Recalls & safety ratings

2021 KIA SORENTO

Every NHTSA recall campaign covering the 2021 KIA SORENTO, and the crash-test ratings for the body styles that were tested.
  • 4
    Recalls
  • 8
    Owner complaints
  • 0
    Investigations

Sourced from NHTSA recall and safety-rating data — last checked 6 September 2026.

4 recall campaigns

A campaign usually covers only part of a model year's production, so it may not apply to a particular car. Check the VIN to be certain.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

NHTSA campaign 25V649000 · Kia America, Inc.

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.

Park outside

TRAILER HITCHES

NHTSA campaign 22V703000 · Kia America, Inc.

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.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA campaign 22V760000 · Kia America, Inc.

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

NHTSA campaign 21V519000 · Kia Motors America

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.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

NHTSA crash-tests vehicles and rates them out of five stars. More stars mean a safer car. Ratings are per body style, so a model can appear more than once below.

2021 Kia Sorento SUV AWD Early Release

Overall

Frontal crash

Driver
Passenger

Side crash

Driver
Passenger
Pole

Rollover

15.9% chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.

  • Electronic stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Standard

2021 Kia Sorento SUV AWD Later Release

Overall

Frontal crash

Driver
Passenger

Side crash

Driver
Passenger
Pole

Rollover

15.9% chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.

  • Electronic stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Standard

2021 Kia Sorento SUV FWD Early Release

Overall

Frontal crash

Driver
Passenger

Side crash

Driver
Passenger
Pole

Rollover

15.9% chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.

  • Electronic stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Standard

2021 Kia Sorento SUV FWD Later Release

Overall

Frontal crash

Driver
Passenger

Side crash

Driver
Passenger
Pole

Rollover

15.9% chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.

  • Electronic stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Standard

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