Showing the 2015 Sorento SX. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2015 Sorento
The 2015 Kia Sorento has 753 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, engine the most-complained part at 363. It rates 20 to 23 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $14,120 to $16,240 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 overall stars. It has 3 recall campaigns covering brakes, engine, and fuel system, and 1 was replaced by a later campaign. Recall campaigns may apply to it.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
20–23 mpgcombined; city 18–20, highway 23–27; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120–$16,240U.S. average; Ohio $12,620–$14,510 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2015 Sorento. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 753 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Sorento. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
363
6
9
5
Unknown or other
113
1
1
0
Structure
100
3
1
1
Exterior lighting
91
1
0
0
Electrical system
58
0
4
0
Power train
42
1
0
3
Steering
33
5
0
10
Air bags
30
7
0
10
Fuel/propulsion system
28
1
1
2
Service brakes
21
2
4
3
Vehicle speed control
21
3
0
1
Service brakes, hydraulic
15
0
1
0
13 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)
8
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
8
0
0
0
Seats
6
1
0
2
Engine and engine cooling
5
0
0
0
Suspension
4
0
0
0
Tires
4
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
3
0
1
0
Fuel system, gasoline
3
0
0
0
Seat belts
3
1
0
1
Visibility
3
0
0
0
Wheels
3
1
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, air
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 Sorento over its history, 1 replaced by a later one. A replaced campaign is listed at the end as history, not as a separate repair. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Replaced by campaign 21V331000, as NHTSA's record says: history, not a separate repair.
Park outside
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.
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 service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 202 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2015 Sorento, the latest on Jun 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (65), equipment (53), engine and engine cooling (51), engine (36), air bags (16).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Audit query AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2015 Sorento.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Sorento Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 23
Sorento Front-Wheel Drive
3.3 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 25 / 21
Sorento All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 25 / 21
Sorento All-Wheel Drive
3.3 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 23 / 20
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data