2016 Kia Sorento Electrical Problems

ABS/Traction Control Light Warning (Direct Fire Risk Symptom): Immediately prior to the loss, the ABS and Traction Control warning lights were constantly illuminated. This is a known precursor symptom for the defective Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) or ABS Module short-circuit, which has been cited in numerous Kia fire recalls (e.g., NHTSA 20V019, 20V519).

This scenerio happened and fire resulted with total loss. Fuel system, gasoline: Delivery: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings Recall date 2018-12-18 Recall no.

My 2016 Kia seronto was fine wasn’t throwing any codes not even the code that tells me my oil is low.

Car got caught on fire while driving with my 5kids

I have been calling Kia corporate for a year now. They will put me on hold or transfer me until they think I give so they disconnect me! I finally got a supervisor on the phone to help me and he was very rude.

I was traveling on the interstate, I heard a slight tapping noise, after about 5 miles, there was no warning light indicators, the car just died, I lost all power, there were no brakes, I was able to get pulled off the highway to the warning track that helped slow the vehicle down, smoke was coming from under the hood & into the cabin, then I saw flames, at about 20mph I knew I had to get out so I put it in park & it finally stopped.

Saw a news report that the Tow Hitch Harness electric may start on fire. Received a notice from Kia November 1, 2022 regarding the possible fire.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES I HAVE FOUND WITH THIS CAR I JUST FINANCED. FIRST, AT RANDOM MANY DIFFERENT LIGHTS JUST BLOW, THEN ON MY DASH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS WILL GO ON AND OFF, ON TOP OF THAT MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF FOR NO REASON AND SO ARE MY PASSENGER AIR BAGS. MY BRAKES SCREAM SOMEDAYS AND ARE TOUCHY OTHERS IVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND ONLY OWNED IT 3 MONTHS. I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES YET THE SUSPENSION IS AWFUL THE FUEL IS GOING FAST AND MY OIL NEEDS CHANGING VERY OFTEN AND IT IS UNDER 100000 MILES.

MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST BEEN HOME FOR AN HOUR AFTER A 20 MIN IN TOWN DRIVE. SOMETHING HAD MADE ME LOOK OUT SIDE OF OUR SECOND STORY APARTMENT AND I ASKED MY WIFE IS YOUR CAR RUNNING? THE ENTIRE REAR END WAS ENGULFED IN BLUE SMOKE. SHE SAID NO! SO THEN BEGAN PANIC MODE! I RAN DOWNSTAIRS TO THE SMELL OF ELECTRIC FIRE. SO I INSTANTLY WHEN TO MY PICKUP TRUCK GRABBED A PAIR OF PLIERS RAN BACK TO MY WIFE'S KIA AND UNPLUGGED BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CONNECTIONS FROM THE TERMINALS WHICH INSTANTLY STOPPED THE SMOKE. I GRABBED MY FLASHLIGHT (IT WAS DUSK) AND CRAWLED UNDERNEATH THE REAR BUMPER TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. A LITTLE BLACK BOX TUCKED BEHIND THE BUMPER BETWEEN THE SPARE AND THE BUMPER. LOOKED LIKE A JUNCTION BOX OF WIRE HAD MELTED AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHAT IF WE WHERE NOT AROUND? THE CAR WOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS.

Tl* the contact owned a 2016 kia sorento. When the vehicle was parked and the ignition was turned off the contact exited the vehicle and went inside her home. An explosion was heard and the vehicle burst into flames.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed decreased. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot safely.

The car was running as normal and then randomly it started kind of rough and seemed like maybe just cold. But I had my mechanic take a look, and he said that when he started it, which was the next day that it made a loud knocking sound upon start. On the 30th I had it towed out to West Hills Kia in Bremerton.

My heated seats stopped working when my new engine was installed and I took it to the dealership and they never fix it and charged me 200.00 and then my air and heat keeps coming on and off then I got my new engine installed

While driving on the parkway, the vehicle would not accelerate and would stall. After pulling over, vehicle would restart but repeated the pattern. Made it to Advanced Auto who ran codes and had the camshaft modulator changed.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated.

Car ran fine until we stopped for gas, went to get back on the highway when the car wouldn't accelerate >25mphs,almost got hit from this. The car was then towed to the near by Kia dealership and they found that it was a compression issue with a known issue in the engine and now we need a new engine or scrap the car. Kia is not willing to fix their horrible product and has told us to just suffer.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH the vehicle experienced an unknown electrical failure and was taken to an unknown dealer; however, the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that no issues were found.

While my Kia Sorento had a chattering noise. When leaving home for an appointment l took the interstate and the chatter sound got louder about 10 minutes into driving. As I increased acceleration, the check engine light began to flash quickly and immediately The SUV started losing power and the engine stalled coasting long enough for me to pull to side of road.

1ST problem a year ago the rear latch to door wouldn't lock and I had to use bungee cords to keep it shut. 2nd problem, the engine was knocking after I returned from a recent road trip. I took it to local (trustworthy) mechanic and they noticed metal shards in the oil pan.

Instrument Panel and Alternator. My KIA Sorento continues to have alternator failures that shut down the engine while in operation without warning. I had to replace one at 48,000 miles and again at 97,500 miles.

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia sorento. While stopped at a traffic light, the engine began to inadvertently rev and the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, all the windows failed to open or close.

The vechile keeps turning off and installs when driving but now it got to the point that it turns off nd dosent want to starts until minutes later do to that one of the the headligths when off nd thye charging ports of the vechile ddont work. When u stop it seems that the truck wants to accelerate it self

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia sorento. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and several warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer could not duplicate the failure.

2016 kia sorrento purchased on june 30, 2015. Time line 6/30/2015- purchased vehicle at fredy kia in houston, texas. 7/3/15- started having issues with indicator lights/brought in car to dealership 7/11/15- vehicle would not shift gears and was unmovable.

My headlights flicker when the left turn signal is used. I have taken this vehicle to the dealership previously for headlight flickering issues. I have owned it since 2019.

The specific issue I’ve encountered is that the vehicle intermittently becomes stuck in “Park” and cannot be shifted into “Drive” or any other gear using normal methods. The only workaround has been to manually engage the shift lock override by inserting a screwdriver or similar tool into the override slot near the gear shifter.

While I am driving it can be jerking anytime and also the slippery light come on the dashboard.Sometimes the engine light come on too.

Vehicle stuck in park. Able to use emergency procedure to drive. Repair of fault would have cost 1600.00 if not covered by my extended warranty.

I own a Kia Sorento with a recurring electrical wiring failure that affects the passenger-side blinker and hazard lights. The issue has been “repaired” multiple times, but it returns within a day. This prevents me from safely signaling lane changes or using hazard lights in dangerous situations.

The instrument cluster blacks out in the middle of a drive or will not come on when initially started. Seems to work when it wants to. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection and we have a video of this defect.

Engine blew. Getting on interstate, vehicle blew when accelerating on interstate and died right before getting on. Could have been very dangerous if it had made it on the interstate itself.

The rear camera on my 2016 Kia Sorento no longer works. Over the past year, the camera images have been getting blurry and smaller. Now, there is no indication or warning of cars or people behind my vehicle, which is a safety concern.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that either while driving or while parked, the body control module failed to respond as designed while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taking to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the body control module needed to be replaced.

I am having an issue with my Kia headlights when on dim. The lights are so dim I am afraid to drive the car at night because I am scared I will hit a person, animal or object. I am replacing light bulbs frequently.

I keep having problems with the brake lights and all of the back lights, have fixed or replaced them 7 to 8 times in the last 2 years, and my passenger door will not lock, know another person that has a Kia that has the same problem

After parking and turning the car off, when restarting the vehicle the shift lock would no longer release to shift out of park. In order to shift out of park it requires the shift lock clip to be removed, a screw driver placed down and pressure applied to release the shifter.

The oil pressure switch failed in our 2006 Kia Sorento with 46,681 miles. We purchased this car new from same Kia dealer that services it. The oil leaking from the pressure switch got onto the exhaust manifold, and lots oil had traveled through wiring harnesses and got inside electrical connectors including half filling inside the computer unit ECM/ECU?

I was driving down the road and heard a grinding noise from engine. I pulled over to check under the hood for fluid leaks or check engine lights which everything checked out good temp gauges and everything giving normal readings. I then proceeded to keep traveling my route and about 5 minutes in I was loosing power and my car wasn't accelerating any more.

While driving at highway speed, the battery light and oil light came on and the throttle became unresponsive. The driver pulled over safely. The vehicle had to be restarted before the throttle became responsive again.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the exterior lights failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated.

A couple of months ago, we parked the Kia in the garage and the next morning, went to start the vehicle and attempted to put it in gear and the shifter button would move depress. We ended up replacing the brake switch but the problem remained. We took the vehicle to our local mechanic who ran a number of tests and determined the fault to be within the BCM module. Tests performed. They measured the voltage from the brake switch and validated the proper voltage was there. They went to the interlock solenoid at the shifter and verified the solenoid is functioning properly when provided ground. They went to the BCM (Body Control Module) connector and provided ground from the connector to the solenoid to validate there's no problems with the connectors or wire and this worked. Based on these tests, they have determined the BCM module to be at fault, either not detecting the brake is depressed or the BCM is detecting it, but it's not providing the ground needed to the solenoid. At the moment, we have resorted to pressing the shift lock release to operate the vehicle.

in August of 2021 I received a mailer notifying me of a recall & software update to prevent my engine from blowing up. I immediately scheduled the software update for the begining of September and that was completed. In October of 2021 I was driving the vehicle when it began to make an odd noise. No dashboard lights were triggered -so I tried to get to my next stop to evaluate, on the way the vehicle remained on but the ability to use the gas and actually increase speed ceased. It was sputtering when I was able to pull off into a parking lot and the check engine light finally appeared. We evaluated the oil and it was dry. No oil lights ever appeared. Had this occurred on a highway or busy roadway this could have had a tragic ending. The vehicle was regularly serviced per service schedule. The vehicle had a recent oil change before the software update and a multipoint inspection with the software update. The vehicle had to be towed and evaluated at the dealership which determined it was covered under the new warranty due to class action lawsuit on the faulty engines. Repairs took almost a month and the warranty coverage was denied and argued repeatedly.

The blind spots warning sometimes works and sometimes it doesn’t. The same goes for the backing warning. The car will not lock itself with the key control or manually.

The engine is failing with the light on. It is not getting enough power and is a safety risk. I only have had the car for a year and a half and the dealership I have gotten it from won't do anything.

Engine failed while driving. No warning lights. Have to purchase a new used engine.

I purchased a new 2016 KIA Sorento Tow Package that stated on the invoice it included a Mobius part number C6061 ADUS9 (Tow Hitch Harness) –Sorento. They part failed June 2019 and was reported to the KIA Kearny Mesa dealership. They initiated a request for the part and it was not received to date. The KIA Customer Care Irvine center said the vehicle was not listed as having the part and therefore I was not entitled to the KIA internal recall SC142. (Google search C6061 ADUS9) Their explanation was the VIN didn't include the Mobius part number C6061 ADUS9. I emailed a copy of the purchase invoice that showed otherwise. Please force KIA to update their build database to include purchased options. This is the second time I have submitted this Safety Recall. Consumer would like to provide an update complaint number 11390630 with 11420441. Essentially the PROBLEM is KIA customer service will not honor its INTERNAL RECALL SC142 with consumer's vehicle and suspect they won't honor others with the same issue. The sell their new vehicles in California without a Trailer Brake controller and defective CLASS III tow hitch harness. Mobius part is C6061 ADUS9 (Tow Hitch Harness) – Sorento

TAILGATE ELECTRIC RELEASE FAILS TO UNLATCH THE TAILGATE. PULLING THE EMERGENCY RELEASE DOES NOT OPEN THE TAILGATE EITHER. A WARNING APPEARS IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER SUGGESTING THAT THE TAILGATE IS NOT CLOSED, AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SIGNAL THAT ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY LOCKED AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY A KIA DEALER.

KIA KEARNY MESA, CA DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A CLASS III TRAILER HITCH TOW PACKAGE INSTALLATION WITH VIN PURCHASE THAT INCLUDED PART NUMBERS C6061-ADU00 AND RECALLED PART NUMBER C6061-ADUS9. THE CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRED ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER WAS EXCLUDED. I COMPLETED THE CLASS III TOW PACKAGE MYSELF FOR ~$500.00 PARTS CHARGE AND USED IT AS A LEGAL TOW VEHICLE WITH A 3000 # RV FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS THEN EXPERIENCED THE TRAILER LIGHT SC142 FAILURE. I REPLACED THE SC142 RECALLED PART NUMBER C6061-ADUS9 WITH AN ETRAILER COMPANY PART NUMBER TEKONSHA 118269 SUCCESSFULLY AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL LATER. I PROVIDED THE RECEIPT OF DEALERSHIP INSTALLED INCOMPLETE TOW PACKAGE PART NUMBERS AND THE ETRAILER PART INSTALLED TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND KIA CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE WITHOUT RESOLVE FOR OVER A YEAR. I REQUEST THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND/OR KIA CORPORATION REIMBURSE $500.00 PARTS AND CURRENT LABOR COSTS FOR NEGLECT TO INSTALL A COMPLETE CLASS III TOW PACKAGE AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALLED PART NUMBER REPLACEMENT COSTS.

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS GETTING READY TO BRAKE AND TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS WERE OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS.

FRONT HEADLIGHTS PERIODICALLY TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, GOES BACK ON AS SOON AS YOU TOUCH THE LIGHT SWITCH. SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT! HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES! THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVING MOTION BOTH ON A FREEWAY AND ALSO ON A HIGHWAY AND STREET!

TRUNK IS NOT LIFTING ITSELF AND LATCH IS NOT LOCKING. AND WHEN DRIVING THE TRUNK HITS

SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH MY LIGHTS IN THE AUTO POSITION, THEY WILL TURN OFF FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE ON A DARK HIGHWAY BEFORE.

UNABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK WITHOUT USING THE MANUAL SHIFT LOCK OVERRIDE. AMCO INSPECTED ISSUE. ADVISES THAT THERE IS NO SIGNAL BEING SENT FROM THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) TO THE SHIFTER AND THAT I WILL NEED A NEW COMPUTER AND WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $3,000+. CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH 70,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT PART AND LABOR ARE APPARENTLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THAT PART. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS THAT MENTION THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER USERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY OF SUBPAR PART BEING USED IN THE ORIGINAL BUILD AND THAT KIA KNOWS THEY WERE CUTTING CORNERS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE THESE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBLE!!! CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING OVER $30,000 FOR A CAR THAT HAS MAJOR ISSUES 4 YEARS LATER.

UNABLE TO MOVE SHIFTER FROM PARK WITHOUT USING THE MANUAL SHIFT LOCK OVERRIDE. KIA DEALER INSPECTED ISSUE. ADVISES THAT THERE IS NO SIGNAL BEING SENT FROM THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) TO THE SHIFTER AND THAT I WILL NEED A NEW BCM AT A COST OF $1,050. CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH UNDER 70,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT PART AND LABOR ARE APPARENTLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN EXCELLENT SHAPE WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THAT PART. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS THAT MENTION THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER USERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY OF SUBPAR PART BEING USED IN THE ORIGINAL BUILD AND THAT KIA KNOWS THEY WERE CUTTING CORNERS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE THESE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBLE!!! CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING OVER $30,000 FOR A CAR THAT HAS MAJOR ISSUES 4 YEARS LATER. MY PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK EITHER. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT WILL NOT RESOLVE WITHOUT THE EXPENSIVE FIX.

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia sorento. When the vehicle was started, the contact noticed that the oil light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed the oil gaskets and advised the contact that the engine had a very high oil consumption.

I've seen a few reviews and complaints on how kia's (sorento's in particular) have been losing their headlights for no reason. This has also happened to me, but just on my driver side fortunately. The main bulb is not illuminating and will not come on.

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia sorento. The contact stated that the dealer and manufacturer were aware of an ongoing failure pertaining to the vehicle failing to pick up speed upon acceleration. The vehicle would go into a limp mode or a forced idle mode each time the failure occurred.

All tail lights of SUV go in an out randomly.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy.

Unknown

my car is completely in good working order but I want to send it to tyro and they say I have a problem with it SC249F TOW HH INSPECT/REPLACE +FUSE: DIO (NHTSA #22V703)

My left headlamp always goes off. The lights go off all the time. I changed the bulb but its Not it.

My engine blew with no light to indicate there was even a problem with the engine.

Knock sensor goes bad. Car does not receive fuel to engine. Cuts off while driving and will not accelerate over 20 MPH

A lot of oil in the floor. Oil Pressure Sensor Fail Lock of all doors are crazy (lock and unlock so many times)

the anti lock button does not work, kia will not fix it, they stated that there recall on it was for locks that can move the car forward and backwards.

my car got stolen and have had really bad service on kia end I got insurance to pay for most would like at least my 500.00 debuctable back

After I got the for my car. I took my carto a mechanic. He ran several test and concluded that my car has an electrical problem.

I called Kia to replace fuse per their safety recall information. They are really uninterested in fixing these recalls or allowing me to speak to a manager to fix the issue. What's the point?

Headlights drop out without notice, most noticeable when it’s dark! Happens often

El mes de 01\22\2022 compre un beiculo y el primer problema que tube fue como alas dos semanas de tenerlo con migo y fue con los frenos y lo lo llebe a que lo areglaran pero el gran problema bino con el motor que se quemo cuando iba de camino a mi trabago y apenas tenia dos meses con el beiculo y en el lote cue la compre ni mis aseguransas que le puse al beiculo quieren alludarme

There are two major issues with my 2016 Kia Sorento LX (that I’ve just bought less than a year ago). 1- There seems to be some sort of electrical problem going on as my radio and headlights randomly go off when driving. While driving at 70 MPH on the interstate AT NIGHT, my headlights when off and I couldn’t see anything!

Sunroof motor failed

Driver's side mirror: side mirrors automatically lower when in reverse, but the driver's side mirror will often aim too low--almost straight down at the ground. Once in drive, the mirror will reset to the incorrect position, often too high - aiming toward the sky.

Check headlight (low) passenger side low beam light went out.

Vehicle will accelerate and then lose power. Took it in they said not covered under warranty. 450.00 to fix tailghts and headlights all went out within a week of each other.

Kia radio plays but will not show anything and can not change anything.

While driving at night while my headlights are in auto position they will randomly turn off for a few seconds and then click back on. This has happened twice in one week. The last time, was while driving 70 MPH down the interstate and my headlights went out without warning.

Yesterday I was approaching a yellow light. The light changed to red as I was coming to a complete stop. I was at a complete stop waiting for the light to change so I could make a left turn.

2016 kia sorento lx (7800 miles) - both left and right rear doors won't lock or unlock with either the fob or the button on the drivers' door.