2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid, and owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Trailer hitches Park outside
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…
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.…
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Pretensioner (seat belts) and seat belts: front
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this…
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 7,650 miles. Complaints peaked in 2022 with 12 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Recall SA512 was previously completed on my vehicle. The problem is happening again. Since there are no open recalls, I am unable to get it fixed under the recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 15, 2025 · Engine
“On [XXX] we were driving the Kia at slow speed due to snow on the road when a warning light came on which we think said hybrid vehicle failure pull over. The car stopped and the traffic lane with the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 21, 2025 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Kia Sorento (Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD, Sorento Hybrid). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–37 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–39 / 25–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S6); Automatic (AM-S8); Automatic (S8) |
Compare Kia Sorento Hybrid model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sorento Hybrid model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2 | 21 |
| 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 4 | 12 |
| 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2 | 31 |
| 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 0 | 6 |
| 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2 | 43 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 1 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid
How do I know if my 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 22V447000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.