RecallRepo

2015 Kia Sorento Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2015 Kia Sorento has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 952,393 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 955 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 21V331000 2021-05-10 440,370 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 20V519000 2020-08-27 440,370 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

ENGINE 18V907000 2018-12-19 71,653 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE
358
6crashes9fires5injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
113
1crashes1fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
94
2crashes1fires1injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
85
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
55
4fires
POWER TRAIN
42
1crashes3injuries
STEERING
32
5crashes10injuries
AIR BAGS
29
7crashes10injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
28
1crashes1fires2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
20
2crashes4fires3injuries
Total complaints955

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“2015 kia sorento fire on the 7th I was drive lost brakes and steering and as soon as I stop to get out to check the whole truck went up in flames”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2026-06-07

“2015 kia sorento fire on the 7th I was drive lost brakes and steering and as soon as I stop to get out to check the whole truck went up in flames”

ENGINE · reported 2026-06-07

“2015 kia sorento fire on the 7th I was drive lost brakes and steering and as soon as I stop to get out to check the whole truck went up in flames”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2026-06-07

“I am filing a safety complaint regarding a kia vehicle I purchased from carmax waldorf approximately 3 months ago. The vehicle has developed a strong gasoline/fuel odor that is consistent with a possible fuel leak. This creates a serious safety concern, including the risk of fire or explosion…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-06-05

“My 2015 kia sorento is experiencing a catastrophic structural failure of the exhaust system where the front manifold catalytic converter has internally collapsed and broken apart. This is a severe safety hazard because the physical blockage of the exhaust flow creates massive engine backpressure,…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-06-01

“While driving on interstate 380 south,with cruise on ,my engine failed with loud knocikng, ihad two tractor trailors behind me ,I was lucky to get off road onto side of shoulder this was on may 5,2026. This was the second 2.4 liter theta 2 motor in my sorento, first motor failed at 58.000 miles,…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-05-05

“Shift arm gear stuck- unable to shift from park to drive to neutral, reverse, etc.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-03-31

“I own a 2015 kia sorento with snow white pearl paint. The paint is prematurely peeling/delaminating from multiple areas of the vehicle despite normal maintenance and no accident damage. The vehicle was inspected by a kia dealership, and I was informed that the condition appears to be a paint…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-03-31

Defect investigations

Investigation AQ23002 Opened 2023-11-17 · open

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured…

Investigation DP21002 Opened 2021-11-12 · closed 2023-06-26

Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak

In a letter dated September 30, 2021, Mr. Gerald James (the petitioner) requested that NHTSA conduct an investigation of the Model Year (MY) 2015-2017 Kia Sorento equipped with 3.3L V6 ?Lambda? engines for ?severe oil leaks? from the oil pressure switch (OPS) that could ?lead to engine failure? with little warning to…

Investigation DP21002 Opened 2021-11-12 · closed 2023-06-26

Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak

In a letter dated September 30, 2021, Mr. Gerald James (the petitioner) requested that NHTSA conduct an investigation of the Model Year (MY) 2015-2017 Kia Sorento equipped with 3.3L V6 ?Lambda? engines for ?severe oil leaks? from the oil pressure switch (OPS) that could ?lead to engine failure? with little warning to…

Investigation DP21003 Opened 2021-11-12 · closed 2023-06-20

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.…

Investigation DP22003 Opened 2022-09-12 · closed 2023-12-12

Loss of Motive Power

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2015 Kia Sorento as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.