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Kia Sorento HybridModel year report

2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid Problems

Complaints
21filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
7,650miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
37 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 39 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (48% of the total), followed by engine (10) and other or unknown (7). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 7,650 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 59 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 36 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I have a ‘21 Sorento hybrid. The refill inverter coolant warning light keeps coming on. The first time it happened was on a road trip. A local dealer told me to check coolant levels and when it was full, told me it was safe to drive. I had it looked at as soon as I got home. By that time, the light had gone off. They flushed and refill the coolant. It happened again within 3 weeks. I took it in again. The dealer inspected said nothing was wrong with vehicle. Safe to drive. Also said I was the second one of these they’d seen. They were told corporate is working on a fix. …”

NHTSA complaint #11462799, filed 2022-04

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.”

NHTSA complaint #11673619, filed 2025-07

Other or unknown: “My Kia Sorento will shift from drive to first or second gear’s several times. I’ve been told by the dealership that I’m probably touching the shifter accidentally, I disagree. My opinion is that this is a safety concern because it slows the vehicle down. My vehicle also at times does not accelerate. These two issues are intermittent.”

NHTSA complaint #11587074, filed 2024-05

Fuel system: “Vehicle has a constant, unresolved error reporting that Inverter Coolant level is abnormal. Occurs daily. Dealership is unable to determine whether it is an issue. Has been taken to the dealership 2 times in the last 3 months. The warning also occupies the dashboard screen and cannot be dismissed, preventing me from viewing any vehicle details (engine temperature, tire pressure, digital speedometer)”

NHTSA complaint #11475778, filed 2022-07

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 7,650 and 7,650 miles.

100%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 7,650 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

202212202320242025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sorento Hybrid · SUV FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 15.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking optional.

Neighbouring years: 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sorento Hybrid FWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic393537$1,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 59 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 59 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Sorento Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20254611,0002536Too new to compareToo new
20246—04–537—Too new
20233319,7002—37Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Too new
20221215,5004437—Not enough data
2021217,6502437—Falling

All Kia Sorento Hybrid model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (48% of the total), followed by engine with 10.

Has the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid (Sorento Hybrid, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 37 mpg combined, 39 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 7,650 miles and the middle half falls between 7,650 and 7,650 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.