Is the 2015 Kia Sorento a bad year?
755 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 367, 7.1× a quiet Sorento year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2015 Kia Sorento were filed between 64k and 110k miles. You're at 88,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Sorento owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 88,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 367 (49%) | 64k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 91 (12%) | 55k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 58 (8%) | 40k–101k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 42 (6%) | 68k–106k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 37 (5%) | 55k–117k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 33 (4%) | 35k–98k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 31 (4%) | 40k–88k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 30 (4%) | 51k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 22 (3%) | 24k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 100 (13%) | 50k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (1%) | 12k–57k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 8 (1%) | 37k–73k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 88,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 755 complaints: 21 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 60 say the car was towed.
35 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Purchased a used 2015 Kia Sorento from a used car lot on february 15, 2018. I've experienced no issues with the vehicle until august 19, 2018 while driving home from work.
After last oil change aprox. 3 months ago. No issues until last week when SUV would sound like it's accelerating really fast but not going very fast.
I purchased my vehicle less than 2 years ago. I received regular oil changes on the vehicle, with the last one being 3 weeks ago.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 88,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Kia Sorento: 3
Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short. An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short. If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
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. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 127
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Kia Sorento. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Warranty extension campaign (WTY039)
Product improvement campaign: engine replacement instructions for DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z)
Technical service bulletin oil pressure switch (Ops) replacement
Injector harness routing for PI1802Y/Z and PI1803Y/Z engine replacements
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Loss of Motive Power
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak
Neighbouring years
2014 Sorento: 989 complaints, consider selling · 2016 Sorento: 1,261 complaints, consider selling.
Every Kia Sorento year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sorento years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2015 Kia Sorento a bad year?
755 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 367, 7.1× a quiet Sorento year. At 88,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2015 Kia Sorento were filed between 64k and 110k miles. You're at 88,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Sorento?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (367), exterior lighting (91), electrical system (58), transmission and drivetrain (42), brakes (37). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 64k–110k miles.
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Sorento have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 21V-331), Brakes (NHTSA 20V-519), Fuel system (NHTSA 18V-907). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.