2015 Kia Sorento recalls and problems

The 2015 Kia Sorento has 3 safety recalls and 755 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Urgent: recall 21V-331, recall 20V-519 carry a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.

Recalls

Complaints

755

Crashes / fires

21 / 14

Injuries / deaths

25 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2015 Kia Sorento vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2015 Kia Sorento recalls

Recall 21V-331: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Park outsideReported May 10, 2021 · 440,370 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.

Fix: 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.

Recall 20V-519: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Park outsideReported Aug 27, 2020 · 440,370 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

Fix: 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.

Recall 18V-907: Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Dec 19, 2018 · 71,653 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

2015 Kia Sorento problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Engine	363
Unknown or Other	114
Structure	100
Exterior Lighting	92
Electrical System	58
Power Train	42
Steering	33
Air Bags	30
Fuel/Propulsion System	28
Vehicle Speed Control	22
Service Brakes	21
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	15

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 95
Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 4
Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 2
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 2
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Bulbs — 2
Structure › Body › Tailgate — 1
Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages — 1
Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 75,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2015 Kia Sorento complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicle Speed Control · at 22,560 miles · reported Oct 21, 2026

The contactâs daughter owned a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and idling, while shifting from park(P) to drive(D) and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly unintendedly accelerated and crashed into the window of an office building. During the crash, the contact sustained lacerations to both legs and arms, neck and shoulder. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 22,560.

Unknown or Other · reported Oct 19, 2026

On XXX, my father was driving his Kia on the [XXX] when the vehicle unexpectedly stopped operating. The specific mechanical or electrical component responsible for the failure is currently UNKNOWN. The sudden failure occurred while the vehicle was being driven on a major highway, creating a potentially dangerous situation for my father and surrounding motorists. An unexpected loss of vehicle operation in highway traffic can significantly increase the risk of a collision or serious injury. Following the incident, the vehicle was towed to our family's independent mechanic. The mechanic advised…

Engine · at 207,000 miles · reported Oct 13, 2026

The contact rented a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the headlights and tail lights intermittently failed to illuminate or shorted out, and the check engine warning light illuminated. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly seized in the middle of an intersection, and the contact was unable to move the gear shifter out of gear. The local police department arrived on the scene and assisted the contact by disassembling components around the gear shifter in order to shift the transmission into neutral (N). The vehicle was then towed back to the rental business. The…

Engine · reported Oct 11, 2026

My car's check engine just started flashing and the ECU has reduced my drivability to limp mode stating that my knock sensors are showing up on scan test and camshaft position exhaust sensor. When I removed the camshaft exhaust vvt sensor it indeed had metal shavings on it. A have a P1326 and a p0014 code which is basically telling me that my engine is having issue within the internal engine and oil consumption.

Engine · reported Oct 5, 2026

1) The engine control system / KSDS knock sensor system triggered safety recall code P1326, accompanied by a flashing check engine light. The vehicle and components are currently at the dealership available for inspection under RO #148484 (Issued on October 2) 2) A flashing check engine light and active P1326 code indicate a potential severe engine failure or severe misfire risk while driving, forcing the vehicle to lose power and rendering it unsafe for operation on public roads. 3) Yes, the vehicle was towed to an authorized Kia dealership on September 24th; however, the dealer initially…

Other Kia Sorento years

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Compare all Kia Sorento years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 Kia Sorento: 21V-331 (service brakes, hydraulic), 20V-519 (service brakes, hydraulic), 18V-907 (engine, fuel system, gasoline). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Kia Sorento?

Owners report engine problems most often (363 reports), followed by unknown or other (114). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 75,000 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.