"How reliable is the 2021 Kia Sorento?"

"Based on 299 NHTSA complaints, the 2021 Kia Sorento has a median complaint mileage of 34256 miles. The most common issue is Power Train."

"What are common problems with the 2021 Kia Sorento?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Kia Sorento is Power Train, accounting for a significant portion of the 299 total complaints filed."

2021 Kia Sorento: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 299 complaints

299

Total Complaints

34,256mi

Median Mileage

Power Train

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

7,005 25th Percentile

34,256 Median Mileage

65,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Power Train

103

Engine

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Fuel/Propulsion System

Vehicle Speed Control

Warnings

Steering

Body

Air Bags

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"HAD CAR FOR 5 DAYS AND WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING HITTING WINDSHIELD. DIDN'T NOTICE TELL AFTER BEING HOME AND SHOWING FRIENDS THE NEW CAR"

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PARKING HIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE WARNING ACTIVATED WITHOUT ANOTHER VEHICLE BEING IN THE VICINITY. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SENSOR HAD DETACHE..."

"I'VE HAD VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AND TWO DAYS. INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN MAKING A TURN AFTER STOPPING (NO VEHICLE IN FRONT) OR ACCELERATING FORWARD AFTER A STOP (STOP LIGHT WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT). ISSUE OCCURRED FIRST ON 20 FEB 21 AND AGAIN ON 23 MAR ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Power Train 103 complaints

25th: 27,500 mi Median: 38,000 mi 75th: 66,577 mi

Engine 50 complaints

25th: 4,699 mi Median: 20,989 mi 75th: 43,250 mi

Electrical System 36 complaints

25th: 20,049 mi Median: 34,256 mi 75th: 59,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 35 GA: 28 CA: 26 FL: 26 OH: 17 TN: 16 NC: 15 NY: 14 PA: 13 VA: 9

Who Files Complaints?

Original Owners

99%

Second+ Owners

Kia Sorento — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
2003	420	72,000	Engine And Engine Cooling	13
2004	341	99,000	Engine	15
2005	457	89,500	Engine	31
2006	382	83,750	Engine	18
2007	224	70,436	Air Bags	20
2008	317	59,600	Air Bags	19
2009	79	46,000	Air Bags	2
2011	2069	80,000	Engine	65
2012	1194	88,000	Engine	32
2013	1283	78,513	Engine	37
2014	1348	79,800	Engine	34
2015	945	73,932	Engine	33
2016	1577	65,000	Engine	41
2017	989	45,000	Engine	17
2018	318	46,225	Engine	13
2019	588	20,000	Engine	20
2020	173	17,500	Engine	15
2022	253	27,330	Power Train	4
2023	158	12,000	Electrical System	4
2024	46	-	Electrical System	12
2025	96	530	Engine	11

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28