2021 Kia Sorento vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
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 Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 244 | 471 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 17 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 105 | 619 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–37 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 41,500 mi | 17,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 47 | 145 |
| Engine | 66 | 84 |
| Power Train | 134 | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 93 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | 68 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 65 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 66 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 23 | 41 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 34 | 27 |
| Stalling | 30 | 46 |
| Loss of power | 26 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 5 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 21 |
2021 Kia Sorento
2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Compare all Kia Sorento vs Volkswagen Atlas 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.