KnownCarProblems2015 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 753 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine (49% of complaints, typically around 87,500 miles). It is 7th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2015 Kia Sorento problems
Engine
367 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 87,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. While driving 75 MPH, there was a knocking noise coming from the engine and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to family Kia of st. Augustine (2665 u.s. Highway 1 south, st augustine, fl 32086, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed…
Purchased a used 2015 Kia Sorento from a used car lot on february 15, 2018. I've experienced no issues with the vehicle until august 19, 2018 while driving home from work. While driving on the freeway, and accelerating, the vehicle completely stalled. We pulled the vehicle over and tried our best to get it to restart.…
Other or unspecified
113 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles.
The exterior handle cap fell off of my vehicle. It keeps the door handle in place. It is not covered under the warranty but when I searched, hundreds of other Kia owners had the same issue, some were brand new. The part is $10 but Kia wanted to charge 60 plus $100 for labor. This part fell off while I was driving…
My Kia lost power while driving on march 17, 2017 on the highway. After Kia replaced the motor I realized that during cold weather my car won't start at all. I've had several diagnostic tests done but nothing shows up. I've even had the manager of the service department come to my location with the diagnostic device…
Body and structure
100 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The paint from the roof of my 2015 white Kia Sorento is peeling off and rusting is underneath. I started about 6 months ago with a little spot and now has become a big spot. There are also 2 other spots that have started.
Starting a year ago, the paint on my 2015 vehicle (less than 60k miles) began to flake off. I have the Kia pearl white color and my story is consistent with the hundreds of other cases online. The paint flakes off with pressure from a garden hose. I keep my car clean and detailed (twice a year). There are no dents or…
Lights
91 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
Headlights will not come on. One will flicker on each time the headlight switch is turned on but will then slowly go out. No headlights is a safety issue! The key fob also has intermentent disfunction like the battery is going out but it is new battery. I have read other complaints with same issues. Headlight issue…
When my wife got this vehicle she told me she couldn't see the road at night I drove the vehicle and I couldn't see the road either so I went to Kia and they placed new bulbs in there at first we thought everything was great but after a month it was back to being very dim at night. So I took it back to Kia and they…
Electrical
58 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
My car started stuttering and then the check engine light came on and started flashing. Got the code read at a Kia dealership and it was determined through a diagnostic that we needed a new engine. We replaced the engine and the car is still stuttering and having gas mileage issues. When the check engine light…
I had just purchased my Sorento on july 18, 2020. On august 25,2020, I put it in the Kia shop for the climate control blower(AC/heater blower). I hadn't made the 1st payment yet. The wiring harness had melted. The warranty company refused to pay for the repairs do to it was a recurring problem. That tells me that this…
Transmission
42 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. After replacing the engine, the vehicle started experiencing…
My vehicle had termers, engine light came on dealer tells me it is the transmission. We paid not including tax 16,400,we bought the car from a Kia dealer.I am sure they have an issue with this vehicle. A transmission company said they have a problem. Please help. The dealer was fuccillo Kia of clay ny.
Brakes
37 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the rear drivers side wheel had malfunction and would not turn causing the driver to loose control of the steering and crash. During the crash the vehicle rolled over multiple times. The driver sustained a fractured spine…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number…
Steering
33 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles. Parts named most often: column.
My Kia lost power while driving on march 17, 2017 on the highway. After Kia replaced the motor I realized that during cold weather my car won't start at all. I've had several diagnostic tests done but nothing shows up. I've even had the manager of the service department come to my location with the diagnostic device…
Driving down road car would rattle when turning and it became hard to turn which almost caused an accident then I was driving going up hill when all of a sudden the car front wheel started spinning and a rattling sound became louder from the bottom the AWD component suddenly failed tires would not engage. I took it in…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Kia Sorento recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An electrical short in the hecu increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the hecu for leaks, replacing the hecu if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on july 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20v-519. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc212.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 optima and 2014-2015 sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20v-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: If the hecu short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hecu for leaking brake fluid and replace the hecu if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began october 20, 2020. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc197.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 optima and 2014-2015 sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine oil pressure switch leak
Summary
In a letter dated september 30, 2021, mr. Gerald james (the petitioner) requested that NHTSA conduct an investigation of the model year (my) 2015-2017 kia sorento equipped with 3.3l v6 ?lambda? Engines for ?severe oil leaks? From the oil pressure switch (ops) that could ?lead to engine failure? With little warning to the driver. Mr. James based this request on his own experience and data found in NHTSA?s vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) database. Nhtsa reviewed the material cited by the petitioner, information submitted by kia, NHTSA?s testing, and other pertinent information in NHTSA databases.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defect petition dp21-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. O
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Questions about the 2015 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (367 complaints, typically around 87,500 miles); other or unspecified (113 complaints, typically around 67,000 miles); body and structure (100 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Sorento have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 10, 2021 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 7th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 753 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.