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: structure
100 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Aug 7, 2026
Paint De lamination on Snow White Pearl due to manufacturing defect Date listed was the date it started to peel. Started peeling around the window first. Then it continued on the front hood.
Structure, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 15, 2026, fire
2015 Kia Sorento fire on the 7th I was drive lost brakes and steering and as soon as I stop to get out to check the whole truck went up in flames
Structure, Aug 9, 2025
I have the pearl white paint on this vehicle. It is peeling off the car.
Structure, Jul 22, 2025, crash
THE PAINT ON MY 2015 KIA SORENTO (SNOW WHITE PEARL) IS PEELING OFF LARGE SHEETS, EXPOSING THE METAL UNDERNEATH. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE AFFECTING MANY KIA AND HYNDAI VEHICLES. I AM CONCERED IT WILL LEAD TO RUST, SAFETY ISSUES, AND REDUCE VISIBILITY. A PIECE LADED ON MY WINDSHIELD BLOCKING MY VIEW. KIA HAS DENIED REPAIR AND HAS A CASE PENDING MORE RESEARCH. CASE NUMBER IS 25399760. THIS IS CLEARY A MANFACTURER DEFECT HAPPENING TO THIS COLOR ONLY. IT IS PEELING ON THE HOOD AND DOORS AND BACK SIDE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER
Structure, Mar 27, 2025
My 2015 pearl white Kia Sorento has had paint peeling off of the hood and front of the roof. It is getting really bad and there is rust and corrosion now. It's been doing this for a couple of years and it's really bad now. There is now reason for that. When I drive around I keep an eye out and I see Sorento after Sorento with the same exact problem -- paint peeling in the same spots with rust and corrosion starting. Online you can find forums and a facebook page about it. It's an awful issue that starts out as a bad cosmetic issue and become an even worse body and safety issue due to the rust and corrosion. I will include photos from July 2023 to show how it was bad even back then. It's even worse now.
Electrical system, Structure, Feb 11, 2025
My Kia Sorento has the pearl white paint that began peeling 4 years ago. That is a known issue for Kia vehicles made between 2013 and 2019. [XXX] . While this is not necessarily a safety issue, it is common problem that Kia knows about. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Structure, Jan 9, 2025
Paint peeling and delaminating
Structure, Jan 3, 2025
Paint peel, only happening on shiny white pearl coat.
Structure, Dec 20, 2024
I HAVE THE SNOW WHITE PAINT, AND IT IS PEELING IN SEVERAL AREAS. HOOD, ROOF, AND SECTION THAT GOES FROM FENDER TO ROOF.
Structure, Sep 3, 2024
THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF VEHICLE "KIA SORENTO 2015 IALL OVER MY CAR, MY CAR COLOR IS: PEARL WHITE. IT IS JUST PEELING OFF ALL OF THE SUDDEN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD TO KIA/HUNDAY CAR OWNERS, INCLUDING THE USA AND CANADA. EVEN THOUGH KIA HAS NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY KNOW IS HAPPENING. I NEED KIA TO BE RESPONSABLE AND PAID FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. i WILL NOT FILE A CLAIM IN MY CAR INSURANCE FOR THIS, BECAUSE I DID NOT CREATE THIS PROBLEM, KIA DID.
Structure, Jun 3, 2024
The paint on my SUV began to peel off. I have pictures documenting the issue, and the car has been temporarily fixed. The safety of myself and others wasn't directly compromised. The problem has been confirmed by other Kia owners experiencing similar issues with the same paint type. A body shop inspected the vehicle, but it hasn't been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning signs prior to the paint peeling.
Structure, Other or unspecified, May 28, 2024
Large paint chips on hood and passenger door frame near windshield. Smaller paint chips along hood. Looks almost like an eggshell cracking and just started happening in the last couple of months.
Structure, Apr 22, 2024
THE PAINT IS BUBBLING AND BLISTERING ALONG WITH DELMINATION IN SOME AREA'S. I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE SNOW WHITE PEARL PAINT ON MANY OTHER KIA'S AS WELL. MY CAR ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS MANUFACTURER ISSUE. FIRST NOTICED A SMALL DELAMINATION ON THE A PILLAR IN 2019, NOW BLISTERS ARE NOTICED AND SPEADING OVER MANY PANELS OF THE VEHICLE
Structure, Feb 10, 2024
Paint stated flaking significantly at 79k miles. It has gotten out of control and we keep this garaged and hardly drive it. I have read other Kia owners dealing with the same issue. It's not normal wear and tear with the paint. It's large chunks of paint coming off.
Structure, Feb 6, 2024
Paint flaking in large pieces off the car around the windscreen and roof.
Structure, Jan 26, 2024
My suv has paint that is peeling off of the suv that is not due to damage or something external to the paints surface. The color is pearl white and has been documented by many owners of cars Kia's with the pearl white paint color. The location on the passenger side a pillar is also a common starting point for this paint issue.
Structure, Jan 14, 2024
Paint on ridge above driver side window began delaminating and completely eroded over a day. This happened while the car was parked without any rain or other impact.
Structure, Jan 7, 2024
After review by local body shops, the paint/primer on the body of our Kia has been flaking off. This is s known issue by Kia for multiple years with multiple examples of various Kia vehicles with various color types. This is a concern as over time the raw metal will deteriorate, rust and cause further structural issues. The problem has been reviewed both by the manufacturer as well as multiple independent body shops as mentioned above. There were no warnings on the vehicle. The paint started to show cracks and then continuously started to chip and flake off the vehicle which is continues to do today.
Structure, Nov 8, 2023
Paint peeling rapidly on each side of windshield.
Structure, Engine, Nov 2, 2023
Paint started peeling off
Structure, Oct 14, 2023
paint peeling/rapid delamination on 2015 Kia Sorento (Snow White Pearl color) on both passenger side front and passenger side rear doors. Prior rapid delamination on "A" pillar of both passenger and driver sides and center roof (repaired 2021, out of pocket cost $2000). Rapid delamination began approximately October, 2022, 105,000 miles on vehicle; increasingly becoming worse.
Other or unspecified, Structure, Sep 27, 2023
The paint is delamanating and flaking cause value to drop daily. A 2015 should not have this issue, Toyota recalled for the same issues. It start with a very small spot and has incresed daily in size and new spots are appearing daily.
Structure, Sep 15, 2023
The paint on this vehicle is aggressively peeling and I was told by a local Kia dealership to submit a complaint as it is a common problem with the snow white colored Kia Sorrento in this year. There is nothing I can do to stop the paint from continuing to peel, and it has continued to get worse over time.
Air bags, Structure, Sep 6, 2023
Pearl white paint is peeling off on both sides of windshield and hood. Air bag light stays on.
Structure, Aug 4, 2023
right rear passenger door handle. It is made of plastic and crumbled in my hand as i attempted to open the door to remove my 3 yr old great grandson. I had the child safety lock engaged, so when I tried to crawl across back seat to open that door from the inside I was unable to. I undid car seat buckles and pulled him across back seat, out opposite door. This occurred Mid June 2023. I ordered new handle, had installed by neighbor end of June 2023 and the new one has now started to come apart August 2 2023. I didn't have inspected as a neighbor shared she's had to replace her handles 3 times, it seems to be a common issue. Concerned for safety, have to keep child safety lock on for great grandson and if he or anyone needing to make emergency/quick exit unable to so. I don't want anyone to get trapped in car in our extreme Phoenix heat. My opposite rear door is not fully functionable as the window requlator has broken and the window is inoperable and I don't want to disassemble till the new one is available/affordable so I wouldn't be without the airbag plug attached.