2016 Kia Sorento steering problems
80 of the 1,252 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sorento name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). Filed under the same heading: 30 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the steering
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 80 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 13 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 4
Half of the 34 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the steering problem between 26,000 and 64,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,252 complaints in all about the 2016 Kia Sorento, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Steering” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Sorento steering problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the steering. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
There is an issue with the electric steering on my car, it has a "catch" in the steering wheel, when you get it past that point you have over corrected and is dangerous. It makes it near impossible to hold your lane straight.
The steering on my Sorento stalls when driving at highway speeds causing overcorrection to the point of almost loosing control of the vehicle. I found many similar complaints on the internet. This is a very dangerous defect in the steeling of the vehicle. Life threating problem
While driving there is a notch like feeling in the steering causing a jerk in the car for simple lane corrections
When driving at highway speed (60+mph), steering "locks" and appears to be non-responsive. It is necessary to "jerk" the wheel to "wake up" the steering to complete any correction. The vehicle veers between the lines constantly due to this action which must be repeated every 10 seconds or so. It's like driving drunk!!!
Steering wheel slightly jerks on its own going down the highway. Seems. Yo be worse when the car is warmed up and driven more than 20 minuets. Both hands on the wheel to keep the car from veering the steering seems to get tight hard spots and then loose, you continually are correcting and over correcting and you end up all over your…
What is on file about the steering
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications30 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Kia Sorento
Source: the same files- engine problems 726 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 126 complaints
- electrical problems 107 complaints
- cruise control problems 63 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre steering problems common on the 2016 Kia Sorento?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 80 owner complaints naming the steering on this model year (6% of everything owners filed about it), and 30 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the steering on the 2016 Kia Sorento?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 8 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do steering problems show up on the 2016 Kia Sorento?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 50,000 miles; half of them between 26,000 and 64,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Steering" heading cover?
The steering column, rack, pump and power assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.