2015 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

The 2015 Kia Sorento draws the most owner complaints about the engine, and a recurring theme is letting owners know something was wrong before it turned serious: knocking or rattling noises, engines that stall or seize, and in many cases oil that goes missing or is consumed heavily between changes with no warning light shown. Two other patterns run through the sampled complaints: headlights that owners find too dim or that burn out repeatedly, and paint that peels, most often on the white pearl finish. Complaints reported are concentrated from roughly 50,000 to 150,000 miles, with a noticeable spread from about 30,000 miles up.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, stalling or seizure

   • 316 complaints (42%)
   • median 87,162 mi at 4.9 yrs old (163 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 29 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a knocking or rattling noise, sometimes on a cold start and sometimes while driving, followed by loss of power, stalling or a no-start condition. Several say a mechanic or dealer diagnosed engine failure and recommended a new engine or sub-assembly; a few report an engine replacement followed by a second failure. Some accounts mention the check engine light flashing or coming on, and some note a burning or fuel smell alongside the noise. Reports span roughly 31,000 to 186,000 miles, with most coming in between about 60,000 and 130,000 miles and often at highway speed.

   Recall 18V9070007 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the service history and whether any engine inspection, replacement or warranty extension work was done. Listen for a knock or rattle at cold start and during a test drive, and have a mechanic check for stored fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took my car to the mechanic for a second opinion regarding low beam lights shutting off when I turn on the high beams. This occurred frequently when using high beams. Also, my headlights (low beams) consistently burnt out. Had to install 2-3 new bulbs in each headlight (within 1 yr.). Mechanic said problem is more than just the lights, the knock sensor was bad and needed more work than what they were willing to do and recommended me going back to Kia. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11402955, filed 2021-03, 117,000 miles

   “Heading to a family event, we were on the highway and the Kia suddenly shut down with no warning. We had to get over two lanes going 60 MPH, traffic was moving and we had to make a sudden exit off the road and were almost rear ended in the process. Once we got over we coasted off and parked in the nearest parking lot. We discovered there was little to no oil on the dipstick, there was no oil light warning, no engine light or any other signs it was low on oil. The oil has been changed regularly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360658, filed 2020-09, 131,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights dim or burning out repeatedly

   • 100 complaints (13%)
   • median 77,553 mi at 5.2 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $950 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners say the low beams give short viewing distance at night even with new bulbs, and that replacement bulbs burn out again within weeks or months. Some describe one or both low beams cutting out intermittently, and a few mention a burning odor or a message that one assembly needs replacing. Dealers typically replaced bulbs; some owners were told the assemblies or internal reflectors were the issue. Commonly reported between about 50,000 and 150,000 miles, with several owners noting repeat bulb failures within a year.

   What to check: Test the headlights at night or in a dark area and check whether they were recently replaced. Ask the seller how often bulbs have been changed and whether any assembly work was quoted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have changed the headlights in my 2015 Kia sorenta over 6 times. I am the original owner and seldom drive at night because I am elderly. How can I get this problem fixed. Last night we drove from ohio to virginia with dim and no headlights. Again. Time after time, no head lights. And yes I buy the higher priced high quality recommended light bulbs. This is unsat this is a major problem”

   NHTSA complaint #11341803, filed 2020-07, 40,000 miles

   “Regular driving lights are always dim making it difficult to drive in dark roads and highways. Regular lamps are constantly burning out, have replace lamps countless of times since I've owned this vehicle. In december I replaced both low beam light and I just notice both are burnt out once again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11309961, filed 2020-02, 108,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Oil consumption with no low-oil warning

   • 89 complaints (12%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners report the engine using far more oil than expected between changes, in some cases a dry dipstick shortly after a scheduled oil change. Many say no oil-pressure or low-oil light came on before the noise or stalling started, and some were told by a shop that the engine ran nearly dry. Where reported, the dealer route was an oil consumption test with a return visit after a set mileage. Reported from around 31,000 miles up to about 150,000 miles, and several owners note the drop appeared shortly after routine oil service.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level before and after a test drive, and ask the seller how often oil is added between changes. Service bulletins on the input describe an oil consumption procedure, so ask whether that test was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I got this Sorento when it had 32 thousand miles I have put almost 30 thousand on it but every sence I have owned it it has used almost 2 quarts of oil at about 25 hundred miles I chage it at 25 hundred miles but dont no why it uses oil like that I have had it a little over two years I beleave”

   NHTSA complaint #11340693, filed 2020-07, 31,245 miles

   “My significant other was driving my car and felt it needed oil due to how it was sounding while driving it. He checked my oil and my car was completely out of oil. No oil warning light went on. He added oil and shortly after the engine began making a ticking noise when he excelerated. He was driving home, approximately 10 miles, and the engine light came on while driving it, lost horse power while driving. I have 100160+ miles on my car, just had an oil change at local Kia dealership 3000 miles ago. Always kept up on maintenance oil changes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352530, filed 2020-09, 100,600 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Paint peeling and chipping

   • 110 complaints (15%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the paint lifting and flaking in patches, often along the windshield surround and roof edges, and in several cases the white pearl finish. Some report bare metal or rust appearing where the paint came away, and a few say the flaking spread with washing or highway wind. Dealers, per the complaints, attributed it to car wash chemicals or declined coverage rather than a campaign. Mostly reported from about 50,000 to 124,000 miles, with some owners noticing the first peeling earlier.

   What to check: Inspect the roof edges, A-pillars and around the windshield in good light for lifting, blisters or rust. Ask whether the vehicle was repainted or any goodwill repair was requested.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396479, filed 2021-02, 60,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11373872, filed 2020-11, 59,474 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Coolant loss and overheating

   • 44 complaints (6%)
   • median 85,363 mi at 5.5 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $7,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report an antifreeze smell, low coolant and engine temperature climbing, sometimes with the air conditioning quitting first. Several say a thermostat housing was replaced but the leak returned, and a few were told by the dealer there was a problem with the cylinder head or head bolts. In some accounts the car was towed after running hot and running rough. Reported mostly between about 50,000 and 117,000 miles, often after a routine oil change visit where the leak was first noticed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or staining around the thermostat housing and head area, and confirm the heater and A/C both work. Ask whether a coolant leak has ever been diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my 2015 Sorento to work, and looked down to notice that the engine temperature was running hot. They day before my AC had stopped working, and I noticed that the engine fan was running longer than usual when I stopped the car. As soon as I noticed the engine was hot, I looked for a spot to pull over. I was on a busy highway, so it took me about 2 minutes to pull over. In that time the car starting running rough, and I noticed a terrible antifreeze smell. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11325180, filed 2020-05, 70,000 miles

   “Brought in for oil change, tech found a coolant leak, replace thermostat housing unit for $700, left dealer and next day coolant was pouring out as I drove. Retuned to shop and Kia said there was a manufacturing issue with some heads and at the present time they are in the machine shop. Still don't know if it is covered by warranty on a car with only 57000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376940, filed 2020-11, 57,000 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.