Is the 2021 Kia SORENTO reliable?

The 2021 Kia SORENTO has 331 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.5x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Kia SORENTO?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (118 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (57 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (42 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Kia SORENTO?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, TRAILER HITCHES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. Contact any Kia dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Kia SORENTO?

The 2021 Kia SORENTO gets 24 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2000. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2021 Kia SORENTO often stolen?

Theft risk tier for the Kia SORENTO: high. HLDI insurance loss data suggests higher-than-average theft claims for this model.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Kia SORENTO?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Kia SORENTO is approximately $2,080/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Kia SORENTO has 331 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 613. The most common issue is transmission problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: on wednesday june 2, 2021 around 12:15pm i was leaving a teacher summer workshop and i started the car as usual, no issues, and proceeded to leave the parking lot to make a right turn onto the street. i was about a mile away from home. as i proceeded to hit the gas the car moved forward into the str. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 4 crash reports 1 injury

331

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

118 complaints

36%

• On Wednesday June 2, 2021 around 12:15pm I was leaving a teacher summer workshop and I started the car as usual, no issues, and proceeded to leave the parking lot to make a right turn onto the street. I was about a mile away from home. As I proceeded to hit the gas the car moved forward into the str
• The transmission failed entirely after 3,738 miles, disabling the car. Fortunately, the vehicle was parked when the transmission failed. Loss of power while actively driving could result in serious risk, crashes or death. Upon completion of repairs, Kia Van Nuys self-reported to me that at least 4
• I am having trouble with traction control on my 2021 SX Xline... when turning it comes on suddenly resulting in power loss and no ability to accelerate. This has happened four times since purchasing the vehicle. I nearly got hit when it happened twice last night trying to get home. It is dry here

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“On Wednesday June 2, 2021 around 12:15pm I was leaving a teacher summer workshop and I started the car as usual, no issues, and proceeded to leave the parking lot to make a right turn onto the street. I was about a mile away from home. As I proceeded to hit the gas the car moved forward into the str”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2021 Kia SORENTO

Based on 45 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 36K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 30K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Later than typicalmedian 34K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

High-mileage issuemedian 63K mi · 17 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (4)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS08/07/2021

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.

High theft risk

Kia Boys / TikTok theft vulnerabilityModel years 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers were widely targeted starting in 2022 after a viral TikTok exploit. If you own this vehicle, verify it has an ignition immobilizer or install a security upgrade. Hyundai and Kia both offered free software updates and steering-wheel-lock programs for affected models.

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Kia SORENTO

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,001

Per month

$167

Per mile

16.7¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,286/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,715/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Kia SORENTO

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,080

Full coverage / month

$173

Liability only / year

$626

vs US avg

+24%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.15x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$2080

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Kia SORENTO Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (Optima 2.0T, Sorento 2.5T) may benefit from more frequent oil changes.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Kia New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

10 year powertrain not transferable to subsequent owners

These are the terms for a new Kia. If you're buying a used 2021 SORENTO, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Kia dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 331 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: On Wednesday June 2, 2021 around 12:15pm I was leaving a teacher summer workshop and I started the car as usual, no issues, and proceeded to leave the parking lot to make a right turn onto the street. I was about a mile away from home. As I proceeded to hit the gas the car moved forward into the str
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ONLY HAD CAR 8 DAYS WITH 500 MILES. WENT TO PULL AWAY FROM STOP SIGN AND CAR CUT OFF. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, CAR ADVISED TO PLACE IN PARK FIRST. ONCE PLACED IN PARK AND PRESSED START BUTTON - ALL SYSTEMS WENT DEAD. SPARKS CAME FROM GROUNDING CABLE UNDER HOOD. WHEN GROUNDING CABLE WAS ADJUST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ONLY HAD CAR 8 DAYS WITH 500 MILES. WENT TO PULL AWAY FROM STOP SIGN AND CAR CUT OFF. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, CAR ADVISED TO PLACE IN PARK FIRST. ONCE PLACED IN PARK AND PRESSED START BUTTON - ALL SYSTEMS WENT DEAD. SPARKS CAME FROM GROUNDING CABLE UNDER HOOD. WHEN GROUNDING CABLE WAS ADJUST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Kia dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)