2020 Kia Sorento vs 2021 Kia Sorento
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Kia Sorento | 2021 Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 134 | 242 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 85 | 105 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–25 | 24–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 19,500 mi | 41,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sorento | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 18 | 133 |
| Engine | 64 | 64 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 47 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 12 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 | 10 |
| Trailer Hitches | 9 | 2 |
| Visibility | 3 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 19 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 12 | 34 |
| Stalling | 10 | 30 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 6 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 26 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 25 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 7 |
2020 Kia Sorento
2021 Kia Sorento
Compare all Kia Sorento vs Kia Sorento years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.