10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,631 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2015 Kia Sorento:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #11

Jun 212019

Sorento

  • 98,000 miles
This is my 4th time having to call a tow truck for my vehicle. I was reversing out of a parking space, and tried to put car in drive, car would not do anything. I tried again to put car in drive, would not budge. Could not take key out of ignition, could not move steering wheel. Later on tried to take keys out of ignition, it let me, but would not start still. Had it towed to dealership, did not find anything but a dead battery. I bought a new battery. Picked car up. Drove to store about 10 miles from home, same thing happened again. Had it towed again. Same conclusion.did not find anything again. Drove car home. I may drive my car once a week. The next time I drove my car again it stopped on me in the middle of traffic, with no warning, the car just shut down. Someone stopped and pushed me out the middle of street. Thank god. Had it towed again to Kia dealership. Needless to say, they found nothing but a dead battery. Battery was less than 3 months old. Bought from Kia. Made it home safely. 3 days later started car, turned on air, waited until cool inside. Car cut off even before leaving driveway. Could not believe it. This time it started right back up, to no avail, cut off again.

- Riverdale, GA, USA

problem #10

Mar 232019

Sorento 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,800 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. While driving between 50-60 mph on several occasions, the steering became loose and the vehicle drifted to the right. The vehicle was taken to evans Kia (located at 4580 Washington rd, evans, ga 30809, (706) 305-4000) where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,800.

- Martinez, GA, USA

problem #9

Mar 202019

Sorento

  • 137,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. While the contact's spouse was driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel detached from the steering column without warning. The contact stated that the driver was able to push down on the steering wheel and the functionality returned. The vehicle was taken to bev smith Kia of stuart (located at 3131 SE federal hwy, stuart, fl 34994, (772) 283-1743) to be inspected. The contact was informed that the mechanic failed to torque the nut that held the steering wheel in place after replacing the clockspring in the steering wheel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000. The VIN was not available.

- Stuart, FL, USA

problem #8

Mar 172017

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
My Kia lost power while driving on March 17, 2017 on the highway. After Kia replaced the motor I realized that during cold weather my car won't start at all. I've had several diagnostic tests done but nothing shows up. I've even had the manager of the service department come to my location with the diagnostic device, because I was once again stranded and had just paid to have the machine put on my vehicle the day before. Again nothing showed up. It only happens during cold hard freeze weather. I've filed a report with Kia and to this day no one has contacted me. Next issue is a clicking noise while driving vehicle coming from the steering wheel and of course it's not covered. Lastly, I just recently noticed that the smell of gasoline coming through the vents after filling the car with car and driving minutes later there's a strong smell of gasoline throughout the whole car. Kia has the worst customer service. They wont give you a rental car nor do they return or follow up on complaints.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #7

Dec 132018

Sorento

  • 90,600 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. Ever since the contact purchased the vehicle six months ago, there had been an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine. Also, the steering wheel made a loud popping noise that caused it to vibrate. The failures occurred upon starting the vehicle. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to friendly Kia (5819 us-19, new port richey, fl 34652), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The staff stated that they were too busy to assist. The manufacturer advised the contact to call NHTSA. The failure mileage was 90,600.

- Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #6

Sep 102017

Sorento

  • 25 miles
About a week after I purchased my Sorento I notice that my vehicle would stray to the left on the freeway. When I attempted to correct the steering the vehicle would over correct and almost go into the right lane. It felt like the car had a mind of its own and was steering on its own. I brought it back to the Kia dealership three times, but they could not duplicate the problem. I filed a compliant with the state of Florida under the lemon law and had a hearing with Kia motor of America and a arbitration judge again the problem could not be duplicated. I was advised that I would have to live with this problem until Kia could find a solution and complete a recall process. I have noticed that there are several other Kia Sorento steering complaints on file already. So I would like to register my complaint today. My Sorento was always in motion and at different speeds. And on the highway the problem always occurred at speeds between 40 and 70 mph.

- Greenacres, FL, USA

problem #5

Jul 272017

Sorento

  • 32,000 miles
Our vehicle has 32K miles on it and the rotars are already worn down. The vehicle starts shaking when movin and braking. We bought this car new from a dealership. Did we buy a car with defective rotars. When turning the steering wheel while moving on a city street it often makes a cracking sound.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #4

Dec 012014

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 17,000 miles
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 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

- Freeport, TX, USA

problem #3

Dec 022014

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 17,000 miles
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 updated 9/11/2017

- Sweeny, TX, USA

problem #2

Dec 012014

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 2,020 miles
This Kia was rented from enterprise due to my car being in the shop. I found steering problems with this car as with the braking system already which I found odd as this is supposedly a brand new vehicle. Not only that it races intermittently sometimes more than 10 miles or so & at other it slows down even though the gas pedal is being pressed on. On December 1, 2014 I was driving home after visiting a friend who was returning to Ohio for college. Following the road, I had to cross some railroad tracks to as I was veering slightly left. This Kia steering locked & accelerated to approximately 40 or so miles, went off the railroad tracks & hit the mental posts holding a billboard. I was not drinking at all & was wearing my seatbelt. Airbags did not deploy & due to seatbelt, my back is broken & received major lacerations to my right eye & face. I was transported to 2 trauma units. This Kia Sorento has had steering & power problems since 2013 and unfortunate for me, I thought these issues were fixed & redesigned.....updated 06/21/17 updated 9/8/2017

- Sweeny, TX, USA

problem #1

Sep 052014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 500 miles
This car is very hard to steer! it wanders left and right, I constantly have to keep making corrections. It will not go straight. It is dangerous! I can not make it go straight. Driving it requires continuous corrections, when you do try to correct the steering over corrects and you go drift the other direction. It is very fatiguing ! the electronic steering does not work! on my first call to the dealership they told me to put it in "sport" mode. This did nothing. I see that others have been told this so Kia knows that it does not work and this is their fix ? this happens at all speeds. Even turning corners requires making corrections because it will over turn.

- Mankato, MN, USA