RoadVitals

2015 Kia Sorento Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
100
Latest Aug 7, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 747 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 100 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

The 25 most recent of 100, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Aug 7, 2026

Paint De lamination on Snow White Pearl due to manufacturing defect Date listed was the date it started to peel. Started peeling around the window first. Then it continued on the front hood.

NHTSA ID
11755502
Incident
Dec 2, 2024
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Jun 15, 2026
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
11744083
Incident
Jun 7, 2026
Body & structure
Filed Aug 9, 2025

I have the pearl white paint on this vehicle. It is peeling off the car.

NHTSA ID
11679539
Incident
Aug 9, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2025
Crash reported

THE PAINT ON MY 2015 KIA SORENTO (SNOW WHITE PEARL) IS PEELING OFF LARGE SHEETS, EXPOSING THE METAL UNDERNEATH. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE AFFECTING MANY KIA AND HYNDAI VEHICLES. I AM CONCERED IT WILL LEAD TO RUST, SAFETY ISSUES, AND REDUCE VISIBILITY. A PIECE LADED ON MY WINDSHIELD BLOCKING MY VIEW. KIA HAS DENIED REPAIR AND HAS A CASE PENDING MORE RESEARCH. CASE NUMBER IS 25399760. THIS IS CLEARY A MANFACTURER DEFECT HAPPENING TO THIS COLOR ONLY. IT IS PEELING ON THE HOOD AND DOORS AND BACK SIDE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER

NHTSA ID
11675465
Incident
May 5, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2025

My 2015 pearl white Kia Sorento has had paint peeling off of the hood and front of the roof. It is getting really bad and there is rust and corrosion now. It's been doing this for a couple of years and it's really bad now. There is now reason for that. When I drive around I keep an eye out and I see Sorento after Sorento with the same exact problem -- paint peeling in the same spots with rust and corrosion starting. Online you can find forums and a facebook page about it. It's an awful issue that starts out as a bad cosmetic issue and become an even worse body and safety issue due to the rust and corrosion. I will include photos from July 2023 to show how it was bad even back then. It's even worse now.

NHTSA ID
11650982
Incident
Mar 1, 2022
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 11, 2025

My Kia Sorento has the pearl white paint that began peeling 4 years ago. That is a known issue for Kia vehicles made between 2013 and 2019. [XXX] . While this is not necessarily a safety issue, it is common problem that Kia knows about. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11641923
Incident
Feb 11, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Jan 9, 2025

Paint peeling and delaminating

NHTSA ID
11635095
Incident
Sep 1, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jan 3, 2025

Paint peel, only happening on shiny white pearl coat.

NHTSA ID
11633965
Incident
Jun 15, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Dec 20, 2024

I HAVE THE SNOW WHITE PAINT, AND IT IS PEELING IN SEVERAL AREAS. HOOD, ROOF, AND SECTION THAT GOES FROM FENDER TO ROOF.

NHTSA ID
11631803
Incident
Dec 20, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Sep 3, 2024

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF VEHICLE "KIA SORENTO 2015 IALL OVER MY CAR, MY CAR COLOR IS: PEARL WHITE. IT IS JUST PEELING OFF ALL OF THE SUDDEN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD TO KIA/HUNDAY CAR OWNERS, INCLUDING THE USA AND CANADA. EVEN THOUGH KIA HAS NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY KNOW IS HAPPENING. I NEED KIA TO BE RESPONSABLE AND PAID FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. i WILL NOT FILE A CLAIM IN MY CAR INSURANCE FOR THIS, BECAUSE I DID NOT CREATE THIS PROBLEM, KIA DID.

NHTSA ID
11612363
Incident
Sep 3, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 2024

The paint on my SUV began to peel off. I have pictures documenting the issue, and the car has been temporarily fixed. The safety of myself and others wasn't directly compromised. The problem has been confirmed by other Kia owners experiencing similar issues with the same paint type. A body shop inspected the vehicle, but it hasn't been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning signs prior to the paint peeling.

NHTSA ID
11592261
Incident
Jan 12, 2024
Body & structure
Filed May 28, 2024

Large paint chips on hood and passenger door frame near windshield. Smaller paint chips along hood. Looks almost like an eggshell cracking and just started happening in the last couple of months.

NHTSA ID
11591081
Incident
Mar 31, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Apr 22, 2024

THE PAINT IS BUBBLING AND BLISTERING ALONG WITH DELMINATION IN SOME AREA'S. I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE SNOW WHITE PEARL PAINT ON MANY OTHER KIA'S AS WELL. MY CAR ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS MANUFACTURER ISSUE. FIRST NOTICED A SMALL DELAMINATION ON THE A PILLAR IN 2019, NOW BLISTERS ARE NOTICED AND SPEADING OVER MANY PANELS OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11584397
Incident
Apr 22, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Feb 10, 2024

Paint stated flaking significantly at 79k miles. It has gotten out of control and we keep this garaged and hardly drive it. I have read other Kia owners dealing with the same issue. It's not normal wear and tear with the paint. It's large chunks of paint coming off.

NHTSA ID
11571239
Incident
Sep 1, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Feb 6, 2024

Paint flaking in large pieces off the car around the windscreen and roof.

NHTSA ID
11570434
Incident
Jan 1, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jan 26, 2024

My suv has paint that is peeling off of the suv that is not due to damage or something external to the paints surface. The color is pearl white and has been documented by many owners of cars Kia's with the pearl white paint color. The location on the passenger side a pillar is also a common starting point for this paint issue.

NHTSA ID
11567958
Incident
Jan 19, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jan 14, 2024

Paint on ridge above driver side window began delaminating and completely eroded over a day. This happened while the car was parked without any rain or other impact.

NHTSA ID
11565445
Incident
Jan 13, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2024

After review by local body shops, the paint/primer on the body of our Kia has been flaking off. This is s known issue by Kia for multiple years with multiple examples of various Kia vehicles with various color types. This is a concern as over time the raw metal will deteriorate, rust and cause further structural issues. The problem has been reviewed both by the manufacturer as well as multiple independent body shops as mentioned above. There were no warnings on the vehicle. The paint started to show cracks and then continuously started to chip and flake off the vehicle which is continues to do today.

NHTSA ID
11564045
Incident
May 13, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Nov 8, 2023

Paint peeling rapidly on each side of windshield.

NHTSA ID
11554238
Incident
Oct 25, 2023
Body & structureEngine
Filed Nov 2, 2023

Paint started peeling off

NHTSA ID
11553306
Incident
Oct 31, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Oct 14, 2023

paint peeling/rapid delamination on 2015 Kia Sorento (Snow White Pearl color) on both passenger side front and passenger side rear doors. Prior rapid delamination on "A" pillar of both passenger and driver sides and center roof (repaired 2021, out of pocket cost $2000). Rapid delamination began approximately October, 2022, 105,000 miles on vehicle; increasingly becoming worse.

NHTSA ID
11549961
Incident
Oct 1, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Sep 27, 2023

The paint is delamanating and flaking cause value to drop daily. A 2015 should not have this issue, Toyota recalled for the same issues. It start with a very small spot and has incresed daily in size and new spots are appearing daily.

NHTSA ID
11546813
Incident
Sep 13, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2023

The paint on this vehicle is aggressively peeling and I was told by a local Kia dealership to submit a complaint as it is a common problem with the snow white colored Kia Sorrento in this year. There is nothing I can do to stop the paint from continuing to peel, and it has continued to get worse over time.

NHTSA ID
11544704
Incident
Sep 2, 2021
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 6, 2023

Pearl white paint is peeling off on both sides of windshield and hood. Air bag light stays on.

NHTSA ID
11542877
Incident
Jul 1, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Aug 4, 2023

right rear passenger door handle. It is made of plastic and crumbled in my hand as i attempted to open the door to remove my 3 yr old great grandson. I had the child safety lock engaged, so when I tried to crawl across back seat to open that door from the inside I was unable to. I undid car seat buckles and pulled him across back seat, out opposite door. This occurred Mid June 2023. I ordered new handle, had installed by neighbor end of June 2023 and the new one has now started to come apart August 2 2023. I didn't have inspected as a neighbor shared she's had to replace her handles 3 times, it seems to be a common issue. Concerned for safety, have to keep child safety lock on for great grandson and if he or anyone needing to make emergency/quick exit unable to so. I don't want anyone to get trapped in car in our extreme Phoenix heat. My opposite rear door is not fully functionable as the window requlator has broken and the window is inoperable and I don't want to disassemble till the new one is available/affordable so I wouldn't be without the airbag plug attached.

NHTSA ID
11536612
Incident
Jun 21, 2023

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .