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RECALLROADTHE CAMPAIGN RECORD

MODEL-YEAR RECALL REPORT

2016 Kia Sorento recalls

NHTSA's September 21, 2026 snapshot lists 8 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Sorento, spanning 9 component groups. A model match does not confirm that a specific VIN is included.

Official source: NHTSA recall campaign file · Snapshot September 21, 2026

URGENT CAMPAIGN FLAG

NHTSA records include a Park Outside advisory for at least one campaign associated with 2016 Kia Sorento. Open the campaign and verify the VIN before operating or parking the vehicle.

Distinct campaigns8not VIN-specific
Component groups9distinct top-level categories
Latest recordSeptember 19, 2022report received
VIN resultNot checkeduse official lookup

01 / OFFICIAL CAMPAIGNS

2016 Kia Sorento recall campaigns

The 2016 Kia Sorento report contains 8 distinct NHTSA campaigns; the most recently received record is campaign 22V703000 dated September 19, 2022.
PARK OUTSIDE
Component
TRAILER HITCHES
Report received
September 19, 2022
Potential units
70,887campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

Why it matters: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: July 27, 2023 · Filing manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 22V612000

Component
POWER TRAIN
Report received
August 10, 2022
Potential units
28,065campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

Why it matters: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: October 7, 2022 · Filing manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Component
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Report received
December 19, 2018
Potential units
71,653campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: January 17, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Kia Motors America

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 16V862000

Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TRAILER HITCHES
Report received
November 30, 2016
Potential units
10,212campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.".

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

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: January 19, 2017 · Filing manufacturer: Kia Motors America

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 16V770000

Component
SEATS
Report received
October 24, 2016
Potential units
1,408campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: December 9, 2016 · Filing manufacturer: Kia Motors America

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 16V480000

Component
SUSPENSION
Report received
June 29, 2016
Potential units
7,901campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

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

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

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: July 27, 2016 · Filing manufacturer: Kia Motors America

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 15V446000

Component
SEAT BELTS
Report received
July 14, 2015
Potential units
2,587campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

Why it matters: 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.

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: August 18, 2015 · Filing manufacturer: Kia Motors America

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 15V089000

Component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Report received
February 13, 2015
Potential units
12,361campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy

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.

Owner notification: February 20, 2015 · Filing manufacturer: Kia Motors America

02 / COMPONENT BREADTH

What defects are listed for the 2016 Kia Sorento?

The most frequent component groups in 2016 Kia Sorento campaign records are Trailer Hitches (2), Vehicle Speed Control (1), Seat Belts (1), Suspension (1), Seats (1); these counts describe filed campaigns rather than observed failure rates.
Trailer Hitches2
Vehicle Speed Control1
Seat Belts1
Suspension1
Seats1