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…
2015 Kia Sorento cruise control problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 13 cruise control complaints filed for the 2015 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: This 2015 Sorento cluster shows persistent reports of unintended acceleration, stalling, cruise control failure, and electrical/sensor issues. Owners cite unresolved dealer repairs, selective recall coverage, and safety-critical failures that sometimes recur after service.
Owners report multiple distinct failure modes across this 2015 Sorento sample. Unintended acceleration shows up in several forms: full-throttle surge in a garage (totaling the vehicle at 32k miles), random stalling during traffic acceleration, delayed acceleration when the transmission accidentally shifts to manual, and sudden surging at low speeds in parking scenarios. Brakes did not stop the vehicle in at least two cases.
Stalling occurs randomly during acceleration, sometimes with engine knock noise and check engine lights. One owner reports the knock sensor failed twice within five months of purchase. Cruise control stops working in one complaint paired with rear light and brake light failures; the dealer's repair did not hold.
Wheel speed sensors trigger ABS and tire pressure warnings. One owner claims Kia removed certain VINs from a recall despite issuing the campaign initially.
Electrical oddities include lights that require on-off cycling to function, then fail again. Dealers have struggled to replicate or diagnose several of these events using electronic testing. One owner noted NHTSA was investigating throttle components at the time of their complaint.
Same Kia Sorento cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control malfunction/non-responsive
Cruise control stops working after earlier functioning normally; sometimes paired with rear/brake light failures.
When: Various mileages; complaint #1 occurred during road trip after previous dealer repair
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control does not engage or operate; Lights turn off during driving
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #1: dealer replaced light switch; no permanent fix achieved
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates at full or excessive speed without driver input, or when brake is depressed. Multiple distinct incidents reported: low-speed garage event, highway passing maneuver, left-turn surge, and parking garage event.
When: Various mileages; complaint #3 at 32,042 miles; complaint #6 at ~1,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates to highest speed unintendedly; Brake pedal depressed but vehicle does not respond; Vehicle surges forward at ~40 mph without warning; Vehicle accelerates very fast during parking garage maneuver; Acceleration delay of ~11 seconds when shifting from automatic to manual mode
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #3: vehicle totaled; complaint #6 dealer adjusted linkage but failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #9 mentions NHTSA investigation regarding throttle components
Stalling and hesitation
Engine stalls at random, often during acceleration or traffic maneuvers. Also reports of hesitation to accelerate above certain speeds.
When: Complaint #4 at 143,670 miles; complaint #11 random; complaint #12 unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at 55 mph with check engine light illuminated; Hesitation to accelerate above 25 mph; Engine stalls randomly when accelerating into or across traffic; Engine stalling with check engine light flashing; Engine knocking noise that gets louder during acceleration, then hesitation and stall
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Check engine light (flashing)
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #4: independent mechanic diagnosed fuel lever limit bolt needed replacement; dealer could not replicate or retrieve fault code; complaint #8 vehicle left stranded in limp mode
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #8 states knock sensor failure is known issue and should be added to recall list
Wheel speed sensor failure
Wheel speed sensor failure triggering ABS and tire pressure warning lights. Owners report selective VIN exclusion from recall coverage despite similar failures.
When: Complaint #5 unspecified; complaint #7 a few months before report date (Sept/Oct timeframe); complaint #7 purchased date not given
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminated (yellow); Tire pressure light illuminated (yellow); Brake light illuminated (red, double)
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #5: dealer quoted $310 sensor + $270 labor; complaint #7 not yet repaired due to cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #5 cites Kia recall issued but certain VINs removed from recall list; owner alleges selective exclusion
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2015 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 2,235 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 51,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,235; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.