2021 Kia Sorento reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 Kia Sorento — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 331
- 331 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 116 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 9 reported crashes · 1 injury · 1 fire
What owners report fails — 2021 Kia Sorento
- POWER TRAIN 116
- ENGINE 56
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 41
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 37
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 17
4 recalls on record for the 2021 Kia Sorento
- NHTSA 25V649000 · 2026 · VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTE A fire increases the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 22V703000 · 2023 · TRAILER HITCHES A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 22V760000 · 2022 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V519000 · 2021 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LI A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Kia Sorento
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 Kia Sorento units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Kia Sorento reliable?
NHTSA has 331 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 Kia Sorento and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (116 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 Kia Sorento units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Sorento?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (116), engine (56), electrical system (41), unknown or other (37). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 Kia Sorento?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.