Diagsheet

2016 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet

Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks

  • 39owner reports
  • 40,000median miles
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Feb 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

80 of the 1,252 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 39 of those describe sticky steering.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026
No crash reportedin 39 reports

Tick what matches of 39 reports

33
12
21
6
2

Sticky steering on other Sorento years

201639 reports201760 reports

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: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.

What this problem usually is

Sticky steering is a wheel that catches or hangs for a moment before it turns, then moves in a small jerk. It's different from a wheel that's simply heavy: owners here describe a notch, and many say it's worst when making small corrections at highway speed.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the column (8 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 30,000 and 50,000 miles, from the 21 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2017: 1, 2018: 3, 2019: 9, 2020: 5, 2021: 6, 2022: 2, 2023: 7, 2024: 4, 2025: 1, 2026: 11'173'189'195'206'212'227'234'241'251'26

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 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.

What owners wrote

“When driving down the road at any speed in a striaght line steering sticks requiring constant over correction. This is becoming a big problem at highway speeds as vehcile will jerk and on an icy road Im affaid I my lose control”

Filed Dec 6, 2023

“At 45mph or faster, when turning left.. the steering sticks briefly and the EPS (electric power steering) over-corrects it. Makes the steering wheel jump. So the driver has to perform constant corrections. I believe it’s very serious safety issue.”

Filed Nov 12, 2023

“Steering column resistance measure at 5.3 NM indication an internal issue of the column which needed to be replaced. Power Steering sticking and stiff while driving causing clear and present danger to driver passengers and possibly other property. Kia Dealer was apologetic that this was not covered by warranty or recall. However there were other reports of this issue in the KIA System.”

Filed Apr 24, 2023

“Sticky Steering It can be felt at any speed but especially on the highway when turning left. I can feel the steering sticks briefly then the wheel jumps. So I have to make constant unnecessary corrections.”

Filed Mar 31, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 39 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