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, Feb 16, 2021
STARTING A YEAR AGO, THE PAINT ON MY 2015 VEHICLE (LESS THAN 60K MILES) BEGAN TO FLAKE OFF. I HAVE THE KIA PEARL WHITE COLOR AND MY STORY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CASES ONLINE. THE PAINT FLAKES OFF WITH PRESSURE FROM A GARDEN HOSE. I KEEP MY CAR CLEAN AND DETAILED (TWICE A YEAR). THERE ARE NO DENTS OR MARKS AT ANY OF THE LOCATIONS VALIDATING THAT THIS ISN'T DAMAGE FROM A ROCK OR ROAD DEBRI. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO SEVERAL PAINT AND BODY SHOPS AND THEY ALL RECOMMEND THE PAINT BE REMOVED COMPLETELY AS MY ONLY OPTION OF REPAIR BECAUSE THE ORGINAL PAINT IS NOT BONDED PROPERLY TO THE BODY. KIA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A DEFECT.
Structure, Jan 28, 2021
GOT HOME AFTER DRIVING 20 MINUTES FROM WORK AND I NOTICE A GOOD PORTION OF THE WHITE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE A-PILLAR BY THE WINDSHIELD. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION, THE PAINT LOOKS LIKE IT'S CHIPPING OFF AND EVENTUALLY GETTING PEELED FROM THE BODY BY THE WIND WHILE DRIVING. NOTHING APPEARS TO HAVE HIT THE AREA AND IT WAS A CLEAN PEEL OF THE PAINT
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 11, 2021
MY 2015 KIA SORRENTO HAS PAINT THAT IS CHIPPING OFF IN LARGE CHUNKS AROUND THE WINSHIELD AND THE HOOD. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. I SPOKE WITH KIA CONSUMER ASSURANCE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ONLY MODELS COVERED IS 2011-2014. I PURCHASED MY KIA SORRENTO IN APRIL 2014, ALTHOUGH IT IS A 2015 MODEL. I WANT TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS MODEL. I HAVE SEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THIS AREA.
Structure, Jan 8, 2021
PAINT IS PEELING OFF WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE, PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING WITH TIME.
Structure, Dec 28, 2020
THE KIA PAINT ON MY WHITE PEARL KIA SORENTO HAS BEEN PEELING AND RUSTING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2017 AND BEGINNING AT ABOUT 40K MILES. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY OTHER WHITE KIAS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. THE PATCHES ARE GETTING WORSE AND PEELING IN BIG CHUNKS NOW. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND TOLD BY KIA THIS IS NOT COVERED. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN KIA FOR NOT TAKING FAULT ON CLEARLY CHEAP PAINT PLACED ON ALL WHITE PEARL KIAS.
Structure, Nov 9, 2020
AT AROUND 59,000 MILE THE PAINT AROUND THE WINDSHIELD STARTED CHIPPING AWAY. IT NOW IS AT ALMOST 83,000 MILES AND THE SPOTS HAVE BEGUN TO RUST. DRIVING PEELS THE PAINT. IF THERE IS A HEAVY THUNDER STORM WITH HIGH WINDS IT PEELS THE PAINT. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PEELING AND RUSTING IS BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH CAR WASHES AND THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE USED CAUSED THE ISSUE. I ONLY EVER HAD THE DEALERSHIP WASH MY CAR OR AT HOME. THE UNDERCOAT IS ALSO PEELING WHICH I BELIEVE IS WHY THE CAR IS NOW RUSTING. IT IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND SHOULD NOT BE USED ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES.
Structure, Nov 3, 2020
THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF MY CAR STARTED CHIPPING STARTED AS A SPOT THEN SPREAD IT SEEMED TO BUBBLE UP AND BLOW OFF IN THE WIND HAD IT FIXED - NOW THE PAIN ON MY HOOD IS DOING THE SAME
Structure, Oct 20, 2020
AROUND 46,000 MILES PAINT STARTING PEELING OFF ROOF JUST ABOVE WINDSHIELD AND A FEW SPOTS ON FRONT FENDER AND ELSEWHERE. KIA WON'T COVER REPAIR SAYS IT IS PAST 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. I COMPLAINED ITS BAD PAINT JOB TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN SO SOON.
Structure, Oct 16, 2020
THE PEARL WHITE PAINT IS PEELING OFF AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FRONT PILLARS AND HOOD WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY
Structure, Oct 12, 2020
WHITE PEARL PAINT PEELING
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2020
THE PEARL WHITE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF OF MY KIA SORENTO ON THE WINDSHIELD PILLARS, ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HOOD AND VARIOUS OTHER LOCATIONS.... THE PAINT FINISH IS FAULTY AND WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED
Structure, Sep 25, 2020
MY PAINT HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN PEELING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, MAINLY ON THE FRONT OF MY SORENTO & ITS BEGINNING TO RUST WHERE SOME OF THE PAINT HAS COME OFF. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2015.
Structure, Aug 20, 2020
PAINT IS DELAMINATING AND PEELING AT THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. SO BADLY THAT I'M AFRAID TO WASH IT! IT'S STARTING TO RUST NOW FROM IT. IT IS CONSISTENTLY GETTING WORSE WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING IT.
Structure, Aug 13, 2020
THE PEARL WHITE PAINT ON MY 2015 KIA SORRENTO IS PEELING OFF. SMALL AREAS AROUND THE WINDSHIELD STARTED AT FIRST AND NOW THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD ARE COMING OFF IN LARGER SECTIONS. ALL OF THESE AREAS ARE STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUST AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL SMALL SPOTS ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHICH ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST AS WELL. THIS IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER TIME AND I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE (NOT EVEN WASHING IN FEAR OF MORE COMING OFF) AT THIS POINT.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2019
I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN A GRAIN SILO TOWN IN KANSAS (COMING UP ON OAKLEY FROM COLORADO SPRINGS) AND THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND ME. THE WEATHER WASN'T DRASTICALLY CHANGING AND THERE WAS NO ADVERSE WEATHER. SUDDENLY, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION ON THE TOP OF MY CAR. THE FABRIC PARTITION THAT SEPARATES THE SUNROOF FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY IN THE WIND AND THERE WAS SOME GLASS SHARDS THAT FELL INTO THE CAR. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE INCIDENT SCARED BOTH ME AND MY TWO KIDS WHO WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. I PULLED OVER TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE DAMAGE (SEEN IN THE PICTURE BELOW). AS I HAD THE REST OF MY ROAD TRIP TO ACCOMPLISH (KANSAS CITY, MO), MY HUSBAND MET ME IN OAKLEY, KS WITH HIS CAR AND WE MADE THE EXCHANGE. I AM A VERY METICULOUS DRIVER WHO INSPECTS EVERYTHING BEFORE A ROAD TRIP: TIRE PRESSURE, WINDOW CRACKS, INTERIOR IS INTACT, DRASTIC CHANGE IN WEATHER ALONG THE TRIP, ETC. I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT TO LOOK AT THE SUNROOF AND EVEN IF I DID, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE FOUND ANYTHING. IF I WERE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY I COULD WRITE THIS WHOLE INCIDENT OFF AS MAYBE A STRAY ROCK. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND ME.
Structure, Sep 16, 2019
CLEAR COAT COMING OFF THE FRONT BUMPER. I'M STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR AND BOUGHT IT OFF THE LOT.
Structure, Sep 12, 2019
'TAKATA RECALL' MY DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR QUIT OPENING!! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDED TO USE THAT DOOR TO GET OUT I COULDN'T. NOT TO MENTION MY CHILDREN CANNOT USE THAT DOOR TO ENTER OR EXIT MY VEY ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED BUT I HAVE SEEN VIDEOS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER KIA SORENTOS ON LINE. I WILL NOT FIX THIS ON MY OWN I FELL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE BEHALF OF KIA. I'M STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR I BOTH IT BRAND NEW IT'S A 2015 MODEL. THIS HAPPENED APROXMENTLY 1 1/2 MONTHS AGO. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REPORT IT UNTIL NOW. I ALSO FELL THIS IS WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON IT YET BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO REPORT. THANK YOU.
Structure, Jan 16, 2019
MY CARS PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF. KIA SAID IT IS DUE TO CAR WAS CHEMICALS. HOWEVER I WAS MY CAR BY HAD OR GET IT WASHED AT KIA DEALERS. THE PAINT FLAKES OFF DURING DRIVING OR HEAVY WIND. IT IS PEELING OFF AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IF IT STARTS TO RUST THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD COULD COME UNGLUED AND FLY OFF POSSIBLY CAUSING HARM TO THE DRIVER OR OTHER CARS. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH KIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH NO RESULTS. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT BECAUSE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE CHIPPING/PEELING OFF LIKE IT IS. THERE IS ALSO RUSTING IN THE PAINT UNDER THE CLEAR BRA THAT IS ON THE HOOD. WHICH IS ALSO A DEFECT IN THE PAINT AND COULD LEAD TO RUSTING OF THE METAL HOOD
Structure, Jul 19, 2018
THE PAINT FROM THE ROOF OF MY 2015 WHITE KIA SORENTO IS PEELING OFF AND RUSTING IS UNDERNEATH. I STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WITH A LITTLE SPOT AND NOW HAS BECOME A BIG SPOT. THERE ARE ALSO 2 OTHER SPOTS THAT HAVE STARTED.
Structure, May 23, 2018
ROOF RAIL DETACHED ON HIGHWAY WHILE HAULING KAYAK, SPEED 30 MPH. GUST OF CROSSWIND. RAIL IS PLASTIC AND THE FLANGES ON THE END ARE HELD ON BY TWO SCREWS AT EACH END ON THE OUT SIDE EDGE ONLY.PLASTIC AT THAT POINT IS PAPER THIN. INSIDE EDGE OF FLANGE IS NOT ATTACHED AT ALL. THIS ALLOWS THE RAIL TO ROLL OFF TO THE OUTSIDE WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE, RIPPING OUT THE SCREWS ON THE OUTER EDGE. I TRIED THE RAIL ON THE OTHER SIDE AND BY PULLING OUT I COULD LIFT UP THE INNER EDGE AND COULD HAVE RIPPED IT OFF BY HAND WITH A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE. FORTUNATELY NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS HIT. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. RAIL IS RATED AT 220 LBS BY KIA. TOTAL WEIGHT OF KAYAK WAS 70LBS.
Structure, Aug 19, 2017
THE CLIPS ON THE REAR PASSENGERS DOOR PANEL HAS BROKEN CAUSING THE PANEL TO STICK OUT. THIS IS MAKING IT SO THAT THE DOOR WON'T OPEN. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET.
Structure, Jul 18, 2017
AS FOUND WITH MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE SORENTO, THE PARTS INSIDE THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. ALL THE PARTS INSIDE, INCLUDING THE DOOR HANDLE ARE PLASTIC AND, APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE. YOU CANNOT GET INTO YOUR CAR. IF THE HANDLES FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, IT CAN HIT A FOLLOWING CAR AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A CASUALTY.
Structure, Jun 10, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S FOOT INADVERTENTLY STRUCK THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT RAIL WHICH WAS MOVED BACKWARDS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LACERATION ON ONE OF THE TOES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Structure, Apr 1, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER WAS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY WIRE AND HOT GLUE. THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS BETWEEN THE CONTACT AND THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Visibility, Structure, Jun 6, 2014
OUR 2015 KIA SORENTO LX WITH TOURING PACKAGE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN THE TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED AND SHATTERED ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN OR NEXT TO IT AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IS BACK AT FUCILLA KIA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. IT IS ONLY ONE WEEK SINCE WE PICKED UP THE BRAND NEW CAR AND IT IS ALREADY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR...NOT A GOOD OMEN AND WE ARE NOT HAPPY. *TR