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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Kia Sorento is associated with 26 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 5 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE, accounting for 6 reports (23% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.6L 4-Cyl hybrid and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 24 to 37 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 26 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 5 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (6 / 23%)
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 4 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 24–37 MPG across 5 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Kia Sorento?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Sorento Hybrid Hybrid 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) 39 MPG 35 MPG 37 MPG — $1,650 / yr
Sorento FWD 2.5L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 24 MPG 29 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
Sorento FWD 2.5L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) 22 MPG 29 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Sorento AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 23 MPG 25 MPG 24 MPG — $2,550 / yr
Sorento AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) 21 MPG 28 MPG 24 MPG — $2,550 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Kia Sorento?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD Later Release 15.9%
SUV FWD Early Release 15.9%
Hybrid SUV FWD Later Release 15.9%
Hybrid SUV FWD Early Release 15.9%
SUV AWD Later Release 15.9%
SUV AWD Early Release 15.9%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Kia Sorento models.
View complete 2021 Kia Sorento crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Kia Sorento?

Summary of 26 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
26
Crash Reports
0
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
0
Total Injuries
0

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 6 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Powertrain 2 complaints
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 complaint

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Kia Sorento problems & component breakdown (11 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Kia Sorento?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #22V703000 Active Recall
Affected Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #25V649000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer 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 Campaign #22V760000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2021 Kia Sorento recalls & campaign history (5 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Kia Sorento

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Kia Sorento

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Kia Sorento have?

The 2021 Kia Sorento is associated with 5 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 5 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA records list 26 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Kia Sorento. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE, appearing in 6 filings (23% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Kia Sorento defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Kia Sorento?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Kia Sorento earned an Overall Safety Rating of 4 out of 5 stars across 6 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Kia Sorento get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Kia Sorento range from 24 to 37 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.