The Lemon Index2015 Kia Sorento.
The 2015 Kia Sorento is about average by owner complaints: 108 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 96, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 20 to 23 mpg combined. The best Kia Sorento year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 753 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sorento year. 2015 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 52K to 101K miles on the car (340 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 62K–108K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 47K–80K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 50K–100K miles
Recalls 3
- brakes 2021
Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
- brakes 2020
Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 202 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on replacing crankshaft pulley and crankshaft bolt, on some vehicles, that are…
- Chatter/rattle noise from engine after cold soak - this bulletin provides information about…
- Smart pedal feature - the smart pedal is an integral part of the engine management system (ems)
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
- ClosedEngine oil pressure switch leak2021–2023
- ClosedThrottle control system vulnerabilities2021–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2800–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
While driving at 60 mph, car decelerated and the engine stopped working. Able to pull off to side of road. Engine is being replaced under 100k warranty.
2015 Kia Sorento owner · NHTSA complaint 11083679
More owner reports
Went to turn on the car the car had accelerated while in park. From there the same that the electrical part in the car stop working. The tire sensor was also on the engine sensor was also on major issues
NHTSA complaint 11101233
When trying to start the car, everything flickers like the battery is dying, then it will crank, but now all of the lights are on and won't go off and it is dinging like the keys are still in the ignition, but they aren't.
NHTSA complaint 11141371
Quick answers
Is the 2015 Kia Sorento reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 96; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sorento year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2015 Kia Sorento problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (45%), electrical (9%) and lights (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Sorento have?
3 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2015 Kia Sorento get?
20 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2015 Kia Sorento safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Sorento problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 52,100 and 101,800 miles. The middle report was at 75,000 miles, from 340 complaints.
Does the 2015 Kia Sorento have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2015 Kia Sorento cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2015 Kia Sorento have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl.
What Kia Sorento year is better than the 2015?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works