Three days after getting my regular oil change , my engine started getting this loud knocking noise and I was not able to speed , I was coming into the freeway when my car suddenly got a loss of power , I checked my vehicle diagnostics and it wasn’t showing anything about the engine no warning or anything when I took it to get seen by a mechanic they told me I had to get my engine replaced
2015 Kia Sorento engine problems
moderate 282 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
282
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
5fires
When does it fail?
Of the 282 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Engine accounts for 38% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 282 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2015 Kia Sorento has a serious history of engine failures, particularly rod bearing seizure and excessive oil consumption in both the 2.4L and 3.3L engines, often striking without warning between 28,000 and 152,000 miles. Kia denies most warranty claims by demanding complete maintenance records or claiming the vehicle is out of warranty, leaving owners with $5,500–$12,000 repair bills and potentially months without a car while replacement engines are sourced from Korea.
The 2015 Kia Sorento engine failures fall into a pattern: rod bearings seize suddenly, often at highway speeds, with either no warning or a brief knocking noise before complete power loss. Owners hear loud rattling, the engine locks up mid-drive, and the car cannot restart. Metal shavings clog the oil, and oil levels drop faster than expected—some vehicles burn a quart a week despite no visible leaks.
A second failure mode shows up as excessive oil consumption and sludge buildup. White smoke appears in the exhaust, oil disappears between changes, and the engine deteriorates until bearings fail. Some owners reported dealerships telling them to "drive it until it fails" despite suspecting defects.
Engine fires also appear in the complaints. Coolant leaks from failed head gaskets into electrical harnesses, black smoke pours from under the hood, and the engine compartment smells of burning oil or coolant. No warning lights alert drivers in many cases.
Kia's warranty position is strict: owners who bought used (second owners lose powertrain coverage), those over 60,000 miles, or those without every maintenance receipt are denied coverage. Dealerships blame "lack of maintenance" or "sludge" despite finding metal shavings in oil. The Class Action Lawsuit covering 2011–2014 models offered a knock sensor software update, but the 2015 model—which shows identical failures—was not included in the recall, leaving owners to argue they should be covered too.
Same Kia Sorento engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Rod bearing failure and engine seizure
Engine rod bearings fail, causing complete engine seizure with loss of power and no restart. Metal shavings contaminate the oil. Occurs suddenly, often at highway speeds, with minimal or no warning. Affects vehicles with 2.4L Theta II and 3.3L V6 engines.
When: 28,000 to 152,000 miles; most common 80,000–120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or rattling noise from engine, often during acceleration; Engine loss of power while driving; Engine seizure (locked up, won't crank); Check engine light (sometimes, but often absent); Metal shavings found in oil; Oil level low despite no visible leaks
Codes mentioned: P1326 (knock sensor related), P0447 (evaporative emission vent control circuit), Bearing clearance test failures, Oil analysis showing metal contamination
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required, typically $5,500–$12,000 depending on labor and parts sourcing; owners report engines on backorder from Korea for months; some owners charged for labor despite warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class Action Lawsuit (Theta II, covering 2011–2019 models); KSDS/Product Improvement Campaign P11802 (knock sensor software update); Recall 18V907000 (ECU software); Kia refuses coverage citing lack of maintenance records, mileage over warranty, or claiming sludge rather than bearing failure; some claims declined because second owner and powertrain warranty did not transfer or had expired
Excessive oil consumption and sludge accumulation
Engine consumes oil rapidly (1–2 quarts per week or every 1,000 miles) without external leaks, leading to low oil levels, sludge buildup, and eventual bearing damage. Oil levels drop suddenly despite recent maintenance.
When: Starting 20,000 to 150,000 miles; often worsens progressively
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke from exhaust; Low oil warning light (sometimes delayed or absent); Sludge visible in engine or oil filter; Metal shavings in oil; Oil smell, burning smell from engine compartment; Check engine light (sometimes absent until failure imminent)
Codes mentioned: P0447 (evaporative emission vent), Timing cam sensor codes, Low oil pressure codes (variable)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement needed once bearing damage occurs; owners report Kia dealerships deny warranty claiming 'lack of maintenance' even with oil change records; warranty denials cite missing/rejected receipts or claiming sludge is customer maintenance fault
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia denies warranty coverage under powertrain warranty, citing lack of complete maintenance documentation or maintenance not performed at Kia dealership; KSDS software update offered but does not address oil consumption; some owners told to 'drive it until it fails' by dealership
Engine fire and overheating
Engine overheats rapidly or catches fire without warning. Hot coolant leaks from failed head gaskets or hoses into electrical harness. Smoke and burning smells precede or accompany seizure.
When: Variable, often coinciding with rod bearing or oil consumption failure; as early as 41,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine temperature gauge rising to hot rapidly; White then black smoke from engine compartment; Burning smell (coolant or oil); Loss of power or stalling; Fire visible under hood or beneath vehicle; No warning lights in some cases
Codes mentioned: Temperature sensor codes (variable), HECU-related codes (Recall 18V215000)
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement; some owners report fire extinguished by bystanders before fire department arrival; no formal fire report filed in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: HECU/ABS Module Recall 18V215000 issued for fire risk, but owners often unaware and recall not performed; Kia denies coverage citing warranty non-transfer (second owner) or mileage over 60,000 miles
Loss of power and stalling without warning
Engine loses all power or stalls suddenly while driving, often at highway speeds, with no check engine light or prior warning. Vehicle cannot be restarted. Creates imminent collision risk.
When: Unpredictable; reported from 28,000 to 152,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete loss of power; Engine stalls immediately; No check engine light (majority of reports); No prior unusual noises or symptoms; Vehicle unable to restart after stalling; Loss of power steering and brake assist
Codes mentioned: No codes displayed in many cases; post-failure analysis reveals bearing/seizure
Repairs/costs cited: Requires towing; full engine replacement; owners stranded on highways/in traffic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denial if second owner, mileage over 60,000 or 100,000 depending on component, or no complete maintenance records; Kia requires proof of all oil changes since purchase; some owners referred to Class Action Lawsuit but told they do not qualify due to missing recall notification or previous software update not installed
Knock sensor and software-related issues
Engine knock/pinging noise, often accompanied by check engine light related to knock sensor timing codes. Software updates (KSDS, Product Improvement Campaign P11802) offered to address knock detection, but update may not prevent underlying bearing failure. Engine failure can occur even after software update applied.
When: Can occur as early as 28,000 miles; progressive in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knock or pinging on acceleration; Check engine light with knock sensor or timing codes; After software update: continuing power loss or engine failure; Flashing check engine light indicating misfire condition
Codes mentioned: P1326 (knock sensor issue), Knock sensor timing codes, Misfire codes (variable cylinders)
Repairs/costs cited: Software update provided at no cost to owners who contact dealer; does not prevent engine seizure if bearing defect present; some owners not notified of available update; dealers may advise continued driving despite update not resolving underlying problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 18V907000 (knock sensor software ECU update); KSDS/Product Improvement Campaign P11802; Kia sent only 2–3 mailings (2018–2019) requesting owners perform update; many owners never received notification or did not open letters; Kia claims compliance with Class Action Lawsuit settlement via limited mailings despite continued engine failures post-2019
Synthesized from 282 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Vehicle was being driven when the engine blew-up and became inoperable. After taking it to a mechanic, they said that the oil had stopped flowing through the engine and caused it to malfunction. There were no lights that appeared on the dashboard warning us of a problem.
Leased a 2015 Kia sorrento, in my third year of lease, regular oil changes every 3 months, heard a knocking sound in engine at approx. 35,000 miles on my way home from my son's hockey game on the highway which got louder and louder. Took it to the Kia dealer and immediately the sales person informed me that it was the connector rod failure without even working on the car. Showed Kia all my…
Engine seized up. Apparently it is common with Kia engines
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contacted stated while driving 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal failed to function as needed and the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The…
Todays date: 12/21/2017. Purchased vehicle 11/9/2017. Approx. 61,500 miles. I check equipment fluids regularly. While driving, the oil indication light illuminated. I pulled over, checked. Almost bone dry. No forewarning of any kind. The dealer serviced it prior to my purchase, so, I have had no reason to schedule vehicle service yet. Vehicle was manufactured march 5, 2014 ( 3/5/2014 ) .
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred on three separate occasions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with engine failure. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2015 Kia Sorento?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 282 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 140 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 66,000 and 107,000 miles, with the median around 87,780. A quarter of owners report trouble before 66,000; a quarter make it past 107,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.