Second generation (XM)
2015 Kia Sorento
The most reported problem on the 2015 Kia Sorento is engine failure, with 209 complaints, usually around 88,000 miles.
- 738owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 19involved a crash
- 79,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sorento doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2015 model year.
Is the 2015 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2015 Kia Sorento has 738 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 2.4 times the median of 314 for 2015 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Sorento model years since 2014, it has the 4th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to other model years
- Complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads, so the 2015 count runs short and isn't compared with the model years next to it.
- Top problem
- Engine failure leads with 209 of the 738 complaints (28%), ahead of stalling at 138. A quarter of the 135 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 68,000 miles, and half by about 88,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 34 of the 738 complaints (5%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 19 reports mention a crash, 14 mention a fire and 23 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 6 of 19, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and paint. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2021 at 123 and have dropped every year since, to 46 in 2025. So far in 2026, 29 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 209 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
738 complaints is 2.7 times the median 2015 model on this site and 2.4 times the median 2015 SUV. Among the 12 Sorento model years here it ranks 4th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2015 Kia Sorento
Kia filed 202 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2015 Kia Sorento. 39 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 3 bulletins · 209 complaints
PITSTOP: INJECTOR HARNESS ROUTING FOR PI1802Y/Z AND PI1803Y/Z ENGINE REPLACEMENTS This bulletin provides information to address a no-start or hard start with poor running condition after engine replacement under PI1802Y/Z or PI1803Y/Z. Some replacement long blocks may come with pre-installed fuel rail, injectors, and injector wiring ...
TSB_R7 ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) - CLOSED - SUPERSEDED BY PI1802Y/Z.
1 more on this problem
VEHICLE PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) Specifically, this bulletin provides instructions on which procedures to follow if, after installation of the KSDS, any one of the subject vehicles below returns to the dealer with Diagnostic Trouble Code (?DTC?), P1326..
Paint peels or body rusts 1 bulletin · 88 complaints
SERVICE ACTION: PAINT PEELING OFF DOOR PANELS (SA166) This bulletin provides information related to an inspection of the door panels on some 2015MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from April 21, 2014 through May 2, 2014, which may exhibit paint peeling, flaking or bubbling from the upper surfaces of the door ...
Engine knocking or ticking 16 bulletins · 85 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published PI1802 titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement"; equipped w/THETA II engine.
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published PI1802 titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement" equipped w/THETA II engine.
14 more on this problem
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT TSB_PI1802_R2 - Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z_Rev3) - - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802 Rev 10, 03/16/2020) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z_Rev2) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802 Rev 10, 03/16/2020) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN : KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802_R11) This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
TSB - ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802 Rev 10, 03/16/2020) titled Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement.
TSB - REV 10 KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive ...
TSB - PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) Rev.9 - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802, Rev 6, 01/31/2019) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement".
TSB - Product Improvement Campaign: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive ...
Plus 4 older ones not listed here.
Headlights too dim or fail 1 bulletin · 81 complaints
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
Check engine light or misfire 8 bulletins · 78 complaints
PITSTOP INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION - RESTRICTED FUEL LINE - Customers may experience an intermittent lack of power or hesitation upon acceleration. The malfunction indicator lamp may not illuminate or DTC P0087 may be stored (history).
FILL LEVEL LIMIT VALVE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information related to the fill level limit valve (FLLV) replacement on some Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from December 17, 2012 to December 11, 2014, which may exhibit a Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) illuminated in the ...
6 more on this problem
ECU UPGRADE ? MIL ON WITH DTC(s) P0420/P0171 - This bulletin provides information related to the ECU software upgrade for some 2012~2015MY Optima (QF) vehicles, produced from August 12, 2011 to October 2, 2015, some 2012~2015MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, ...
2.4 GDI MIL ON WITH DTC(S) P0263/ P0266/ P0269/ P0272 THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL INJECTORS IN SOME SORENTO (XMA) PRODUCED 12/17/2012~12/11/2014, OPTIMA (QF) PRODUCED 07/28/2013~10/02/2015, OPTIMA (TF) PRODUCED 09/09/2013~07/23/2015 2014~2015MY, AND SPORTAGE (SL) PRODUCED ...
PITSTOP: XM 2.4L GDI MIL ON WITH DTC ? P0269 On some 2012-2015MY Sorento (XM) equipped with 2.4L GDI engines, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) may illuminate with the ECM system-related DTC P0269.
PITSTOP: RESETTING CYLINDER BALANCE ADAPTATION VALUES When addressing a cylinder balance concern on a vehicle equipped with a 2.4L GDI engine, it is important to note that the DTC may recur after replacement of any faulty component(s) and resetting adaptive values.
PIT STOP: ROUGH IDLE AFTER COLD START ON 3.3L GDI ENGINE When addressing a customer complaint of rough idle, which occurs only on the first start of the day and lasts for 30-45 seconds, check for the possibility of poor injector performance in a particular cylinder.
6 SPD A/T SOLENOID REPLACEMENT ? DTC P0741 This bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of the Damper Clutch (D/C) Solenoid on 6-speed automatic transaxles with DTC P0741 (active or history), instead of replacing the transaxle.
Engine rattles or ticks 2 bulletins · 36 complaints
TSB REV4: CHATTER/RATTLE NOISE FROM ENGINE AFTER COLD SOAK THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACEMENT ON SOME 2014~16MY CADENZA (VG), PRODUCED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 7, 2016, AND SOME 2014~2015MY SORENTO (XMA) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2012 THROUGH ...
CHATTER/RATTLE NOISE FROM ENGINE AFTER COLD SOAK THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACEMENT ON SOME 2014~16MY CADENZA (VG), PRODUCED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 7, 2016, AND SOME 2014~2015MY SORENTO (XMA) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2012 THROUGH ...
Burns oil or oil level rises 4 bulletins · 30 complaints
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
2 more on this problem
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
Rod bearing failure 4 bulletins · 24 complaints
OWNER NOTICE This document is the Owner Notice for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
TSB - This document is the Technical Service Bulletin for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
2 more on this problem
Q & A - This document is the Q & A for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE This notice advised the dealer service manager of the new Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
Complaints filed by year
123 complaints came in 2021. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
NHTSA summary
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Engine oil pressure switch leak. Closed jun 26, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Throttle control system vulnerabilities. Closed jun 20, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2015 Kia Sorento
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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 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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
All 3 recalls on the 2015 Kia Sorento, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2015 Kia Sorento?
Engine failure, with 209 of the 738 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 88,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Sorento problems start?
Of the 387 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 58,000 miles and half by about 79,000.
How many 2015 Kia Sorento complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
34 of them (5%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2015 Kia Sorento?
No recall on file for the 2015 Kia Sorento is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.