Kia Sorento 2021–2025

4th generation (MQ4) · MQ4 · 998 complaints, 103 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 26,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 22.8% of complaints (228 reports, 30 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 35,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 13,882 and 66,550 miles.

The engine accounts for 16.1% of complaints (161 reports, 21 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 56,941 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 13.7% of complaints (137 reports, 16 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 24,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,099 and 43,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2021 model year drew the most — 353 complaints — while 2024 drew the fewest at 53. The median year sits at 196.

The first year of the generation, 2021, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (3), the engine and its cooling system (2), visibility equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 998 complaints filed against this generation, 41 reported a crash; 10 reported a fire; 27 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 4.1% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 39% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.

On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 26,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (12)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Kia Sorento 2003–2009
• Kia Sorento 2011–2015
• Kia Sorento 2016–2020