2021 Kia Sorento problems and complaints
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Sorento. The most-reported areas: Power Train (11), Engine (6), Fuel/Propulsion System (3).
Key takeaways
- 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 0 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 0 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 11 | 79% |
| Engine | 6 | 43% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | 21% |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 14% |
| Steering | 1 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 7% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Sorento SUV FWD Later Release | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento SUV AWD Later Release | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento SUV AWD Early Release | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento SUV FWD Early Release | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering,unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-09-19
While driving my 2021 Kia Sorento, the electronic power steering suddenly failed/intermittently cut out while the vehicle was in motion. The steering wheel became extremely stiff and difficult to turn, making the vehicle very hard to control and creating a serious risk of a crash. I had to muscle the wheel to get out o...
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-09-18
Kia completed Recall SC250 via a software update only. The physical hardware has now failed (Code P193B). Kia Corporate and the local dealership are refusing to honor the safety recall remedy because the software update marked the recall 'complete,' leaving a failed, dangerous transmission unaddressed.
Power Train,electrical System,engine - filed 2026-09-04
I own a 2021 Kia Sorento 2.5L Turbo AWD with approximately 150,000 miles. In the evening, while driving home after dinner with my daughter in the vehicle, I was traveling in the area of [XXX] and [XXX] when the vehicle displayed a “STOP SAFELY IMMEDIATELY” warning. The vehicle unexpectedly slowed down/appeared to brake...
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More for the 2021 Kia Sorento
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.