The Lemon Index2021 Kia Sorento.
The 2021 Kia Sorento is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 165 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 209, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 24 to 37 mpg combined. The best Kia Sorento year is 2018.
Lemon alert. 2.1× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2018
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 275 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sorento year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 75K miles on the car (38 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 34K–77K miles
Recalls 4
- electrical 2025
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
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.
- trailer hitches 2022
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.
Show all 4 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 121 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Technical service bulletin: excessive oil consumption nu/gamma/theta/kappa engines - this…
- Potential low oil pressure due to filter drain plug that was left in filter - attention…
- Technical service bulletin: 8 speed wet dual clutch transmission (wdct) judder evaluation -…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento SUV FWD Later Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV AWD Later Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV AWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV FWD Later Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1750–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
There is a malfunction in the vehicles.computer system that gives a warning about low coolant level for the hybrid battery. It's been been seen by the KIA dealer and the issue keeps arriving.
2021 Kia Sorento owner · NHTSA complaint 11632039
More owner reports
Kia has been chasing transmission problems on this vehicle for several Months and now the transmission has completely failed.
NHTSA complaint 11489181
I unable to accelerate to merge on to the highway. This is the second time that my car was unable to accelerate and kick into gear. The first time was in 2021/2022 a few months after getting the car.
NHTSA complaint 11624472
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Kia Sorento reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 209; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sorento year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2021 Kia Sorento problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (47%), engine (26%) and electrical (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Sorento have?
4 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Kia Sorento get?
24 to 37 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Kia Sorento safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Kia Sorento problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 11,600 and 75,400 miles. The middle report was at 41,500 miles, from 38 complaints.
Does the 2021 Kia Sorento have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 47% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2021 Kia Sorento cost in fuel a year?
About $1750 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Kia Sorento have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Kia Sorento year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works