{"id":"2021_kia_sorento","make":"Kia","make_slug":"kia","model":"Sorento","model_slug":"sorento","year":2021,"url":"/kia/sorento/2021/","pts":["hev","gas"],"configs":[{"id":43123,"model":"Sorento Hybrid","pt":"hev","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S6)","cyl":4,"displ":1.6,"eng":"SIDI; Hybrid","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":39,"hwy":35,"comb":37,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"270V Li-Ion","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":242,"fe_score":8,"ghg_score":8,"fuel_cost":1700,"save_spend":2750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":43272,"model":"Sorento FWD","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"SIDI & PFI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":24,"hwy":29,"comb":26,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":342,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2400,"save_spend":-750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":43273,"model":"Sorento FWD","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"SIDI & PFI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":22,"hwy":29,"comb":25,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":360,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2500,"save_spend":-1250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":43278,"model":"Sorento AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"SIDI & PFI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":23,"hwy":25,"comb":24,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":366,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2600,"save_spend":-1750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":43279,"model":"Sorento AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"SIDI & PFI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":21,"hwy":28,"comb":24,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":375,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2600,"save_spend":-1750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2020"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","segment":"Compact SUV","recalls":[{"campaign":"25V649000","component":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS","mfr":"Kia America, Inc.","reported":"2025-09-25","owner_notified":"2026-01-23","units":39536,"summary":"Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.","consequence":"A fire increases the risk of injury.","remedy":"Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC351. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 9, 2025.","notes":"","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC351","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"22V760000","component":"POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION","mfr":"Kia America, Inc.","reported":"2022-10-11","owner_notified":"2022-12-09","units":69038,"summary":"Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles.  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.","consequence":"Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.","remedy":"Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary.  Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software.  All repairs will be performed free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022.  Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.  Kia's number for this recall is SC250.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC250","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"22V703000","component":"TRAILER HITCHES","mfr":"Kia America, Inc.","reported":"2022-09-19","owner_notified":"2023-07-27","units":70887,"summary":"Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership.  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.","consequence":"A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.","remedy":"Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.  Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023.  Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.  Kia's number for this recall is SC249.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":true,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC249","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"22V447000","component":"SEAT BELTS:FRONT","mfr":"Kia Motors America","reported":"2022-06-23","owner_notified":"2022-08-17","units":17199,"summary":"Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid vehicles.  In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.","consequence":"An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.","remedy":"Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2022.  Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.  Kia's number for this recall is SC241.  This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 22V-127.  Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC241","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":["hev"],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"21V519000","component":"FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS","mfr":"Kia Motors America","reported":"2021-07-08","owner_notified":"2021-07-21","units":21575,"summary":"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.","consequence":"A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC214","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"}],"recall_count":5,"critical_count":3,"park_outside":true,"do_not_drive":false,"score":39,"grade":"F","complaints":{"count":263,"crash":4,"fire":1,"injured":1,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Power Train",133],["Engine",74],["Electrical System",57],["Unspecified",44],["Fuel/Propulsion System",25],["Vehicle Speed Control",12]],"by_year":{"2021":35,"2022":73,"2023":24,"2024":33,"2025":45,"2026":53},"excerpts":[["2025-07-15","Engine","Recall SA512 was previously completed on my vehicle. The problem is happening again. Since there are no open recalls, I am unable to get it fixed under the recall."],["2025-01-21","Electrical System","On [XXX] we were driving the Kia at slow speed due to snow on the road when a warning light came on which we think said hybrid vehicle failure pull over. The car stopped and the traffic lane with the engine off. The car would not start and we were exposed to traffic. Fortunately, we were on a country road at the time a\u2026"],["2024-12-22","Engine","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."]]},"investigations":[{"action":"DP22005","component":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM","opened":"2023-01-27","closed":"2023-08-07","campaign":"22V063000","subject":"Pedestrian alert sounds","summary":"NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt"},{"action":"DP22003","component":"ENGINE","opened":"2022-09-12","closed":"2023-12-12","campaign":"","subject":"Loss of Motive Power","summary":"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are "}],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.159,"seats":null,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.159,"seats":null,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"SUV FWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.159,"seats":null,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"SUV FWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.159,"seats":null,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"SUV FWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.159,"seats":6,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":"hev"},{"desc":"SUV FWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.159,"seats":6,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":"hev"}],"popularity":25,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":37,"ncap":4,"complaints":263},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 05:01 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}