was no oil on the dip stick. No warning light ever came on that the oil was low! Had to have it towed to a mechanic that said I now have to replace the engine!!!”
Filed Jan 20, 2023
“The engine and yes it is available for inspection The Car stalled at a red light at a busy intersection on my way to work I was afraid I was going to be hit The car is at a mechanic shop There was no warnings lights it all the sudden started tapping and then stalled and would not crank back up”
Filed Sep 24, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 55 reports involved a crash. 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 failure, knocking or rod bearing 357 reports
- 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
- 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