2015 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 750 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 20 involved a crash and 14 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
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.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
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.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
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.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
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.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
364 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jul 17, 2023
The car completely stalled out. Engine Light on.
Engine, Jul 13, 2023
After hearing a knocking or rubbing sound when turning left or right, I made an appointment to have my 2015 Kia Sorento checked and also to have it inspected. The auto repair shop was in the middle of road-testing the vehicle when it suddenly began running poorly and the SES light turned on. The vehicle started to misfire and was unable to accelerate past 30 - 35 MPH. Upon inspection the car was found to be very low on oil, although there had been no prior alert nor was it time for the routine oil change. Vehicle also shut down unexpectedly on road, putting driver and other vehicles in danger.
Engine, Jul 8, 2023
Going on vacation with elderly disabled mother and family. Exited off highway stopped and car just shut off with lots of traffic behind me and coming. After several attempts to start vehicle it started and was really loud. Pulled out and coasted to a place I could safely pull over. Checked the oil, belts, and for leaks and no check engine light or other warnings. With no other real options, I drove with flashers on and coasted to our hotel with minimal power and the engine compartment sounding like it was coming apart. Grinding popping and knocking. Still no check engine light. Once stopped at the hotel, the car cut off in the parking lot and had a weird fumes/burning smell. With it being a holiday I had to find a shop and wait until they were back open to see if they would take my car. There were no KIA dealerships in my area. I called and had the vehicle towed to the shop. They say it needs a new engine. The car is still out of state which is going to cost hundreds just to get the car back home and not to mention the 8000-10000 in engine repair. Also we were lucky it didn't catch fire with the fumes/burning smell or be involved in a wreck due to the car just shutting off with no warnings at all.
Engine, Jul 6, 2023
Car turned off while stopped at red light. Would not restart. Had to be towed. Diagnostic report engine seized. Confirmed by Rick Case Kia service center. There was no warning or or warning lights. We were stopped due to a red light, but if no red light, car would have stopped while driving in rush hour traffic on a busy road. Even stopped, could have been rear-ended.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 6, 2023
Unknown
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 29, 2023
As I was driving my grandchildren I heard a banging sound in the engine. I checked for warning lights, and none were showing. I drove the car to a reputable mechanic who after listening to the sound told me that driving the car was not safe. I had the car towed to the KIA Service Department in Anderson, SC. to have a KIA mechanic assess the engine. My biggest concern is that NO warning lights came on. I shudder to think what might have happened if I had been in the middle lane of an Interstate with my grandchildren when the engine failed. KIA said the engine is not under warranty; which is true. However, with the warning lights NOT coming on I believe replacement of an engine should be considered. We have been loyal KIA patrons but at this point I am not comfortable purchasing another KIA. Currently the dealership says it will 8 -9 week before the engine could be replaced. According to the mechanic we spoke to they only replace two engines a day which means we are without a car and having to rent one on our own.
Power train, Engine, Jun 27, 2023
The drive train or engine suddenly locked up while driving down the road at 35mph causing the vehicle to violently decelerate and the wheels to lose traction and skid. The failure only lasted maybe a second before car resumed driving as usual. I was not accelerating or breaking at the time and had been driving as normal for 10min prior. The vehicle only has 86,000 miles and all service was completed as scheduled. Prior to the incident, there had been some engine knocking when starting up and a few days earlier, the check engine light had come on. We immediately contacted the dealership when the engine light activated and made an appointment to have it checked out. We were advised that as long as the check engine light was not blinking, we could safely use the vehicle for short trips. Prior to the above incident, we had made two trips with the engine light activated, both under 5mi. We dropped the car at the dealership on Monday for evaluation the first available time slot they had. Today we were advised that we needed a new engine and were fully responsible for the costs. The issue has not been diagnosed as they claim they have to tear down the engine to determine the cause, a cost we are responsible for and cannot afford. Our 7 year old son was in the car at the time and our safety was certainly put at risk. We were fortunate this happened in town and not at highway speeds where I could have lost control of the vehicle or been rear ended by another driver.
Engine, Jun 27, 2023
The contact's stepson owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his stepson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired free of charge because the vehicle was not covered under warranty nor recall. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Engine, Jun 23, 2023
I had an oil change and then went on a road trip, The trip consisted of two days driving and 1300 miles driven. the engine sounded different so I checked the oil and it did not register on the dipstick. Since then I have been checking the oil once a week and have noticed is will be low. The oil can be a quart to a quart and a half low after just 500 miles.
Power train, Engine, Jun 22, 2023
Purchased it 7 months ago, haven't put many miles on it and the motor is completely bad, sitting at a kia shop. It broke down on me in the middle of the road and wouldn't shift into gear.
Engine, Jun 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be restarted and was undriveable. The contact stated she was almost rear-ended twice before Police arrived on the scene to help. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that upon speaking with the dealer, she was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be disassembled to determine if the failure was due to a manufacturing failure. The contact was informed that if the failure was not due to a manufacturing failure, there would be an out-of-pocket cost for repair and reassembly. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 20, 2023
My engine for this 2015 Kia sorento failed on 6/1/2023. This can put others at risk because Kia continues to know that their Theta ii engines can fail and have not done enough to prevent this problem. Additionally, there are not enough kia technicians available to diagnose engine failures in a timely manner. I have been waiting 3 weeks and my car has yet to be diagnosed. Kia should not be allowed to continue selling any models that have the Theta ii engines until they properly support individuals that have been affected by this problem.
Engine, Jun 19, 2023
I was driving down the road and a loud knocking started and now the car won’t move. I was told that something might be wrong with the computer protecting the engine.
Engine, Jun 8, 2023
Engine failure , car stopped running , me and my family could’ve gotten a very bad accident , I had to pay 8,400$ out of my own pocket to replace the engine failure
Engine, May 12, 2023, fire
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50-55 MPH, he heard an abnormal popping sound and the vehicle spontaneously caught on fire. The contact was able to pull off the highway. The contact stated that he could see flames under the hood. The contact called 9-1-1 however, by the time the Emergency Services arrived on the scene, the fire was independently extinguished. The contact stated that the fire started in the engine compartment. The engine was previously replaced at 85,000 miles. The check engine warning light was occasionally illuminated and then disappeared on the vehicle. A Police report was filed. The Fire Department also arrived on the scene. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 155,565.
Engine, Apr 26, 2023
Kia doesn't whant fix my kia sorento . Say i m not firt owner. The extended cover that . the Kia engine recall extended warranty? The warranty has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles for engine long block assembly repairs due to connecting rod bearing damage. As previously mentioned, the warranty only kicks in once the knock sensor software update has been completed.Jan 19, 2023 https://www.fixdapp.com › kia-engi... Kia Engine Warranty Extension - FIXD
Engine, Apr 26, 2023
Engene damage by the problem have in the oil pump. Kia doesn't whant give warranty they say im not firs buyer. But is oficial this car has extende warranty by demant government about replacement fix engine.
Engine, Apr 20, 2023
Engine had adequate oil 2 days prior to complete engine failure. Vehicle is available for inspection. In terms of safety, the driver was suddenly stranded on the highway. While driving we experienced loud noises from the engine. Upon inspection, the dip stick showed no oil. We added required oil before starting the engine but soon after starting and driving the engine seized. There were no apparent leaks and no warning lamps. The mechanic confirmed seized engine due to the lack of oil.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 19, 2023, fire
traveling back from Panama City Beach, on 10/14/2022 Florida with a destination of [XXX]. At approximately 2:15pm, I had to pull off on the median of interstate 65 North bound at mile marker 123 in Greenville, Alabama due to mechanical failure of my 2015 Kia Sorento. The vehicle was smoking/caught fire and had become inoperable. I had my kids get out A.S.A.P. A good citizen called for help. Two Law enforcement cars and a fire engine arrived. Due to the trauma it caused on my kids a police officer provided transportation for us to the Quality Inn Hotel in Greenville, Alabama. Later that evening we ordered a pizza from Papa John’s for something to eat (receipt information included along with bank transaction page). We attempted to leave Greenville, Alabama and return home in a rental car while repairs were done to the Kia. We were informed by Enterprise rental in Greenville, Alabama that they were closed over the weekend and would not have anything available until Monday, October 17th, 2022. Unfortunately Enterprise Rental was the only rental car business in Greenville, Alabama and we would be stuck at the Quality Inn until Monday, October 17th, 2022. It was at that point that Amy my father drove down from Ringgold, GA to pick my kids up and take them home while I waited for repairs to be done to the Kia or to get a rental car, whichever would come first. On Monday, October the 17th, I was informed that repairs to the 2015 Kia Sorento would be prolonged. I then obtained a rental car from Enterprise Rental in Greenville, Alabama , and I continued onto to my original destination towards Ringgold, GA. I arrived at our intended destination late on the night of October 17th, 2022. During our trip home, we were advised that the 2015 Kia Sorento would be towed to Brewbaker Kia at 222 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Engine, Apr 17, 2023
It’s burning oil engine
Engine, Apr 11, 2023
On June 20, 2022 my KIA Sorento with 137,170 miles stopped suddenly in traffic on the interstate during morning rushhour. I had no engine light warning. The vehicle would not restart. I inspected under and behind the vehicle for any issues and found none. I motor was locked up and upon checking the oil, the stick was dry. I had the vehicle towed to the KIA dealership that has serviced the vehicle since it was purchased. I was present when they put the vehicle on the lift and found no fluids on the underbody. I had them drain any remaining oil. 1.5 qts were left. Upon additional inspection the passenger side of the engine had some oil residue near the pressure sensor. The vehicle was due for an oil change within 2k miles. One month prior I checked the oil and the level was fine. The vehicle had never used oil before. Dealership wanted to charge $12k for a motor that had 165,000 miles on it. I was able to replace motor with another that had 64K miles for $8,500 at my personal mechanic. I've notified KIA numerous times and they deny any issues with the motor. I received a letter from KIA six months prior to the motor locking explaining there might be an issue with the Oil Pressure switch and sudden loss of oil, It stated they would cover any chages. I'm still fighting with KIA. I've owned five KIA's, this is my last one.
Suspension, Power train, Engine, Apr 8, 2023
Hello my name is [XXX] . Approximately [XXX] my 2015 Kia Sorento practically stopped performing on [XXX] highway nearly having to dodge an accident. At first, I noticed a burning scent which I thought was just in the air until my car started to slow down by itself followed by coming to a complete stop amid 70 miles per hour traffic. I had my car towed in to the nearest Kia dealership which was located in Meridian Mississippi. Upon my arrival I was told by Service department manager Monty that my 2015 Kia Sorento had engine and transmission recalls. However since this date I have continued to have issues with the ABS transmission system and engine. I took my car back to Kia dealership in Meridian Mississippi and was told that they were no longer responsible for the recall issues. I paid out over a thousand dollars again on approximately February 9th, 2022 for repair work that should have been covered by warranty... only to have the same issues to reoccur this year. I have grown infuriated with this service department at this Meridian Mississippi Kia dealership!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 5, 2023
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 several engine failures. The transmission also slipped while in 6th gear. Additionally, the engine was consuming coolant. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Structure, Engine, Apr 4, 2023
While driving at night on 2 lane highway at speed limit the engine seized as I pressed acceleration. Had to get to safe spot to pull off while just coasting as other drivers got upset so glad I didn’t get hit from behind. Had to be towed home had mechanic look at it he said engine is needing replaced. Kia knows they have a recall on engines but won’t fix unless something happens that’s dangerous! I was told when I had their knock sensor put on that would just slow the engine down before it became a danger but no that didn’t happen it literally seized at full speed limit. I called Kia said to have it towed in and they would look at it but it will take 4 weeks before they get to it. Also the paint is chipping bad on hood and above windshield on driver side I’m seeing more and more 2015 Kia Sorento with same issue all those in my town are the same spots as mine this should be a recall and repaired by Kia we spend good hard working money to have a nice vehicle and this makes it look like crap. Do better by your customers Kia!
Engine, Mar 27, 2023
No warning lights or signs of anything, my car is up to date with all services have receipts in hand. Car just jerked a little and sounded like a loud banging noise under the hood. Went and brought it to Kia to determine I needed an engine. Car only has 108,000 miles on it.