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2015 Kia Sorento Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Critical

959 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.30 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical18V907000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can raises the risk of a fire.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Critical20V519000 Park outside

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Critical21V331000 Park outside

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

electrical short in the HECU raises the risk of a fire while parked or driving.

Remedy & full details

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 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.

Complaint volume

959 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

33Crashes
22Fires
38Injuries
0Deaths

Across 959 complaints. Severity Index 0.30.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine359 · 37%Unknown Or Other113 · 12%Structure · Body94 · 10%Exterior Lighting85 · 9%Electrical System56 · 6%Power Train42 · 4%Steering32 · 3%Air Bags29 · 3%
  1. Engine — 359 reports
  2. Unknown Or Other — 113 reports
  3. Structure:Body — 94 reports
  4. Exterior Lighting — 85 reports
  5. Electrical System — 56 reports
  6. Power Train — 42 reports
  7. Steering — 32 reports
  8. Air Bags — 29 reports
  9. Fuel/Propulsion System — 28 reports
  10. Service Brakes — 21 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2003 (1) · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 (1) · 2007 (4) · 2008 (3) · 2009 (3) · 2010 (2) · 2011 (8) · 2012 (5) · 2013 (5) · 2014 (6) · 2015 · 2016 (8) · 2017 (4) · 2018 (3) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (4) · 2022 (6) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (3) · 2026 (2)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.