Is the 2021 Kia Sorento a bad year?
256 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 145, 6.6× a quiet Sorento year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 35k–76k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 8 of 145 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Sorento owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 64,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 145 (57%) | 35k–76k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 69 (27%) | 13k–71k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 47 (18%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 24 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 13 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 64,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 256 complaints: 5 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 2 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
73 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Kia Sorento: 4
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire. A fire increases the risk of injury.
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. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
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. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail. A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 66
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Kia Sorento. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Itm replacement and ECM & TCM logic improvement (CA2508)
Precautions for transmissions with isg/eop
8-SPEED dual clutch transmission eop sensorless logic improvement
4WD coupling noise inspection and snap ring replacement
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2020 Sorento: 140 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2022 Sorento: 194 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Kia Sorento year
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Questions
Is the 2021 Kia Sorento a bad year?
256 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 145, 6.6× a quiet Sorento year. At 64,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 35k–76k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 8 of 145 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Sorento?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (145), engine (69), electrical system (47), fuel system (24), speed control (13). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 35k–76k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Sorento have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 25V-649), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-760), Trailer hitch (NHTSA 22V-703), Fuel system (NHTSA 21V-519). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.