2021 Kia Sorento Problems
Some 2021 Kia Sorentos have been recalled due to a tow hitch electrical issue that can cause a fire, but this isn’t the only 2021 Sorento problem. Learn more here!
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The 2021 Kia Sorento three-row midsize crossover has had three recalls since its initial release. One of them is currently flagged by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as an urgent fire risk. The main issue with the 2021 Sorento has been various forms of powertrain failure.
J.D. Power gave the 2021 Kia Sorento a mediocre 78/100 overall consumer rating, with a 77 score for Quality and Reliability. Currently, there are 107 individual complaints logged by 2021 Sorento owners on the NHTSA website.
If you’re considering purchasing a 2021 Kia Sorento, it’s important to be aware of what sorts of reliability issues you might run into—and what kind of
car repairs
you might need to prepare for. We’ll talk about the 2021 Sorento's most common problems, from factory recalls to NHTSA-logged complaints.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversThe most common 2021 Kia Sorento problems
The 2021 Kia Sorento has been recalled three times.
The first recall was for a fuel leak where the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail are connected.
The second recall, which is considered an urgent fire risk, was issued in late 2022. The issue deals specifically with vehicles that were equipped with a factory-installed tow hitch harness. If the harness gets dirty or wet, this can lead to an electrical short circuit in the part’s circuit board. This can result in a fire while the vehicle is parked or while it is being driven. Unfortunately, Kia has not started actually addressing this issue at dealerships yet, and owners have been temporarily advised of the potential safety risk.
In October 2022, Kia issued another recall addressing an issue where the transmission oil pump was malfunctioning, resulting in lost drive power. The issue is currently being addressed first with a software update, although many owners have reported needing to return to the dealership to have their transmission replaced.
The 2021 Kia Sorento’s powertrain has been the most common complaint from owners on the NHTSA website. Drivers have reported transmission failure, where, in some cases, power to the wheels is completely lost. While this may be related to the recent recall, this isn’t the only powertrain issue that comes up for 2021 Sorento owners. Other powertrain-related issues include slamming/jerking/slipping transmission.
Common owner complaints about the 2021 Kia Sorento include:
- Poor audio quality from the sound system
- Engine performance is lacking in smoothness and power
- Transmission response is slow
- Third row is cramped and cargo area is limited without it folded down
Is the 2021 Kia Sorento reliable?
Overall, the 2021 Kia Sorento gets above-average reliability ratings. RepairPal gives it a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, and its J.D. Power quality and reliability rating is 77/100 with an overall score of 78.
RepairPal estimates that ‘21 Sorento maintenance costs about $533 per. This means that it’s slightly more expensive to maintain than the average compact SUV.
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