2021 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Most complaints on this model year center on the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which owners describe as shuddering, jerking, hesitating or dropping into neutral and losing drive power, often at comparatively low mileage. Engine-related reports are the next most common, including misfires, stalling and fuel injector replacements, along with a smaller group of electrical complaints about sudden shutdowns and accessory faults.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Dual-clutch transmission shudder, hesitation and loss of

   • 123 complaints (48%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle jerking or shuddering during acceleration, hesitating between shifts, revving without moving, or slipping into neutral and losing drive power; several say the vehicle failed to move at all after being started. Many report the dealer diagnosed transmission failure and replaced the unit, in some cases more than once, and some say the problem returned after the repair or after a transmission software update was applied. Reported from as little as roughly 3,000 to 6,000 miles on some vehicles, though many complaints arrive between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles and a few well beyond 100,000.

   Recall 22V7600005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the recall 22V760000 software update was performed and whether any transmission work or replacement has been done, with paperwork. On a test drive, watch for shuddering or hesitation on light acceleration from a stop and on low-speed hill starts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our issues include not shifting into second gear with no warning lights on the dash to indicate a faul. It goes completely in to neutral at all speeds without any warning. Never recovers until stopped and turned off. Again, nothing happens, no sounds , no lights, no flashes. Just no transmission at all. My wife was almost rear ended on when it stopped functioning in traffic. Someone is going to get killed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11514418, filed 2023-03

   “My vehicle started to shift irregularly. From a stop, I would accelerate and before shifting to the next gear the vehicle would lose power, pause, and then shift to the next gear. Doing this until the vehicle reached the desired speed. At first, I could turn the vehicle off then on again and it would be fixed. Eventually, the check engine light came on and stopping and restarting no longer fixed the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11723080, filed 2026-03
2. 2
   Engine

   Stalling, sudden loss of power or shutoff while driving

   • 70 complaints (28%)
   • median 43,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or the vehicle shutting down at stops, in traffic or at speed, sometimes with high idle and shaking beforehand and sometimes with no warning light at all. Owners also report hard starting or a no-start condition, and dealers are described as replacing batteries, cleaning or repairing wiring, or being unable to reproduce the problem. Scattered across the range, from under 1,000 miles to over 100,000, with several reports between about 15,000 and 65,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the battery, grounds and fuse box have been inspected or replaced, and whether any no-start or stall events were diagnosed. Note that complaints describe intermittent faults that do not always leave a stored code.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2021 Kia Sorento lx has been having issues everyday where all of my dash lights come on, my power steering goes out and I can’t shift into or out of any gears. I have taken it to a Kia dealership (towed) twice already and they can’t find out the issue or unwilling to find it out. I have contacted Kia corporate and still no response from them. Kia has also refused to give me a loaner during this issue”

   NHTSA complaint #11669861, filed 2025-06

   “This has been occurring intermittently since my 2021 Kia Sorento reached approx. 15k miles and now has 26,600 miles. There are no lights or indicators on the dash letting me know anything is wrong. When the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or stopped in heavy traffic, the vehicle will start idling high and shaking and the engine will seize up. I am not able to steer, the brakes lock up, I cannot accelerate, all functionality is lost. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11725971, filed 2026-03
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Sudden electrical shutdown and no-start

   • 37 complaints (15%)
   • median 34,256 mi at 2.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle going completely dead, refusing to start, or losing power steering and the ability to shift, with all dash lights illuminating. Owners report sparking or burnt wiring at ground and fuse box connections, intermittent restarting on its own, and dead rear power outlets; dealers are described as replacing batteries or wiring harnesses, or as not finding a cause. Reported from a few hundred miles up to roughly 110,000 miles, with many between about 30,000 and 70,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether battery, ground cables and the fuse box have been checked or replaced, and whether a Kia Connect modem reset or infotainment update was applied. Look for a burnt smell or corrosion around the underhood fuse box.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My electrical system failed. While on park I was unable to shut of the vehicle using the engine start stop button. After waiting for the vehicle to automatically turn off. The vehicle started trying to restart itself. The negative battery post had to be removed for the vehicle to stop. The entire safety system failed and all warning lights are still displayed on the dash. The backup camera and radio display went completely blank and was unavailable.”

   NHTSA complaint #11662150, filed 2025-05

   “The car has completely shutdown on 3 separate occasions. It wouldn't start and all the electrical did not work. It started the next day. All this in a span of 5 out of the 8 months we purchased it. The last time, we found the fuse box was burnt when the tow truck showed up to take it to the dealership. The dealership is trying to blame us because we changed the battery after the second time and not honoring the warranty. They are trying to charge us $18,000. The car had already shut down two times before we even changed the battery. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11721827, filed 2026-03
4. 4
   Engine

   Rough running, misfire and fuel injector replacement

   • 40 complaints (16%)
   • median 36,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report the engine vibrating, jerking or hesitating under acceleration, sometimes with the check engine light on, and being told by dealers or independent shops that fuel injectors, spark plugs or ignition coils needed replacement. A few describe a strong fuel smell from the oil dipstick area or a fuel leak, and some say the symptoms came back after parts were replaced. Mostly reported between about 9,000 and 90,000 miles, with several cases under 15,000 miles.

   Recall 21V5190004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the GDI injector bulletin work (CA2505) was done and whether spark plugs or coils were replaced. Check the oil level and smell the dipstick for fuel, and ask whether recall 21V519000 applies and was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car stalled July 14th car has been at Kia of Bowie and they are stalling g me and dont want to do the sarter recal and are asking me for $550 for a diagnostic that I should not pay for do to this safety recall ive been telling them from the start that there was a very strong gas smell coming from theoil dipstick and they have been avoiding it till yesterday now the gas has evaperated and they are asking g me to pay $550 for the leak down test.”

   NHTSA complaint #11760301, filed 2026-08

   “The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine was vibrating abnormally. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer set an appointment however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 500. Consumer would like to withdrawal the complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #11435704, filed 2021-10, 500 miles

Buying note. Check the transmission carefully on a test drive and get written confirmation of any recall or software work performed, especially 22V760000; the remaining reports cover stalling, injector wear and electrical faults, so a pre-purchase inspection with a scan for stored codes is worthwhile.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.