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: service brakes
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, May 14, 2021
THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. I HAD TO PRESS DOWN EXTREMELY HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP.0507
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Mar 26, 2021
A FEW MONTHS BACK, MAYBE OSEPT/OCT MY ABS LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON (YELLOW) AND I HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WAS A WHEEL SENSIOR AND ITS VERY COSTLY SO AS OF YET IT HASNT BEEN FIXED. NOW YESTERDAY MY BRAKE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF MY DASH CAME ON (RED) AND ITS A DOUBLE AND SAID BREAK. I DONT KNOW WHY IM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST KIA. I OWN 2 AND BOTH HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AND I KEEP BOTH SERVICED ON TIME AND GET WHAT IS NEEDED DONE
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine, Feb 19, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER MOTHER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN AUDIBLE ENGINE FAILURE WARNING AND A NO SERVICE MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO SUNTRUP KIA SOUTH (6263 S LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63123) FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL COULD NOT BE SERVICED SINCE THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS WERE DOWN. THE CONTACT THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS WERE DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,405. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Service brakes, Jan 12, 2021, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER CORAL SPRINGS KIA LOCATED AT 9330 W ATLANTIC BLVD, CORAL SPRINGS, FL 33071 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY INSPECTED UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 20V519000(SERVICE BRAKES) BUT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 224,000. *JS
Service brakes, Nov 19, 2020, crash
TL* 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, HEAD, NECK AND CHEST INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE LOCAL DEALER MORRIE MAZDA LOCATED ADDRESS: 2329 S PRAIRIE VIEW RD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI 54729 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Sep 3, 2020
WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, AND TPMS SENSOR GAVE OUT AT 56K. GOT IN ONE DAY AND IT SAID I WAS DOING 140 WHILE PARKED. BEFORE I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, THE ABS, TCS, AND TPMS LIGHTS WERE ON. CAR WAS USED AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IF EVERYTHING WASN'T BUILT INTO THE WHEEL HUB, IT WOULD BE A RELATIVELY EASY FIX. INSTEAD I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE MY SORENTO WITH NO TCS, ABS, OR KNOW IF A TIRE IS LOW/FLAT BECAUSE A QUOTED COST OF REPAIR WAS CLOSE TO 1200 DOLLARS. NOBODY HAS 1200 TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER LOOKING AT ONLINE FORUMS, IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH 2013-2015 SORENTO TO HAVE ANYTHING ABS/TCS RELATED GO SOUTH. CAR DRIVES LIKE A DREAM, ONLY WISH IT DIDN'T TAKE 2 MONTHS RENT TO FEEL SAFE.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Dec 22, 2019
MY SON WAS PULLED OVER AND THE OFFICER SAID THERE WERE NO OPERATING REAR LIGHTS. NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM ON AND OFF TO COME ON. THEN ON ANOTHER DAY THERE WERE NO BRAKES GETS LIGHTS EITHER. I INFORMED SOUTHWEST KIA MESQUITE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE LIGHT SWITCH BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR OTHER MODELS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT MODEL. THEY CHARGED ME TO FIX THIS SAYING ALTHOUGH IT WAS RECALLED IN THEIR OTHER MODEL THE SORENTO WAS NOT RECALLED. AFTER THEY INSTALLED THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY EVEN DID ANOTHER INSEPCTION A WEEK OR SO LATER (12/20/2019) SAYING THAT MY CAR WAS SAFE TO TRAVEL AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHILE ON THE ROAD TRIP WITH MY FAMILY WE NOTICED THAT THE TWO MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. WE TRIED TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND THEY STILL DIDNT WORK. KIA HAS PLACED MY FAMILY IN DANGER. WE ARE OUT OF STATE AND HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING THE CAR BACK TO TEXAS SAFELY. KIA HAS EXHAUSTED ALL OF MY MONEY AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED ANYTHING. THE CAR IS UNSAFE. I GOOGLED AND FOUND THATB A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH KIA'S WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY WONT OWN UP THAT SOMETHING IS WRING WITH THE SORENTO, CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM, BACK AND BRAKE LIGHTS. MY REAR LIGHTS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IS KIA WAITING FOR FATALITIES BEFORE THEY DEAL WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE SORENTO? HOW MUCCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE TO RIP PEOPLE OFF AND LEAVE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES UNSAFE? I TRANSPORT KIDS AS I AM A CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKER AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE. ITS UNFORTUNATE THAT KIA HAS EXHAUSTED ALL OF MY FUNDS THAT I CAN'T RENT NOR GET ANOTHER CAR WHILE OUT OF STATE FOR CHRISTMAS STUCK ON THE ROAD.
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 2, 2019
THE ABS, ESC, AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FIXED AND THE LIGHTS STILL COME ON. CITY KIA TOLD US TO IGNORE THE LIGHTS CAUSE THE SENSOR WAS BAD. BUT THAT'S NOT A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DULL AND ARE HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, WHICH I DO A LOT OF NIGHT TIME DRIVING. THE IMAGE I AM ATTACHING IS ONE I TOOK AFTER HAVING REPAIRS MADE ON MY CAR.
Service brakes, Jun 13, 2019
VEHICLE STOPPED ENGINE RUNNING BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOORBOARD. DEALER STATES THIS HAPPENS AND DEMONSTRATED 3 SIMILAR VEHICLES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. MY EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING INDICATES THIS CONDITION IS UNSAFE AND MASTER OR WHEEL CYLINDER OR DISK BRAKE PISTON MAY BE LEAKING. ANOTHER AREA CAN BE MASTER CYLINDER INTERNALLY LEAKING OR ABS INTERNALLY LEAKING. I CALLED KIA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER LISTENING TO MY CONCERN HE SAID HE HAS NO TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ADDRESS MY CONCERN AND TO GO BACK TO DEALER. HOWEVER, I HAD EARLIER GONE TO DEALER FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION 'BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS TOO LOW'. I WAS CHARGED 70$ AND TOLD EVERYTHING IS FINE! I FEEL I AM CHASING MY TAIL HERE. IS THERE NO STANDARD THAT SAYS PEALE PEDAL CANNOT GO SO LOW THAT GAS PEDAL IS ALSO ENGAGED IF FOOT OVERLAPS ACCELERATOR PEDAL? PRETTY SCARY IF YOU PUSH BRAKE PEDAL AND IT CREEPS LOW ENOUGH THAT GAS IS APPLIED AND THEY ARE FIGHTING! TWO MONTHS AGO I WAS TOLD THAT IF GAS AND BRAKE WERE OBSERVED BY COMPUTER THE DEFAULT WAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE TO IDLE. YES THIS WAS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET ONTO FREEWAY. HIT GAS ENGINE DIES IF BRAKE PEDAL TOUCHED WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO TRAFFIC! NOW I CAN HIT GAS AND BRAKE AT SAME TIME AND THEY FIGHT EACH OTHER. HELP!
Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 2, 2017
MY MOM HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUE AFTER ISSUE.. FIRST THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT AND BATTERY AFTER POWER STEERING MAKING NOICES ..BRAKES NOT RESPONDING AND NOW FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS.
Steering, Service brakes, Jul 31, 2017
OUR VEHICLE HAS 32K MILES ON IT AND THE ROTARS ARE ALREADY WORN DOWN. THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING WHEN MOVIN AND BRAKING. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP. DID WE BUY A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE ROTARS. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE MOVING ON A CITY STREET IT OFTEN MAKES A CRACKING SOUND.
Service brakes, Mar 31, 2015
KIA SORENTO LESS THEN 5000 MILES WATER AROUND VIN NUMBER ON DASH ALSO LEAKING INTO THE FLOOR. DEALER TRIED TO SAY BUILD OF LEAVES AROUND WINDSHIELD IS THE CAUSE. IF THAT IS THE CAUSE THEN THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I BELIEVE THEY ARE SAYING THAT DUE TO THEY CAN'T NOT FIND OUT WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. ALSO WHEN CAR SITS OVER NIGHT AND IT HAS RAIN THE BRAKES SCRUB LIKE THEY RUSTED OVERNIGHT. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE TURNED INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH OUT NO DETERMINATION AS TO WHY THEY ARE DOING THIS. ALSO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TRYING TO MAKE UP REASONS FOR THEIR OWN INEPT WORK. *TR