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Kia StingerModel year report

2021 Kia Stinger Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
1,200miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns 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
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 22 city / 29 hwy

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

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2021 Kia Stinger. The part named most often is brakes, with 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by other or unknown (5) and engine (4). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 1,200 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 45 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the control unit/module and 1 technical service bulletin 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

Brakes: “At certain times when I am braking the brake skips it's like i am unable to brake so I end up braking late. It's become a safety hazard since there are times when I have almost hit another car. Also, the other is the silver trim on the exterior looks completely faded probably from the sun but I've seen multiple stingers with this issue and should be replaced and yes the car is dirty but that is not dirt.”

NHTSA complaint #11678569, filed 2025-08

Other or unknown: “Exploding/Shattered Sunroof No cars on the road near me at the time of incident, eliminating rock or debris damage Glass shards fell onto me in the cabin of car There was potential for accident due to sudden distraction Dealer has claimed rock damage but this is false Sunroof appears to have blown out upwards from the center Sounded like a bomb went off when it blew No warning signs Car was purchased brand new 5 months prior”

NHTSA complaint #11432423, filed 2021-09

Engine: “Just purchased a 2021 Kia Stinger gt awd new about a month ago. Just over 1000 miles on it now and encountered a concerning issue. Sitting at a stoplight with the auto start/stop off, traction control off and in sports mode, I pressed the gas pedal and there was a slight hesitation followed by a pretty forceful lurch forward. As I approached the next stoplight several hundred feet further ahead the car completely stalled out. I took it to the dealer and they could not duplicate it... Of course.”

NHTSA complaint #11412822, filed 2021-04, 1,200 miles

Fuel system: “Brand new car, just over 300 miles on the odometer. Suddenly lost power while driving on a busy main road in fairfax, va. Was almost rear ended (inches to spare) and stranded on the road. Car would not restart. A police officer rescued me and pushed me to safety on a nearby residential side street to await a tow truck. Turns out there was a defect in the wiring from the fuel sending unit and the fuel gauge was reporting just under half a tank despite being empty. The vehicle was so new that I had not filled it up since taking delivery. …”

NHTSA complaint #11405181, filed 2021-03, 304 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 304 and 25,000 miles.

67%0–100%10–2533%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 1,200 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.

2021202262023202420252026
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 Stinger. 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
Stinger · sedan AWD★★★★★5 / 4555 · 8.7% risk
Stinger · sedan RWD★★★★★5 / 4555 · 8.7% risk

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

Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating; 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 Stinger 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
Stinger AWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic212924$3,400
Stinger AWD3.3L 6-cyl8-speed automatic172520$4,100
Stinger RWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic222925$3,300
Stinger RWD3.3L 6-cyl8-speed automatic172520$4,100

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 Stinger → · 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. 45 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 45 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Stinger

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20235—1525—Too new
202218100,0001525—Rising
2021171,2005525—Falling
20201647,9226525—Rising
20194412,5003—25Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20187125,0004—25Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising

All Kia Stinger model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Kia Stinger have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2021 Kia Stinger as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Kia Stinger is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 5.

Has the 2021 Kia Stinger been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Kia Stinger do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Kia Stinger 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Kia Stinger get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Kia Stinger (Stinger RWD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Kia Stinger reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 1,200 miles and the middle half falls between 304 and 25,000 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 27, 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.