Home · 2015 Kia Sorento · Complaints

What 745 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Sorento

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (745)Crash / fire / injury (35)Engine (359)Body & structure (99)Lights (90)Electrical system (56)Transmission & drivetrain (42)Brakes (35)Steering (33)Fuel system (31)Airbags (29)Speed control (20)

5 of 745 complaints match · Steering · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 19, 2024SteeringCrash3 injuries

Steering column separated while on cruise control at 70mph

NHTSA ODI 11572672

Jul 26, 2021SteeringBrakesEngineCrash2 injuries

Motor shuts down completely disabling the car electronically. I lose my brakes and my steering. In February 2020, I almost died driving the vehicle the car engine seized while driving and was replaced by KIA. I never received an itemized bill from Dealership they stole the rental from my private driveway to and stole $5,000 and my belongings from the vehicle. One June 29.2021 I almost died again driving the car. The New Engine shuts down and I lose breaks and steering and hit an animal trying to get off the road for safety since I no longer have breaks to my vehicle. The animal ripped off my undercarriage and dented my radiator. The car was smoking and the engine would start and when driven 50 feet keep shutting down and locking no breaks no power no steering becoming a hazard to myself and others. I have had no resolve with any dealership I have been to 4 different Kia dealerships and The Hyundai Certified Pre Owned Used Car Sales Dealer I purchased the car from. Instead of helping me and not placing my life and other lives in danger. I was threatened, antagonized, slandered, Defamed, and Had the police called to remove me because I refused to commit a crime and set my car on fire like the Dealership told me to do. I need help.

NHTSA ODI 11426547

Jul 1, 2021SteeringCrash2 injuries

car re-experienced power loss and steering failure as previously reported to NHTSA ID: 11244200. this time we narrowly missed a tree and only the right passenger tire made an impact on side of the road/mountain. side curtain airbags deployed I have been in contact with Kia about the ongoing issues repairs were made previously under warranty. car was returned with engine power loss/ intermittent loss of power and unresponsive steering. my son required 2 stitches. and my military injuries have been aggravated. Car insurance claim started after the incident. the symptoms have been intermittent and dealership refused the car yesterday stating an open case with kia pending a buyback. car has been towed to a geico authorized repair facility for inspection and repair.

NHTSA ODI 11423162

Jun 29, 2016SteeringAirbagsEngineFuel systemCrash2 injuries

HOW CAN NHTSA GIVE A 5-STAR SAFETY RATING TO A 2015 KIA SORRENTO BASED ON A 2013 CRASH TEST DONE ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE WHEN THERE IS OBVIOUS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE 2014/2015 KIA SORRENTO MODELS. SINCE 2014, THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 2 SERIOUS INJURIES AND OTHER COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS DEFECT AND ITS NON-DEPLOYENT OF AIRBAGS, ETC. (PLEASE LOOK AT THE PHOTOS, VIDEO & SMALL OVERLAY CRASH REPORT AT HTTP://WWW.IIHS.ORG/IIHS/RATINGS/VEHICLE/V/KIA/SORENTO-4-DOOR-SUV/2015)..THE MANUFACTIURER WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS SINCE THEY REDESIGNED THE 2016 MODEL. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC FOR ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THESE ISSUES WHICH SHOULD REPAIRED OR RECALLED TO AVOID FURTHER RISK OF SERIOUS INJURIES AND/OR LOSS OF LIFE. IT IS COMPLETELY WRONGFUL, HARMFUL AND NEGLIGENT OF NHTSA TO GIVE AN "5-STAR SAFETY RATING" ON A LATER MODEL VEHICLE BASED ON AN OUTDATED TEST & WITHOUT FULLY AND APPROPRIATEL TESTING; RENDERING FALSE MISREPRESENTATION TO THE VEHICLE SHOPPER.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF *JS

NHTSA ODI 10881567

Dec 29, 2014SteeringAirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2015 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE POST OF A BILLBOARD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A VERTEBRAE, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES AND HEAD TRAUMAS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF UPDATED 9/11/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10668775

Working with the data? Download all 745 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Kia Sorento verdict →