2021 Kia Sorento vs 2021 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Kia Sorento | 2021 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 244 | 513 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 105 | 180 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–37 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 41,500 mi | 31,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sorento | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 134 | 219 |
| Engine | 66 | 45 |
| Electrical System | 47 | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 66 |
| Structure | 5 | 51 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 23 | 31 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 42 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 34 | 13 |
| Stalling | 30 | 19 |
| Loss of power | 26 | 25 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 33 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 19 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
2021 Kia Sorento
2021 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander 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.