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: exterior lighting
91 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Apr 7, 2021
AFTER REPLACING BULBS, HEADLIGHTS, ESPECIALLY LOW BEAMS, ARE DANGEROUSLY LOW. VERY LOW VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WHEN IT IS RAINING. THIS MORNING ON MY WAY INTO WORK IT WAS RAINING AND ALMOST MISSED A CURVE IN THE ROAD DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. I SLOWED TO MAKE THE CURVE AND HIT A PATCH OF WATER (AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE LOW VISIBILITY I DID NOT SEE) AND HYDROPLANED ALMOST HITTING A VEHICLE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT OVERCORRECT AND REGAINED CONTROL BEFORE A COLLISION TOOK PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER TIMES WHEN I COULD NOT SEE THE TURN COMING UP OR ENTRANCES TO EXIT RAMPS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY HOPE WAS THAT CHANGING THE BULBS WOULD HELP, BUT EVEN WITH GETTING THE BRIGHTEST BULBS AT THE AUTO PART STORE, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL JUST AS DIM. IN DOING RESEARCH, I AM FINDING THAT THIS IS A COMIN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 14, 2021
TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION REGARDING LOW BEAM LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF WHEN I TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS. THIS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY WHEN USING HIGH BEAMS. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAMS) CONSISTENTLY BURNT OUT. HAD TO INSTALL 2-3 NEW BULBS IN EACH HEADLIGHT (WITHIN 1 YR.). MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM IS MORE THAN JUST THE LIGHTS, THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED MORE WORK THAN WHAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO AND RECOMMENDED ME GOING BACK TO KIA. DRIVING HOME FROM MY MECHANIC, I WAS ON THE SURFACE STREETS TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING, SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO THROW A ROD, WHICH LED ME TO CHECK THE OIL. MY OIL CHANGES ARE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE AND WAS NOT DUE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE FOR 3,000 MILES. THE OIL WAS BONE DRY. I PUT IN 4 QUARTS OF OIL AND DROVE ON SURFACE STREETS, BACK TO MY MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID IT IS ABOUT TO THROW A ROD AND THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY AND GET IT TO KIA. AS I DROVE THE CAR HOME ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE, PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK IN THE NUMBER TWO LANE, CAR STARTED SHAKING, ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING, THE ORANGE STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AND THE ENTIRE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD NO HAZARDS OR BLINKERS. TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND CHECKED MY OIL, HE SAID THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS AND BARELY ANY OIL. TOWED THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AND IT NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. PRIOR AND DURING ALL OF THIS, NOT ONE TIME DID ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD GO ON (OTHER THAN THE ONE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN).
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2021
I LOGGED INTO CREDIT KARMA LOOKING AT MY CAR DETAILS AND SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRACTION. IVE NOTICED MY TRACTION LIGHT ON IN THE CAR; HOWEVER, DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT AS THE BUTTON WAS PUSHED IN AS NORMAL. THE LIGHT IS ON CONSISTENTLY.
Exterior lighting, Feb 19, 2021
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO SEE THE ROAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS MUST BE ON IN ORDER TO PROPERLY SEE, HOWEVER THEY TOO ARE NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WHEN ON, ARE MORE OF WHAT THE DIMS SHOULD BE. ALL NEW HEADLIGHTS(BULBS) WERE INSTALLED AND DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE CAR HAS BEEN LIKE THIS EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS EXTREMELY DARK AT NIGHT AND/OR DRIVING IN WET/FOG OR SNOWY WEATHER. LIGHTS ARE SO DIM YOU WOULD BE UNABLE TO SEE DEER FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE TO SAFELY SLOW DOWN AND AVOID THEM. THIS PROBLEM IS THE CASE ON ALL ROADS EXCEPT CITY STREETS THAT ARE LIGHTED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 11/22/2019
Exterior lighting, Feb 7, 2021
CAR WAS DRIVEN A NIGHT AND HEADLIGHT WERE TERRIBLE. VAGUELY LIGHTS A A ROAD SIGN ON A DARK STREET AT 100 YARDS. BOTH BULBS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON WITH THESE CARS. CONTACTED KIA AND GOT NO HELP OTHER THAN TAKE TO DEALER AND PAY SERVICE FEE. OTHERS HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP. USUAL ARE TOLD IT IS JUST THE WAY THESE LIGHTS ARE. THESE LIGHT WILL NOT LIGHT A CLOSED GARAGE AT NIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Jan 27, 2021
LOW BEAM LIGHTS GO OFF/ON RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES WILL WORK FOR A WHILE AND THEN ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. WHEN THE DUST COVER IS REMOVED AND THE LIGHT SOCKET ASSEMBLY IS TOUCHED, THEN LIGHT WILL COME ON. HOWEVER, MOVING THE WIRES OR SOCKET ASSEMBLY DOES NOT CAUSE LIGHT TO GO OUT. THEN THE LIGHT LATER RANDOMLY GOES OFF. ALSO, I HAVE REPLACED MANY LOW BEAM BULBS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Dec 22, 2020
LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. CONSTANTLY HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAMS WHEN SAFE TO DO SO. HAVE TO CHANGE THEM EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO BECAUSE THEY ONE OR THE OTHER STOPS WORKING. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT FIND AN ISSUE. MAY HAVE TO TRADE THIS CAR IN DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. VERY FRUSTRATING!
Exterior lighting, Nov 17, 2020
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. WE HAVE SWITCHED TO NEW BULBS AND THEN LED AND NEITHER IMPROVE THE DIM HEADLIGHTS. THE GLASS IS NOT FOGGY OR DAMAGED.
Exterior lighting, Oct 21, 2020
VERY DIM LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. CANNOT SEE ROAD.
Exterior lighting, Sep 30, 2020
THE HEADLIGHTS HI AND LOW ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR A MORE SAFE VISIBLE DRIVE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 18, 2020
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS FREQUENTLY BLOW OUT. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DUST CAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD TO CHANGE HEADLIGHT BULBS MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THESE ARE THE H7 BULBS THAT FIT THE STANDARD 2015 SORENTO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FIXTURE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2020
POOR VISIBILITY FROM THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT, PASSENGERS CONSTANTLY ASKING ID HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. IN ADDITION HAVE TO REGULARLY REPLACE HEADLIGHT BULBS EVERY SIX MONTHS.
Exterior lighting, Aug 2, 2020
KEEPS BLOWING OUT LOW BEAM HEAD LITES. REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. TOOK IN TO DEALER TO LOOK AT. WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I FOUND OUT BY ONLINE RESEARCH THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A COUPLE REPORTS. IT IS DANGEROUS AT NITE WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH DAYLITES. NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR DRIVING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. KIA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX PROBLEM THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.NEEDS GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
Exterior lighting, Jul 29, 2020
I HAD TO REPLACE MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT UNIT ON MY 2015 KIA SORENTO AT 62,000 MILES. COULD NOT REPLACE JUST THE LAMP.
Exterior lighting, Jul 28, 2020
I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2015 KIA SORENTA OVER 6 TIMES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SELDOM DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I AM ELDERLY. HOW CAN I GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. LAST NIGHT WE DROVE FROM OHIO TO VIRGINIA WITH DIM AND NO HEADLIGHTS. AGAIN. TIME AFTER TIME, NO HEAD LIGHTS. AND YES I BUY THE HIGHER PRICED HIGH QUALITY RECOMMENDED LIGHT BULBS. THIS IS UNSAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM
Exterior lighting, Mar 8, 2020
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. I HAVE RESORTED TO HAVING TO RUN MY FOG LIGHTS JUST TO GET ENOUGH LIGHT ON THE ROAD. I'VE TRIED NUMEROUS TYPES OF AFTER MARKET LIGHTS AND NOTHING MAKES THEM BRIGHTER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT KIA SOMEHOW MISSED.
Exterior lighting, Mar 1, 2020
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HIT A KEEP BURNING OUT PREMATURELY. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH 47000 MILES, AND IT NOW HAS 106000. IN NOT QUITE 60K MILES I HAVE REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS 7 TIMES. WHEN REPLACING I HAVE FOLLOWED THE OWNERS MANUAL PROCEDURE EACH TIME. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH OF VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS REVEALS THAT I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY DEALER, THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS ANY ISSUE, AND THAT REPLACING THE LIGHTS THIS MANY TIMES IS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE BOTH LOW BEAMS BURNED OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO USE HIGH BEAMS JUST TO GET TO A STORE AND BUY REPLACEMENTS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.
Exterior lighting, Feb 25, 2020
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 SAID IT'S YOUR BULBS I'M LIKE THESE ARE KIA BULBS AND SO THEY RECOMMENDED ME TO CHANGE THE BULBS OUT SO I DID. WELL ONCE AGAIN AFTER A MONTH THEY WERE DIM. I NOTICED THE BULB BURNT OUT . SO I WENT TO ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AND BOUGHT NEW BULBS. THE LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT SO I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED WHETHER IT BE ELECTRICAL OR SOMETHING ELSE. THANK YOU.
Exterior lighting, Jan 29, 2020
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. ON MOUNTAIN ROADS IN VERMONT I NEEDED HIGH BEAMS CONSTANTLY TO HAVE REASONABLE SIGHT DISTANCE. ON INTERSTATE ROADS THE LOW BEAMS BARELY LIGHT 2-3 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2020
THE LOW BEAM BULBS KEEP BURNING OUT IN THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS. I'VE REPLACED THEM FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE LOOKED AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND A BURNT HARNESS IN THE LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE WHOLE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED $1100.
Exterior lighting, Dec 28, 2019
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. THEY ALSO BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS.
Exterior lighting, Nov 20, 2019
THE LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT AT ALL YOU CAN'T SEE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU YOU'RE TURNING CORNERS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT SO YOU CAN'T SEE PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET. ALSO IF YOU TURN OFF YOU HEADLIGHTS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASHBOARD IS STILL VISIBLE SO YOU CAN'T TELL IF YOUR HEADLIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF.
Exterior lighting, Nov 8, 2019
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM AND ARE NOT REPARABLE WITH BULB REPLACEMENT. WE WERE TOLD THE HOUSING IS FLAKING.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Oct 8, 2019
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THEN IT SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH AND CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I CRANKED IT BACK UP AND IT MADE A WEIRD NOISE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THERE IS NO WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE HAVING MOTOR ISSUES. THE OIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHANGED ON TIME. ALSO I HAVE TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT
Exterior lighting, Aug 4, 2019
THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT HAS A LOOSE CONNECTION. THE BULB IS GOOD, BUT THE CONNECTION IS NOT. YOU CAN MOVE THE CONNECTION AND THE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THE BULB/CONNECTION MOVES AGAIN AND THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THIS CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.