2015 Kia Sorento Driver assistance Problems

I parked my car and it was sitting for about an hour I came back to the car and heard a humming noise found that weird but I had to drive home about 10 mins later I parked car, sound was still going even while car was off. So I thought to let it sit for another while. Came back to car sound was still on I started car and the abs, traction, & brake light came on and not even 2 mins later my car starts smoking. So immediately I shut it off and have to leave my car parked in another city because I didn’t want to risk driving it home. Fast forward to next day. I got to my car and notice the speedometer had went out. i called Kia because I read about the HECU ABS recall. the service rep assured me my car would be covered so I pay a tow to get it towed to Kia dealer where they then tell me the recall had been repaired in a year that I didn’t even own the car and they refuse to look at it or fix without a fee. With this problem being a fire hazard and a manufacturing problem I should not have to come out of pocket for Kia mistake. I will be escalating this to corporate level.

NHTSA ID

11749754

Incident

Jul 8, 2026

Yes there was a recall in a module control panel which still is messed up. It’s been replaced a couple x. Also the dim lights since I bought the car have a very low light were you can hardly see at night. And this SUV drinks gas on long/short trips. I’ve taken it in several times but they keep saying nothing’s wrong and I know there is I have driven my boyfriend vehicle which is a V6 and went the same exact distance and didn’t have to get any fuel until I was about half way back. Something has to give. I love my Kia as I have owned 2. But something is really wrong. Please help. Thanks

NHTSA ID

11713407

Incident

Aug 24, 2020

Cut off in middle of the interstate start smoking

NHTSA ID

11678103

Incident

Mar 9, 2021

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal to drive inside the garage, the vehicle accelerated to the highest speed unintendedly. The contact depressed the brake pedal continuously, but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle pushed a table of home items through the rear wall of the garage, hit several gas pipes, and then landed approximately 6 ft. downhill in the backyard, where it continued to accelerate. The contact then noticed steam coming out from underneath the hood and the vehicle stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was able to drive up the backyard hill and enter the residence. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was towed and totaled. A police report was not filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,042.

NHTSA ID

11593440

Incident

May 16, 2024

Mileage

32,042 mi

The vehicle has stalled 3 separate times in the rain.

NHTSA ID

11476842

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

Compotent : Throttle position Sensor Risk\ High level to vehicle occupants Highest to pedestrians Unfortunately, after inspection was TOTALED inforrned us of an investigation currently ,by NHTSA regarding throttle components. The insurance adjuster was a forrner mechanic. there wear warning lights on to indicate a problem

NHTSA ID

11460788

Incident

Feb 16, 2022

While operating my vehicle I experienced sluggishness and power failure. Sorento became disabled on main road while driving to work. Vehicle was towed to the closest Kia dealership where they performed a diagnostic test. Maintenance test and Parts Department revealed the that the power shortage was possibly from a Brake fluid leakage inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU). This also caused the engine to seize and the only remedy was a new engine. He also stated that the repair was not covered under warranty due to the open recall that was not completed. I did explain to the repair center that I was never made aware of any on going recalls from the dealer where I purchased the vehicle either by mail, phone call or email as well as from Kia corporate. The parts department provided me with the contact information for Kia Headquarters to assist me. Kia Headquarters provided me with a case number 14188680 and that they would contact the dealer and get back to me. After a couple days with no response, I called back with the case number, however, I got a new customer service rep. who said that nothing has been completed yet. This went on for a couple weeks with me calling to try to get updates and contacting the dealership parts department who said that their headquarters has not contacted the dealership and that according to their policy with Kia corporate the replacement of the engine would be at my expense. The estimated cost was quoted at about $8,000.00 dollars. I told the parts department at the dealership that I did not understand, how could I be responsible if the engine was a defect and I received no word of a recall from Kia. The parts department response was that is Kia Headquarters policy that they recall had to be completed or Kia was not responsible.

NHTSA ID

11444191

Incident

May 20, 2021

I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDS REPLACING. I CHECKED ONLINE AND KIA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS BUT WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN# WASN'T ON THE LIST AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FULL REPAIR. I CHECKED A NUMBER OF ONLINE FORUMS AND THOUGH IT SEEMS THAT KIA HAS ISSUED A RECALL BUT THEN KNOWINGLY REMOVED A NUMBER OF VEHICLES BY VIN# FROM RECALL LIST. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $310 FOR THE SENSOR AND $270 FOR THE LABOR. THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND THE COMPANY SHOULD COVER ALL VEHICLES ISSUED AS THEY RAN A CAMPAIGN TO COVER THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR BEFORE CORRUPTION THEN PURPOSELY EXCLUDED VEHICLES FROM GETTING THE REPAIR AND NOW HAS DAMAGE TO THE SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

11405755

Incident

Mar 31, 2021

A FEW MONTHS BACK, MAYBE OSEPT/OCT MY ABS LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON (YELLOW) AND I HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WAS A WHEEL SENSIOR AND ITS VERY COSTLY SO AS OF YET IT HASNT BEEN FIXED. NOW YESTERDAY MY BRAKE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF MY DASH CAME ON (RED) AND ITS A DOUBLE AND SAID BREAK. I DONT KNOW WHY IM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST KIA. I OWN 2 AND BOTH HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AND I KEEP BOTH SERVICED ON TIME AND GET WHAT IS NEEDED DONE

NHTSA ID

11404988

Incident

Mar 25, 2021

Mileage

110,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 MONTHS GO. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT. THE CAR JERKED AND DID NOT WANT TO MOVE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I CAME TO A SECOND RED LIGHT AND THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AS I PRESS THE GAS THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO CRANK AGAIN. I FINALLY GOT HELP FROM SOMEONE WHO HELP PUSH THE CAR TO A NEAR PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

11384280

Incident

Dec 19, 2020

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE CAR SEIZES, AND JERKS, LIKE A MISSFIRE. IT SCARES ME.

NHTSA ID

11366242

Incident

Aug 15, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

RADIO CAME ON BY ITSELF, PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WENT DOWN BY ITSELF, SOMETIMES MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL WORK OTHER TIMES I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO SET. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE OIL WAS BLACK EVEN THOUGH I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE

NHTSA ID

11360725

Incident

Sep 11, 2020

WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, AND TPMS SENSOR GAVE OUT AT 56K. GOT IN ONE DAY AND IT SAID I WAS DOING 140 WHILE PARKED. BEFORE I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, THE ABS, TCS, AND TPMS LIGHTS WERE ON. CAR WAS USED AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IF EVERYTHING WASN'T BUILT INTO THE WHEEL HUB, IT WOULD BE A RELATIVELY EASY FIX. INSTEAD I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE MY SORENTO WITH NO TCS, ABS, OR KNOW IF A TIRE IS LOW/FLAT BECAUSE A QUOTED COST OF REPAIR WAS CLOSE TO 1200 DOLLARS. NOBODY HAS 1200 TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER LOOKING AT ONLINE FORUMS, IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH 2013-2015 SORENTO TO HAVE ANYTHING ABS/TCS RELATED GO SOUTH. CAR DRIVES LIKE A DREAM, ONLY WISH IT DIDN'T TAKE 2 MONTHS RENT TO FEEL SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11352970

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 25 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 50 MPH UP HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LEVER LIMIT BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF CHATTANOOGA (2136 CHAPMAN RD, CHATTANOOGA, TN 3742, 423 855-1022) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OF RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT NOT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,670.

NHTSA ID

11328158

Incident

May 10, 2020

Mileage

143,670 mi

MY SON WAS PULLED OVER AND THE OFFICER SAID THERE WERE NO OPERATING REAR LIGHTS. NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM ON AND OFF TO COME ON. THEN ON ANOTHER DAY THERE WERE NO BRAKES GETS LIGHTS EITHER. I INFORMED SOUTHWEST KIA MESQUITE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE LIGHT SWITCH BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR OTHER MODELS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT MODEL. THEY CHARGED ME TO FIX THIS SAYING ALTHOUGH IT WAS RECALLED IN THEIR OTHER MODEL THE SORENTO WAS NOT RECALLED. AFTER THEY INSTALLED THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY EVEN DID ANOTHER INSEPCTION A WEEK OR SO LATER (12/20/2019) SAYING THAT MY CAR WAS SAFE TO TRAVEL AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHILE ON THE ROAD TRIP WITH MY FAMILY WE NOTICED THAT THE TWO MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. WE TRIED TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF AND THEY STILL DIDNT WORK. KIA HAS PLACED MY FAMILY IN DANGER. WE ARE OUT OF STATE AND HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING THE CAR BACK TO TEXAS SAFELY. KIA HAS EXHAUSTED ALL OF MY MONEY AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED ANYTHING. THE CAR IS UNSAFE. I GOOGLED AND FOUND THATB A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH KIA'S WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY WONT OWN UP THAT SOMETHING IS WRING WITH THE SORENTO, CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM, BACK AND BRAKE LIGHTS. MY REAR LIGHTS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IS KIA WAITING FOR FATALITIES BEFORE THEY DEAL WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE SORENTO? HOW MUCCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE TO RIP PEOPLE OFF AND LEAVE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES UNSAFE? I TRANSPORT KIDS AS I AM A CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKER AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE. ITS UNFORTUNATE THAT KIA HAS EXHAUSTED ALL OF MY FUNDS THAT I CAN'T RENT NOR GET ANOTHER CAR WHILE OUT OF STATE FOR CHRISTMAS STUCK ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11290781

Incident

Dec 22, 2019

Mileage

113,521 mi

CAR STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISES FROM ENGINE AND GOT LOUDER AS MY HUSBAND ACCELERATED. CAR THEN HESITATED TO ACCELERATED AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. THIS IS DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ID

11246220

Incident

Aug 23, 2019

Mileage

10 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD CAR WOULD RATTLE WHEN TURNING AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THEN I WAS DRIVING GOING UP HILL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR FRONT WHEEL STARTED SPINNING AND A RATTLING SOUND BECAME LOUDER FROM THE BOTTOM THE AWD COMPONENT SUDDENLY FAILED TIRES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I TOOK IT IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSE TO DIAGNOSE THE AWD UNTIL AN ALIGNMENT IS DONE AND NEW TIRES ARE BOUGHT

NHTSA ID

11244200

Incident

Jul 25, 2019

Mileage

70,230 mi

THE ABS, ESC, AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FIXED AND THE LIGHTS STILL COME ON. CITY KIA TOLD US TO IGNORE THE LIGHTS CAUSE THE SENSOR WAS BAD. BUT THAT'S NOT A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DULL AND ARE HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, WHICH I DO A LOT OF NIGHT TIME DRIVING. THE IMAGE I AM ATTACHING IS ONE I TOOK AFTER HAVING REPAIRS MADE ON MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11228918

Incident

Mar 26, 2019

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DEC 1 2018 AND THE KNOCK SENSOR FAILED ON THE TRIP BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS REPLACED AND NOW APRIL 22ND 2019 LESS THAN 5 MONTHS LATER IT HAS FAILED AGAIN AND LEFT ME STRANDED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN LIMP MODE. THIS MODEL IS KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ID

11202799

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

51,000 mi

WHEN I TURN A CORNER, MY KIA SPUTTER TO GET AROUND THE CORNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. I ADVISED THE DEALER BEFORE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD, "MY CAR IS OK". THIS IS NOT OK. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION OR SOME OTHER COMPONENT IS SLIPPING. IT RPMS GOES HIGH BEFORE DECREASING BACK DOWN TO GET INTO NEXT GEAR. I'VE EXPRESSED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AND WAS TOLD ONCE THEY DROVE MY CAR, "THEY DIDN'T NOTICE ANY CHANGE". WHEN GOING UP A HILL, I HAVE TO PRESS ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS TO GET UP THE HILL WHICH CAUSES THE RPM TO RAISE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S STUCK IN A GEAR OR SOMETHING. THESE ISSUES NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO DO THIS. IT FRUSTRATES ME TO TELL THE DEALERSHIP WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I AM THE ONE WHO DRIVES MY CAR EVERYDAY AND I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP TELL YOU WHAT YOUR SAYING ISN'T CORRECT WHEN THEY DON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR EVERYDAY? FOR ME TO HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS AGO WITH ONLY 2,500 MILES ON A 2015 KIA, I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE MANY PROBLEMS. IT ALMOST MAKE ME FEEL LIKE THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK. JUST MY OPINION.

NHTSA ID

11190429

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

CAR SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OR DRIVING AND THE CAR SHAKES.THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 60 WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

11190183

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

MY 2015 KIA SORENTO HAS METAL FLAKES IN THE ENGINE, BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 2OOO MILES, IT HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE, BURNS A LOT OF GAS, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND UVO WARNINGS CONSTANTLY TURNS ON, IT CAN CATCH ON FIRE ANYTIME, THE ENGINE CAN LOCK ANYTIME. WE NEED MORE KIA RECALLS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST.

NHTSA ID

11166423

Incident

Jul 28, 2018

Mileage

72,000 mi

2015 KIA SORRENTO SXL ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND VEHICLE VERBAL WARNING THAT MY TRUCK HAS A SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK TO RESEARCH AND REPAIR THE ENGINE ISSUE. I PAID OVER $300 FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE HAS METAL FLAKES AND IT'S NOTHING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CAN DO TO REPAIR IT. I WAS TOLD TO LIVE WITH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BASICALLY. MY ENGINE HAS LOW TAKE OFF SPEED WHEN GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT RUNS ROUGH.

NHTSA ID

11119603

Incident

Jul 19, 2018

Mileage

71,880 mi

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 ID

11101233

Incident

Jun 11, 2018

THE WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY COME IN AND OUT OF WORKING CONDITIONS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN WIPERS ARE WORKING UNTIL IT STARTS RAINING SO IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND EITHER WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP OR WAIT UNTIL THE WIPERS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THE BACKUP CAMERA ALSO COMES IN AND OUT. YOU CAN SEE THE SCREEN WARNING YOU TO BE CAREFUL BUT THE CAMERA ITSELF IS ABSENT. THE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF ONTO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. NO ONE HIT IT OR ANYTHING. WE OPENED THE BACKSEAT IN FRONT OF OUR HOME THEN DROVE TO THE AIRPORT AND TRIED TO OPEN IT AGAIN AND IT FELL OFF ONTO THE GROUND. THE TOP OF THE DOOR HANDLE AND PARTS INSIDE THAT MAKE THE HANDLE WORK. AND NOW MOST RECENTLY OUR AC IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY COMING IN AND OUT OF PROPER FUNCTION, NOR ARE OUR HEADLIGHTS WORKING AGAIN. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING UNTIL YOU NEED THEM SO WE USED FOG LIGHTS INSTEAD AS EVENING JUST SET AND WE COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE SUN TO COME OUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING. FOR A BRAND NEW CAR THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, OTHERWISE WE LOVE IT AND THE WAY IT DRIVES AND BRAKES SO WELL.

NHTSA ID

11004854

Incident

Jul 11, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi