2021 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Sorento years
NHTSA lists 247 complaints and 4 recalls for the 2021 Kia Sorento, giving it a Complaint Index of 27 and a rank of 12th worst out of 16 model years. That places it in the "Good" category relative to other Sorento years, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area at 55% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 247
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 22.5 city / 28.5 hwy
Top 2021 Kia Sorento problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain137 (55%)
- Engine74 (30%)
- Electrical System48 (19%)
- Other39 (16%)
- Fuel System24 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers10 (4%)
- Structure & Body7 (3%)
- Steering6 (2%)
- Airbags4 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the transmission failing outright, sometimes leaving the vehicle undrivable, with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles.
- Some drivers describe the engine failing to accelerate when pulling away from a stop or turning, an intermittent issue reported at very low mileage.
- Owners report unexpected sudden acceleration events, including one that resulted in a crash into a wall.
- Electrical system complaints describe the vehicle shutting off entirely at a stop, with sparks reported from a grounding cable under the hood at 500 miles.
- Fuel system reports describe exhaust leaks and engine overheating with no warning light, at a median mileage of 7,911 miles.
- A forward collision warning sensor was reported as detaching from the front bumper and triggering false alerts at 500 miles.
2021 Kia Sorento recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V649000Sep 25, 2025HVAC39,536 vehicles
Visibility:defroster/defogger/HVAC system:fan/motor
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC351. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 9, 2025.
- NHTSA 22V760000Oct 11, 2022Transmission & Powertrain69,038 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.
- NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside
Trailer hitches
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
2021 Kia Sorento fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22.5 MPG
- Highway
- 28.5 MPG
- Combined
- 24.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Kia Sorento reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Sorento has a Complaint Index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 Sorento model years, earning a "Good" rating relative to other years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Sorento?
- NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 55% of complaints (137 complaints), followed by Engine problems at 30% (74 complaints) and Electrical System issues at 19% (48 complaints).
- Does the 2021 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 Sorento, covering the HVAC wiring harness (fire risk), a transmission fail-safe drive mode issue, a tow hitch harness fire risk, and a fuel pipe leak on turbocharged models.
- How does the 2021 Sorento compare to other model years?
- The 2021 Sorento's Complaint Index of 27 is much lower than the worst years, like 2011 (100) and 2016 (93), placing 2021 among the better years for the model.