2021 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

57Engine complaints

25.2%Of all 226 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN119 · 52.7%

ENGINE57 · 25.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM42 · 18.6%

Unspecified / other37 · 16.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM17 · 7.5%

Share of the 226 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Kia Sorento overview page.

What owners report

“As I was taking off from stop sign car dropped into lower gear jerking car and lowered speed. Did this twice almost causing an accident…”NHTSA complaint 11489882 — filed 10/18/2022

“As my vehicle was in drive and I was actively driving, an error displayed on the dash stating to "stop safely immediately." The vehicle would…”NHTSA complaint 11487776 — filed 10/03/2022

“Vehicle is not shifting properly. The vehicle is hesitating on shifting up and have a very hard down shift. When vehicle was brand new this…”NHTSA complaint 11481714 — filed 08/29/2022

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Kia Sorento have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2021 Kia Sorento: 57 of 226 complaints on file (25.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Kia Sorento have in total?

226 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 1 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.