2016 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 124owner reports
- 67,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
733 of the 1,252 complaints on this car are about the engine. 124 of those describe oil consumption.
Tick what matches of 124 reports
Oil consumption 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: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
What this problem usually is
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (28 reports) and the engine (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 8 recalls on the 2016 Kia Sorento, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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.
Fuel spill during refueling. Closed dec 21, 2011.
What owners paid
21 of the 124 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $800 to $8,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,500 and 96,000 miles, from the 59 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 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.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
What owners wrote
“Engine suddenly started making a lot of clattering noise. Oil consumption has been extremely high! Mechanic stated engine needs replaced.”
Filed Dec 15, 2025
“My 2016 Sorento LX is consuming 3quarts of oil in 1000 miles, I have asked the dealership and mentioned this to them and now after warranty is over they finally did oil consumption test and my car needs a new engine, I was told it could blow up at anytime, I have all maintenance papers and was told I would have to pay $7,000 to replace engine”
Filed Nov 28, 2023 · 1,000 miles
“Excessive oil consumption. Less than 3,000 miles between changes, consuming roughly 2 quarts less than 3,000 miles. Up on reading others having same engine experiencing same problems. My car serviced religiously. Still runs, now going to dealer.”
Filed Apr 3, 2023 · 3,000 miles
“Oil consumption problem with GDI engine. No leaks, it is burning oil on a weekly basis and the oil light does not come on. There are several online blogs and YouTube videos of people with the same issue but no fix. I am constantly having to add oil. This is a known issue with GDI engines.”
Filed Mar 20, 2023 · 138,628 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 124 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
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
- 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