2021 KIA Sorento Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sorento years
- About as many complaints as other years 12th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 KIA Sorento. That ranks 12th out of 24 Sorento model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (143 complaints, 56%), typically at around 64,500 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 254owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 KIA Sorento problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 143 | 56% | 64,500 | “oil pump” (10%) | — |
| Engine problems | 68 | 27% | 33,000 | “transmission oil pump” (7%) | — |
| Electrical System | 47 | 19% | 34,256 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 40 | 16% | 540 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 23 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 5% | 375 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | 4% | 500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 2% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 55,839 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 10,394 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 7,911 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0% | 49,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 KIA Sorento recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:fan/motor; electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Trailer hitchesPark outside
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while accelerating between 10 MPH and 15 MPH, the vehicle vibrated and jerked, similar to an attempted gear shift, before returning to normal operation. Additionally, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power, particularly while…
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 40-50 MPH in fourth gear, the vehicle shuddered and decelerated to 30 MPH, then lost drive power. Additionally, the clutch made a flapping sound while in 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 8th gear. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled while…
UNKNOWN. Car all of a sudden wouldnât accelerate while driving on the road. It was hesitating while pressing the gas pedal.
Transmission has failed and dealership scanner did not read code P1C2D03, the diagnostic has confirmed a severe, structural failure of the transmission: the internal fluid barrier seal has worn through, causing total cross-contamination of the DCT gear oil and control fluid. This physical fluid…
I noticed my car having a delayed engagement whenever i put it in reverse. I had to wait a couple of seconds before it would go in reverse. As i was leaving my job there is a hill and i noticed jerking when trying to accelerate up. As i made if past the hill i stop at a light,upon takeoff i noticed…
Other KIA Sorento years
← 2020 Sorento · 2022 Sorento →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 Sorento | 76 | 3 |
| 2024 Sorento | 42 | 2 |
| 2023 Sorento | 123 | 3 |
| 2022 Sorento | 193 | 6 |
| 2021 | 254 | 4 |
| 2020 Sorento | 137 | 1 |
| 2019 Sorento | 431 | 2 |
| 2018 Sorento | 255 | 3 |
| 2017 Sorento | 806 | 4 |
| 2016 Sorento | 1,254 | 8 |
| 2015 Sorento | 753 | 3 |
| 2014 Sorento | 988 | 6 |
| 2013 Sorento | 981 | 5 |
| 2012 Sorento | 880 | 5 |
| 2011 Sorento | 1,520 | 7 |
| 2010 Sorento | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 Sorento | 55 | 2 |
| 2008 Sorento | 217 | 3 |
| 2007 Sorento | 154 | 4 |
| 2006 Sorento | 242 | 1 |
| 2005 Sorento | 307 | 0 |
| 2004 Sorento | 220 | 0 |
| 2003 Sorento | 305 | 1 |
See all KIA Sorento problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 KIA Sorento?
Owners most often report power train, engine, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 143 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 KIA Sorento?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 KIA Sorento a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sorento model years, the 2021 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.