2021 Kia Sorento problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (132) · Engine (14) · Vehicle Speed Control (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sorento model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
37 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:fan/Motor 2025-09-25 · campaign 25V649000 · 39,536 vehicles
Defect: 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 2022-10-11 · campaign 22V760000 · 69,038 vehicles
Defect: 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 Hitches 2022-09-19 · campaign 22V703000 · 70,887 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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 2021-07-08 · campaign 21V519000 · 21,575 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (105)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-08-28 · TSB_CLI049_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: partial repair – electrical a/c compressor - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the air
Structure:body 2026-06-08 · CS2312_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Electrical System 2026-05-28 · TSB_ELE422 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: infotainment system software update using update.kia.com - this bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable kia vehicles using the kia navigation updater available at update.kia.com. the software update may impr
Service Brakes 2026-05-06 · TSB_CHA126_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: front brake disc replacement & burnishing - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides the procedure to replace the front brake discs on ce
Electrical System 2026-04-14 · TSB_ELE417 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: infotainment software update procedure - this bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing usb for installation on applicable kia vehicles. the software downloads and usb preparation process is similar across all
Electrical System 2026-03-26 · WTY042_OWNR · Warranty Program/Extension
warranty extension campaign: owner notification (wty042) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is extending the new vehicle limited warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly in certain 2021-2025 my sorento, 2021-2025 my sorento hybrid (hev), an
Showing the 6 most recent of 105 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Power Train“when driving between 10 to 50 mph with foot on gas pedal my car won’t jerk sputter and lose complete loss of power while making a turn. i have to release my gas pedal and push back down and it takes a solid couple seconds to get any power back. i’ve been almost hit a couple times in the last two weeks because as i’m turning my car just loses all po…”
2026-10-14 · Power Train · 76,500 mi“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 traveling down a decline. the failure was a recurring i…”
2026-10-07 · Vehicle Speed Control“unknown. car all of a sudden wouldn’t accelerate while driving on the road. it was hesitating while pressing the gas pedal. …”
2026-10-07 · Power Train“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 mixing is actively starving the electric oil pump and …”
2026-10-07 · Power Train · 64,000 mi“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 the transmission was shifted in drive(d). the contact…”
2026-09-30 · Power Train“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 my car wouldn't accelerate but the rpm gauge spike…”
2026-09-29 · Power Train“this is my third report regarding a dangerous loss of drive power on my vehicle, which completely matches nhtsa recall 22v760000. kia of rainbow city in alabama diagnosed the failing transmission oil pump in march 2026 but refused to honor the recall because a software patch was previously marked 'complete.' the dealership has since deactivated my …”
2026-09-29 · Power Train · 40,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2021 kia sorento. the contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph and exiting the freeway, the vehicle failed to accelerate and decelerated. while slowing down and driving onto the shoulder a second vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. during the crash the contact sustained a mild neck injury. medical attentio…”
2026-09-23 · Power Train“the transmission in my kia sorento intermittently does not engage when shifting from park to drive. it will take 5 to 10 seconds for the gear to engage. when this occurs, the car is free-wheeling and will roll away. this is especially dangerous if you are on a slope or hill. i of course am applying the brake when shifting out of park, but their is …”
2026-09-23 · Power Train“car will lose power sporadically ,go into limp mode . need to shut off ignition,restart and then fine till next time!…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.