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: power train
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Air bags, Engine, Sep 5, 2020, crash
I PURCHASED THE 2015 KIA SORENTO NEW IN THE YEAR OF 2014 FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN MERIDIAN, MS. SINCE THE PURCHASED... MY GOODNESS, I'VE HAD AIRBAG SYSTEM ISSUES, ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY LIGHTS, THE ELECTRONIC OUTLETS FOR DEVICE INPUT, CONTROL PANEL ON STEERING TO MAKE ACCESSING THE RADIO AND PHONE; THE BUTTONS ALWAYS JAM WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH!! LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST THE MOTOR HAS A RECALL AS OF TODAY'S DATE 09/2020. PLUS THE TRANSMISSION JERKS IN GEAR AND I'M TOLD THAT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE OLD MOTOR DEFECTS.., BUT NOW THAT THE MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS WORSE!! THE FACT I'VE BEEN GOING TO DEALERSHIP EXPRESSING MY ISSUES AND NOTHING IS BEEN DONE OTHER THAN NOW BEING TOLD, MA'AM YOU'RE OUT OF WARRANTY! THAT I NEED TO COME OUT OF POCKET $2,200 FOR THEY'RE NEGLIGENCE. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TIME FOR ME TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY!!!
Power train, Engine, Sep 4, 2020
DRIVING HOME END OF WORK DAY EVERY THING WAS NORMAL DRIVING DOWN 66 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN .5 MILES LATER LOST POWER TOWER HOME HAS BEEN MAKING POPCORN LIKE SOUNDS FROM ENGINE BEING TOLD IT'S THE PISTONS
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Sep 1, 2020
MY STEERING COLUMN IS OFF CENTER WHICH MAKES MY CAR OR TIRES SHAKE UNLESS I GO A CERTAIN SPEED. MY REAR VIEW CAMERA NEVER WORKS, SCREEN GOES BLACK, BUT OUTLINE SHOWS. THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY HEADLIGHTS, REAR, BRAKE AND REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS GOING OUT. I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM CONSTANTLY. I HATE GOING TO THE CARWASH BECAUSE I FEAR THAT MY LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS AGAIN & AGAIN.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 4, 2020
I JUST RECENTLY MADE A POST HERE YESTERDAY ... AND AFTER READING COMMENTS, I THOUGHT I'D ADD ON. MY COMMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH A 2015 KIA SORENTO WHICH NEEDS A NEW MOTOR BECAUSE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE HEAD TO THE BLOCK ARE STRIPPED (I SMELLED ANTIFREEZE). OBVIOUSLY, NOT MY FAULT. MILEAGE IS 102,000. KIA DOESN'T WANT TO HELP ME FIX THIS. TELLING ME I NEED A NEW MOTOR AT A COST OF $7,000+. AFTER READING THE COMMENTS, I HAD TO ADD ON. TWO WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED, THE FUEL PUMP WENT. THAT COST WAS COVERED. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE BACK-UP CAMERA WENT. KIA WANTED $1,000 TO FIX THAT; WE HAD IT FIXED FOR $200 OUT OF POCKET. THE ALTERNATOR WENT ON THE CAR (I THINK WE PAID FOR THAT). MY DOOR HANDLE ALSO FELL OFF, WE HAD THAT FIXED OUT OF POCKET. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ, KIA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER OR THEIR SAFETY. I BOUGHT A NEW KIA IN 2004, TRADED IT IN IN 2007 FOR ANOTHER NEW KIA, WHICH I STILL HAVE. IT HAS 278,000 MILES ON IT! WE BOUGHT THE 2015 USED AND IT'S BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. CAN'T SELL IT AS IS, GOTTA FIX IT. I'VE BEEN A LOYAL KIA OWNER SINCE 2004 ...WON'T BE ANYMORE. FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THIS CAR, IT'S GONE. AND THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER ONE IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHOEVER HEARD THAT A 2015 CAR NEEDS A NEW MOTOR?!?! AND THEIR REFUSAL TO HELP US IS UNBELIEVABLE. I'M SO ANGRY.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 10, 2019
ALTERNATOR FAILS CAR BATTERY GOES DEAD CAUSING YOU TO HAVE A HARD TIME STEERING AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS ROLL DOWN WINDOWS OR USE SAFETY FLASHERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO POWER! WE HAD BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 70 AND WERE SO LUCKY TO HAVE JUST PULLED INTO OUR BANK WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED!! A FEW MINUTES EARLIER AND MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING WOULD OF CRASHED BECAUSE OF LOST OF POWER STEERING GOING OUT AND WEAK SHOULDER STRENGTH FROM SHOULDER SURGERY. THE CAR IS 23 DAYS OVER 5 YEARS AND HAD 43757 MILES AT5 TIME OF FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE ALTERNATOR IS UNDERPOWERED FOR ALL IT IS ASKED TO DO MUCH IN THE WAY OF THE 2000-2007 KIA SPECTRA WHICH IS A RECALLED VEHICLE>
Power train, Oct 5, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPMS WENT UP BUT THERE WAS NO INCREASE ACCELERATION. I MOMENTARILY LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPEN IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS 43,237 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS.
Power train, Engine, Sep 26, 2019
2015 KIA SORENTO WITH 44,000 MILES. ON THE FREEWAY AND THE MOTOR LOCKED UP. TOAST. KIA COVERING BUT HAS LESSER VALUE AND THEY KNEW THIS MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE
Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 15, 2019
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 TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSE TO DIAGNOSE THE AWD UNTIL AN ALIGNMENT IS DONE AND NEW TIRES ARE BOUGHT
Power train, Engine, Jun 28, 2019
DRIVING FROM ALAMOGORDO NM TO EL PASO TX WHICH IS ABOUT 90 MILES DISTANCE WITH MY TWO KIDS THE ENGINE MADE AN AWFUL SOUND AND STOPPED. I WAS BY A PEP BOYS SERVICE CENTER AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT. THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE LOCKED UP! THE SUV ONLY HAS 71150 MILES ON IT! NOW I'M ON FOOT AND DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO! ANY HELP?
Steering, Power train, Engine, Jun 21, 2019
THIS IS MY 4TH TIME HAVING TO CALL A TOW TRUCK FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND TRIED TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE , CAR WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I TRIED AGAIN TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE, WOULD NOT BUDGE. COULD NOT TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, COULD NOT MOVE STEERING WHEEL. LATER ON TRIED TO TAKE KEYS OUT OF IGNITION, IT LET ME ,BUT WOULD NOT START STILL. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DID NOT FIND ANYTHING BUT A DEAD BATTERY. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. PICKED CAR UP. DROVE TO STORE ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED AGAIN. SAME CONCLUSION .DID NOT FIND ANYTHING AGAIN. DROVE CAR HOME. I MAY DRIVE MY CAR ONCE A WEEK. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE MY CAR AGAIN IT STOPPED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC , WITH NO WARNING , THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. SOMEONE STOPPED AND PUSHED ME OUT THE MIDDLE OF STREET. THANK GOD. HAD IT TOWED AGAIN TO KIA DEALERSHIP . NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY FOUND NOTHING BUT A DEAD BATTERY. BATTERY WAS LESS THAN 3 MONTHS OLD. BOUGHT FROM KIA. MADE IT HOME SAFELY. 3 DAYS LATER STARTED CAR, TURNED ON AIR, WAITED UNTIL COOL INSIDE . CAR CUT OFF EVEN BEFORE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THIS TIME IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP, TO NO AVAIL, CUT OFF AGAIN.
Power train, Engine, Jun 21, 2019
AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, PROBLEMS BEGAN. FIRST NOTED THE COOLANT CONTAINER WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL AND SLUDGE. ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS SLUDGED, DID NOT KNOW WHY. I HAD THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY FLUSHED AND ALL NEW FLUIDS REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER, AGAIN, THE SLUDGE APPEARED AND COOLANT CONTAINER FILLED WITH OIL AND COOLANT HOSE BURNED THROUGH DUE TO THE OIL. THE COOLANT HOSE WAS REPLACED. AND AGAIN I HAD THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FLUIDS FLUSHED. AGAIN, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH SLUDGE BUT THIS TIME AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR 2 MILES FROM MY HOME TO A MAIN STREET BANK, SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD, SMOKE COMING OUT FROM ENGINE, AND A SLUDGE SUBSTANCE EXPLODED THROUGHOUT THE CAR AND OOZED OUT OF THE CAR. COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE SEIZE CONCERNS. CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED- OIL CHANGES REGULARLY, INSPECTIONS ETC. I WAS TOLD I'D HAVE TO POSSIBLY GET A NEW ENGINED, OR AT THE LEAST HAVE TWO HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,500. DESPITE KIA TOUTING THE 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, AND AFTER WEEKS OF TRYING TO GET THE DEALER TO FIX IT, THEN WENT UP THE CORPORATE LADDER SPEAKING WITH CORPORATE, I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY TO ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER!!!! THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM THE KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY THAT APPLIED- THAT THIS WAS A SELLING FEATURE!!! I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHILE I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH KIA- BUT THEY REFUSED. THERE WAS A 2014 RECALL ON THE SAME CAR, AND THIS CAR WAS A 2015, MANUFACTURED IN 2014. I OWED $9,000 ON THE CAR!!!! NEEDING A CAR, I BOUGHT A USED BUICK FOR $2600 TO USE SINCE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN RENTING A CAR, AND WILL SELL THAT CAR WHEN NEEDED. CAN'T UPLOAD THE PHOTOS AND THE REPAIRS INFO AT THIS TIME.
Power train, Jun 15, 2019
WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 65 AND FELT LIKE HIT A WALL ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN'S HEAD FLEW FORWARD CAR WENT DOWN TO 15 MPH AND RPMS SKYROCKETED WOULD NOT GO OVER 15 PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD SHUT OFF CAR AND LET SIT RESTARTED CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 15 MPH OR SHIFT NO LIGHTS EVER ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AND STILL HAVE NOT WILL BE GETTING TOWED MONDAY AS THIS HAPPENED ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Power train, Apr 2, 2019
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.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 21, 2019
WHEN I TURN A CORNER, MY KIA SPUTTER TO GET AROUND THE CORNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. I ADVISED THE DEALER BEFORE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD, "MY CAR IS OK". THIS IS NOT OK. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION OR SOME OTHER COMPONENT IS SLIPPING. IT RPMS GOES HIGH BEFORE DECREASING BACK DOWN TO GET INTO NEXT GEAR. I'VE EXPRESSED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AND WAS TOLD ONCE THEY DROVE MY CAR, "THEY DIDN'T NOTICE ANY CHANGE". WHEN GOING UP A HILL, I HAVE TO PRESS ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS TO GET UP THE HILL WHICH CAUSES THE RPM TO RAISE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S STUCK IN A GEAR OR SOMETHING. THESE ISSUES NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO DO THIS. IT FRUSTRATES ME TO TELL THE DEALERSHIP WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I AM THE ONE WHO DRIVES MY CAR EVERYDAY AND I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP TELL YOU WHAT YOUR SAYING ISN'T CORRECT WHEN THEY DON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR EVERYDAY? FOR ME TO HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS AGO WITH ONLY 2,500 MILES ON A 2015 KIA, I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE MANY PROBLEMS. IT ALMOST MAKE ME FEEL LIKE THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK. JUST MY OPINION.
Power train, Engine, Jan 20, 2019
WE WENT TO GET OIL CHANGED AND THEY SAID IF THEY CHANGE OIL THE ENGINE WILL EXPLOED . THEY SAID OUR VEHICLE HAD RECALL ON IT
Power train, Nov 4, 2018
I HAD OIL CHANGED AT THE MECHANIC SHOP. A WEEK LATER I DROVE IN THE CITY, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. THEN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. I HAD IT RESTARTED AND WENT HOME. I CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS ALMOST GONE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP. THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING AGAIN AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NO LEAKS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG. I CONTACTED THE OTHER MECHANIC. HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. HE HAD OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS. IT IS THE POWERTRAIN. WE HAVE TO ADD OIL WEEKLY TO KEEP OIL INSIDE.. IT KEEPS BURNING UP.
Power train, May 21, 2018
WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING SPEED LIMIT OF 75 THE KIA STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 40MPH IN A 75. ONCE'S IN TOWN THE CAR WAS OK BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS BELOW 40.