FaultScore

2021 KIA Sorento window and wiper problems

12 of the 357 complaints about the 2021 KIA Sorento are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,000 miles.

A

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Visibility/Wiper 4 33.3%
Windshield 3 25.0%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2 16.7%
Visibility 2 16.7%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 1 8.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every KIA Sorento year

2011 29 13.6%
2012 30 14.0%
2013 32 15.0%
2014 29 13.6%
2015 10 4.7%
2016 23 10.7%
2019 21 9.8%
2021 12 5.6%
2022 17 7.9%
2023 11 5.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Jacksonville, NC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My windshield randomly cracked from driver side top edge and down in a diagonal direction. There is no visible impact from an object hitting my windshield, which might be a manufacturer defect. This is my daily drive vehicle but the crack is in my line of sight while driving and is not safe. This crack happened yesterday while driving and I contacted KIA service department and left a message since it was on a Saturday afternoon.

NHTSA complaint #11733862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Memphis, TN

VISIBILITY

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, with the A/C activated, there was an abnormal burning odor entering the vehicle through the vents. The burning odor was coming from the vehicle whether the A/C was in use or turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. On a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure was more evident while the vehicle was driven uphill. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the vehicle was not repaired. Most recently, the battery was replaced, and the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11711535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Murrieta, CA

VISIBILITY

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (Electrical System, Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was called but was unreachable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but the contact was informed that the call could not be transferred to the recall department because the department was undergoing a training session. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11706116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reidsville, NC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The panoramic sun roof opens but will not close. it takes 6-12 attempts to get it to close, it will move to where its an inch away from closing then reopen. Kia has recalls for this make and year but says my car is not affected. attempting to get it to close is very distracting and frustrating taking focus away from driving.

NHTSA complaint #11651657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Des Moines, IA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while having the front windshield replaced at the glass center, the contact was informed that the sensor did not fit in the bracket. The local dealer was contacted, and an OEM windshield was ordered, but the sensor failed to fit in the bracket. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11576240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iselin, NJ

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Winshield lamination cracked/seperation. No rock chips or anything that hit the winshield. It just started to seperate by itself

NHTSA complaint #11567867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iselin, NJ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Winshield lamination cracked/seperation. No rock chips or anything that hit the winshield. It just started to seperate by itself

NHTSA complaint #11567867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Antelope, CA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

Drivers Side Airbag Illuminates intermittently, A/C smells like dried urine, has stuttered while driving on 2-3 occasions phone charging pad does not actually charge phone instead just maintains whatever battery life is already in phone before placed on pad.,these are all issues within the first 30 days of purchasing certified pre owned Kia Sorento on 8/15/22

NHTSA complaint #11489893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, CA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

On January 17th at approximately 1 pm I was driving on Rt. 12 in Cordelia, California when I heard a loud explosion coming from the car's rooftop. I pulled over and discovered that my closed sunroof had shattered. There was no indication whatsoever that anything hit the glass. There were no vehicles in either direction less than 1200-1500 feet from my car when the sunroof class exploded. I assumed this would have been a warrantee claim as the car just approached one year old. Unfortunately, the manufacturer, Kia, denied the claim. I am now appealing the denial. Needless to say, I will never be comfortable driving this car with the sunshade open since that is what saved us from the shattered glass.

NHTSA complaint #11449135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, CA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Exploding Panoramic Sunroof: Was driving about 50 miles per hour on a highway in Northern California. No other vehicles within 1200-1500 feet in either direction. Was not driving under an overpass when we suddenly heard a large explosion and a rush of air. We pulled over to the side of the road and noticed that the sunroof glass had exploded and was completely shattered. We strongly believe it was NOT a result of an impact from a foreign object unless it literally fell out of the sky which seems extremely remote. We heard nothing until the explosion. No other damage to the car's hood or roof. No indication whatsoever that anything hit the car. The car manufacture, KIA, denied the claim. Fortunately no one was hurt since we had the sunshade closed and no other cars were nearby to get hit by the shattered glass. This could have been a dangerous situation.

NHTSA complaint #11447906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesa, AZ

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Within a 2 month period after purchasing this vehicle, the windshield has cracked twice. First time was more understandable as a larger sized rock hit the windshield right next to the pillar on the passenger side creating a roughly 4” starburst crack. That one was replaced and 2 weeks later a tiny pebble kicked up and created a small chip on the upper corner driver side. Within about 30 seconds the chip spread halfway across the windshield. These new windshield seems to be extremely weak and falling in line with the issues the Telluride had as well with the Kia acoustic glass.

NHTSA complaint #11441645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Estero, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

On Monday 7/26/2021 I heard a popping sound and discovered that the windshield of my 2021 Kia Sorento SX sustained an approximate 2–3 inch starburst sized crack that proceeded to spread overnight while parked in the garage. The crack increased to about 6 inches long. The crack is topmost more on the driver’s side, initiating a pinpoint exactly on the edge of the middle black patterned grid directly to the left of the rear view mirror mounting. While inspecting the crack this morning , running my fingers along the damage glass both inside and out, I could not feel any divots. The glass to the touch was as smooth as silk. I am concerned about the possibility of a factory defect due to the recall of 2019 Kia Telluride windshields. This car is only 6 months old.

NHTSA complaint #11426962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2021 KIA Sorento problems

← Full 2021 KIA Sorento report