Retrofit heated steering wheel? 2016 Sorento LX

You'd have a fair bit of work to do there. You have multiple 'clock spring' components to deal with - two for power/ground, and two for temperature sensing (Negative Temperature Coefficient thermistor), and until you dig into the harness as supplied, you won't know if any of this is pre-wired. You could get lucky there, in which case you'd just be looking for a steering wheel and panel/switch out of a junkyard.

One thing that I'd be careful about is the manner in which the Body Control Module (BCM) becomes aware of the presence of this option, and how display of the state of the heat is managed on the center dash display. It COULD be necessary to use the Kia/Hyundai GDS programmer or some 3rd party DIY tool to set up the option so that the BCM actually responds to the on/off and temperature information, and the center display properly indicates status when the button is pushed or the auto time-out (there is one) occurs.

photonsc said:

@ecanderson - thanks for the detailed technical response. The BCM and underlying wiring loom are the big risks here that will most likely keep me from pursuing.

@Tripplec - I hear you. I have bought my last 4 vehicles as salvage and then rebuild them for my own personal use. Keeps the cost down and gives me some fun hobby work. As such, I take what I can find (and win) at auction

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Well I don't know how insurance companies in Canada would adress a salvage vehicle. Never the less its not something I'd want. Especially retired and not a mechanic with resources as it would be a money pit for me and I'd get severe backlash from my wife. Yeah....

I have gone through quite a number of used vehicles which I had the best satisfaction over any new one I ever bought. I learned to ensure long ago to get a make/model combo that had the must have options already there.

• heated mirrors (my son go it on his 2009 Explorer and I saw the value in it)
• Lane alert for safer lane changes (was in my wifes so I got that now)
• AWD/4WD which has been a must have for so many decades. Once with it I'd never be without it. Maybe ok in one vehicle if a 2nd one had it but both current are AWD
• heated seats, steering wheel, front windshield (kia's implementation is poor as it should be a single switch not to have rear defrost, mirrors and fronts heater are tied together) It not needed that way. The Highland I decided to get rid of 2012, had a separate switch for the front windshield heating. Done right in it. But no safety features and interior was archaic as was the sound system stereo with complex Bluetooth setting up.
• backup camera
• large tail lights is something I look for when possible. The 2015 Sorento is beyond superb and best I ever had absolutely 10 star IMO in that year. Better by far than the 2019 SX. (helps not getting rear ended if someone can see me in poor driving conditions)

These are must have features that come to mind now apart from a V6 non turbo and true automatic (no CVT).