2015 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Kia SORENTO has 954 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: i purchased a new 2015 kia sorento may 17, 2014. as i was driving down the road last night at approximately 45mph, suddenly the car jerked around, sounded like i downshifted (although it's an automatic) and i got the diagnostic message of the "engine control system- possible engine condition" it to. ⚠️ 20 fire reports filed.

20 fire reports 19 crash reports 22 injuries

954

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

11.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

362 complaints

38%

• I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 KIA SORENTO MAY 17, 2014. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LAST NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, SUDDENLY THE CAR JERKED AROUND, SOUNDED LIKE I DOWNSHIFTED (ALTHOUGH IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND I GOT THE DIAGNOSTIC MESSAGE OF THE "ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM- POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION" IT TO
• HAD OIL LIGHT GO ON WHEN I WOULD TAKE OFF FROM A STOP BUT WOULD TURN OFF WHEN I STOP. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS PUT IN WRONG. THE DEALER PUT A NEW ONE ON AND DID ALL THE TEST TO MAKE SURE IT WAS WORKING PROPER. NINE DAY LATER I HAD A OIL LEAK AND CALLED
• HOW CAN NHTSA GIVE A 5-STAR SAFETY RATING TO A 2015 KIA SORRENTO BASED ON A 2013 CRASH TEST DONE ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE WHEN THERE IS OBVIOUS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE 2014/2015 KIA SORRENTO MODELS. SINCE 2014, THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 2 SERIOUS INJURIES AND OTHER COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS DEF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 KIA SORENTO MAY 17, 2014. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LAST NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, SUDDENLY THE CAR JERKED AROUND, SOUNDED LIKE I DOWNSHIFTED (ALTHOUGH IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND I GOT THE DIAGNOSTIC MESSAGE OF THE "ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM- POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION" IT TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

114 complaints

12%

• DRIVING ON MILD SUMMER DAY (~70). LIGHTLY-PACKED CARTOP CARRIER AFFIXED PROPERLY/SAFELY TO KIA CROSSBARS (INSTALLED BY KIA). DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH "PASSING LANE" TRAFFIC (ABOUT 75MPH). RUNNING AC AT ABOUT 70 INSIDE, WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. PANORAMIC SUNROOF CLOSED, WITH INNER SOFT SUNSHADE
• SOOO MANY COMPLAINTS OF KIA DOORS NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. KIA IS NOT ISSUING A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF THIS. THEY SHOULD ASAP! AS SOON AS SOMEONE'S CAR CATCHES FIRE AND THEY CAN'T GET THE DOORS OPEN, THERE WILL BE SERIOUS LAWSUITS. IF YOU ARE UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU ARE GOOD TO G
• BACK PASSENGER SOOR ONLY OPENS UNDER EXTREME PULLING ON HANDLE OR PUSHING FROM INSIDE HARD...THE INSIDE FRAME COMES LOOSE AND THEN WE BANK IT BACK IN PLACE WITH ONES FIST....NEXT TIME ,,,,IT STICKS AGAIN!! VEHICLE PARKED OF COURSE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“DRIVING ON MILD SUMMER DAY (~70). LIGHTLY-PACKED CARTOP CARRIER AFFIXED PROPERLY/SAFELY TO KIA CROSSBARS (INSTALLED BY KIA). DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH "PASSING LANE" TRAFFIC (ABOUT 75MPH). RUNNING AC AT ABOUT 70 INSIDE, WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. PANORAMIC SUNROOF CLOSED, WITH INNER SOFT SUNSHADE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

99 complaints

10%

• 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 BRAN
• 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. T
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“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 BRAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

91 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF SENSOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DURING NIGHT HOURS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SENSOR FAILED TO POWER OFF THE HEADLIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY. THE CONTACT HAD TO POWER OFF THE HEADLIGHTS MANUALLY. THE FA
• THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT THE ROAD IS NOT VISIBLE. MY CARS' LIGHT METER VALUE IS 77LU COMPAIRED TO A NIEGHBORS' HEADLIGHT VALUE OF 489LU WITH THE SAME LIGHTS. THIS LOW HEADLIGHT OUTPUT VALUE MAKES THIS CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN LOW LIGHT SITUATIONS AND AT NIGHT. THE LOCAL PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA
• THE WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY COME IN AND OUT OF WORKING CONDITIONS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN WIPERS ARE WORKING UNTIL IT STARTS RAINING SO IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND EITHER WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP OR WAIT UNTIL THE WIPERS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THE BACKUP CAMERA ALSO C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF SENSOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DURING NIGHT HOURS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SENSOR FAILED TO POWER OFF THE HEADLIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY. THE CONTACT HAD TO POWER OFF THE HEADLIGHTS MANUALLY. THE FA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

56 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA
• TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR DID NOT LIGHT UP AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING ON 95 IN RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC FOREWARNING ME OF ANY PROBLEM WITH MY FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHICH TIRE SOMEHOW IMMEDIATELY COMPLETELY DEFLATED WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD AND CALLED
• RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA, THE KIA HAD JUST TURNED OVER 30000 MILES ON THE KS TURNPIKE WHEN THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WE STOPPED AND CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS FINE. WE HAD HAD THE OIL CHANGED BEFORE THE TRIP SO IT HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, WE RESUMED THE TRIP.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 954 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 KIA SORENTO MAY 17, 2014. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LAST NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, SUDDENLY THE CAR JERKED AROUND, SOUNDED LIKE I DOWNSHIFTED (ALTHOUGH IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND I GOT THE DIAGNOSTIC MESSAGE OF THE "ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM- POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION" IT TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DRIVING ON MILD SUMMER DAY (~70). LIGHTLY-PACKED CARTOP CARRIER AFFIXED PROPERLY/SAFELY TO KIA CROSSBARS (INSTALLED BY KIA). DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH "PASSING LANE" TRAFFIC (ABOUT 75MPH). RUNNING AC AT ABOUT 70 INSIDE, WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. PANORAMIC SUNROOF CLOSED, WITH INNER SOFT SUNSHADE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 BRAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF SENSOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DURING NIGHT HOURS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SENSOR FAILED TO POWER OFF THE HEADLIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY. THE CONTACT HAD TO POWER OFF THE HEADLIGHTS MANUALLY. THE FA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)