2021 Kia Sorento Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 9%of 255 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,911miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the fuel system of the 2021 Kia Sorento, 9% of the 255 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,911 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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“I have had many issues where my car will completely shut off after the auto start-stop function causing me to almost get into accidents with my toddlers in the vehicle. There was one incident where I was at a stop light, when the light turned green I started my car again to go and another vehicle continued to bypass me. When i halted for the other vehicle, my engine shut off again almost the cause of a horrific accident. I have had many incidents after this with the related cause of engine shutting off.”
NHTSA complaint #11673190, filed 2025-07“I unable to accelerate to merge on to the highway. This is the second time that my car was unable to accelerate and kick into gear. The first time was in 2021/2022 a few months after getting the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11624472, filed 2024-11“I am unable to open the gas tank door. The gas tank door is open and closed by pushing in the gas tank door on the right side. I have not had a problem with this until recently. The information in the owner's manual indicates to check that doors are unlocked. I have completed that step. I am almost out of gas now. I consider this a safety issue because there is no emergency release for the gas tanks and thus someone may be confronted with this issue during a long trip from home. This does not appear to be an isolated incident. …”
NHTSA complaint #11588428, filed 2024-05Related recalls
- 21V519000Jul 8, 2021Kia 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…Covers: Kia Sorento 2021, K5 2021–2022
Related service bulletins
- 11024484Oct 17, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: GDI FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT FOR MISFIRE DTC(S) THETA III 2.5L GDI (CA2505) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 11019972Jun 30, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: GDI FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT FOR MISFIRE DTC(S) THETA III 2.5L GDI (CA2505) -This bulletin provides information regarding cylinder misfire DTCs…
- 11019970Jun 30, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: GDI FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT FOR MISFIRE DTC(S) - CLOSED AND SUPERSEDED BY FUE068/CA2505 - This bulletin is now closed. This bulletin provides…
- 11008045Sep 21, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: GDI FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT FOR MISFIRE DTC(S) - This bulletin provides information regarding cylinder misfire DTCs stored on some 2021-2022 MY Kia…
- 10205501Dec 13, 2021Tsb_fue054_closed: technical service bulletin closed
- 10205424Dec 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: 2.5L GDI WITH MIL ON DTC P2074XX ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA489A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of…
- 10205499Dec 2, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: 2.5L GDI WITH MIL ON DTC P2074XX ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA489) - This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of…
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 5% |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% |
| 2023 | 6 | 5% |
| 2022 | 14 | 7% |
| 2021 | 24 | 9% |
| 2020 | 10 | 7% |
| 2019 | 28 | 6% |
| 2018 | 13 | 5% |
| 2017 | 49 | 6% |
| 2016 | 58 | 5% |
| 2015 | 31 | 4% |
| 2014 | 50 | 5% |
| 2013 | 38 | 4% |
| 2012 | 39 | 4% |
| 2011 | 19 | 1% |
| 2008 | 5 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 12 | 5% |
| 2005 | 12 | 4% |
| 2004 | 14 | 6% |
| 2003 | 77 | 25% |
Other parts of the 2021 Kia Sorento
144 complaintsEngine
68 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsOther or unknown
42 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsForward collision avoidance
10 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsLane departure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology