2015 Kia Sorento: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 747 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (47% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 5 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall May 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 747 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2026
“While driving on interstate 380 south,with cruise on ,my engine failed with loud knocikng, Ihad two tractor trailors behind me ,i was lucky to get off road onto side of shoulder this was on May 5,2026. this was the second 2.4 liter theta 2 motor in my sorento, first motor failed at 58.000 miles, second motor failed at 138,000miles. auto was taken to kia dealership in Blakely ,Pa. a NEW MOTER HAS BEEN INST.ALLED UNDER WAURENTEE.MY ENGINE HAS THE KNOICK SENSOR AND SOFTWARE INSTALLED”Owner report · Engine · May 2026
“Was driving vehicle and it began to run hot, check engine light came on then started to make a knocking sound when getting to 30-35 mph. Was inspected by a service center. There it was confirmed an issue with the motor/head gasket”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the engine made abnormal knocking sounds. The vehicle was towed to the residence and failed to restart. A mobile technician diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 98,954.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2026
“The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. There was a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed the local dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 128,405.”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2026
“The low beam headlights do not illuminate the highway sufficiently to drive safely. I lowered the aim of my high beam to be able to drive at night and not blind approaching drivers. This is unacceptable for a modern vehicle to be permitted to be sold in this condition.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jan 2026
“Dealer driving car 35mph. Check engine light started flashing. Burning plastic smell from under hood. Car cut off. Did not restart. Towed to mechanic, was told engine locked up.”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2026
“I was driving down a very busy road and with no warning my car lost power. It would turn over but not start back up. I was stuck in the middle of a busy road way causing traffic's to back up. I had to call the police to sit behind me so I wouldn't get hit from behind.”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2026
“Faulty motor I have changed oil early every time and every mechanic I've been to said the Kia motor is always doing this ! I still owe 9k on this car! It's burning oil so fast and not going into the engine this is a on going issue with these motors ! I just now hit 100 k miles no reason for my motor to be blowing please put the recall back on for the 2015 Kia's!!!”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2025
“Engine started making rattling sounds during startup and when accelerating. Kia dealer said the engine failed and needed replaced. Repair cost were around $9000.00.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2025
When filing, owners marked a crash in 20 of these complaints and injuries in 24 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sorento by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Kia Sorento reliable?
NHTSA has 747 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2015 Kia Sorento. The most complained-about area is engine (47% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Sorento problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 75,800 miles or less.
Does the 2015 Kia Sorento have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.