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Model-year record

2021 Kia Sedona
Image: Own work · CC BY-SA 4.0

2021 Kia Sedona

See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.

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Complaints filed

8

Reports to NHTSA, 2021

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

21

EPA estimate

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (25% of 8 reports), followed by tires (25%).

Electrical System25% · 2 reports
Tires25% · 2 reports
Vehicle Speed Control25% · 2 reports
Air Bags13% · 1 report
Unknown Or Other13% · 1 report

Share of all 8 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11691853, ODI 11683663.

Individual complaint reports(8)

Showing the 8 most recent reports
Electrical SystemOct 2025 · ODI 11691853Details +

For starters, my lights go out every six months on queue. Cannot find a reason why. My car sputters or shutters when accelerating. I heard other Kia models have recalls due to the same thing. I have had my car in the shop multiple times and no one can figure out why it is doing it. It feels like the belts are slipping or the transmission is slipping or something, but no one can find a legit reason as to why. This has been happening since I bought the car and it has never stopped with anything I have tried to do or I’ve had inspected.

Reported
Oct 2025
Incident date
Jun 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11691853 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemAug 2025 · ODI 11683663Details +

The engine started knocking while I was on [XXX] between mile marker [XXX] and [XXX]. This area is under construction with no shoulders to access and pull over. A shutdown in this situation would surely cause a multi-car accident. There were no warning lamps. Car was towed to Ancira Kia in San Antonio. Here is the RO# [XXX] for reference. Also case number from Kia [XXX]. As there is no current Recall Kia refused to take responsibility. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported
Aug 2025
Incident date
Aug 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11683663 at NHTSA →
Vehicle Speed ControlJun 2025 · ODI 11667589Details +

We purchased a brand-new 2021 Kia Sedona in 2021. Since January, we’ve been experiencing an intermittent but serious issue where the vehicle refuses to accelerate or shift beyond a certain point. This issue has put us in dangerous situations multiple times. One incident occurred while crossing a fast-moving, single-lane road—our vehicle would not accelerate to the appropriate speed, placing us at serious risk. On another occasion, while merging onto a highway, the car failed to accelerate, and we feared being rear-ended due to our inability to keep up with traffic. There are no warning lights or error messages to indicate a problem when this occurs. The only temporary solution has been to pull over, turn the car off, and restart it. After doing this, the vehicle functions normally for a few days, weeks, or even months before the issue reoccurs. We have taken the vehicle to our local Kia dealership, but they were unable to replicate the problem or identify any issues. We also brought it to a second Kia dealership with the same result—no diagnosis and no resolution. We are extremely concerned for our safety and would appreciate guidance on how to escalate this issue or pursue a resolution. I also have a video of an incident.

Reported
Jun 2025
Incident date
Jun 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11667589 at NHTSA →
Air BagsMay 2025 · ODI 11662588 · crash · 1 injuriesDetails +

I was in a car wreck and my air bags did not deploy and my seat belt did not lock. The other vehicle involved in the car accident immediately deployed its airbags. I did not ask for an ambulance because I do not know if my insurance covers it so I went personally to the emergency room after the accident.

Reported
May 2025
Incident date
May 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
Crash 1 injuries
Open ODI 11662588 at NHTSA →
TiresJun 2024 · ODI 11591931Details +

The first of four tire failures (all the same DOT Number) of the OEM tires that were on the 2021 Kia Sedona when purchased in April, 2021. The first tire belt broke when on an approximate 1000 mile drive and was replaced on an emergency basis on January 24, 2024 with 16,760 miles on the vehicle. The second tire belt broke on the trip home and was replaced on an emergency basis on March 8, 2024 with 18,927. After arriving home, the tires were inspected, found to have defective belts and were replaced with a warranty adjustment by Discount Tire in Oswego with 19,191 miles. Kumho has still not honored the warranty by sending checks for the first two defective tires. (Can't find receipt from warranty replacement by Discount Tires but will continue looking. Have many photos of defective tire if desired.)

Reported
Jun 2024
Incident date
Jan 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11591931 at NHTSA →
TiresAug 2023 · ODI 11537443Details +

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sedona equipped with Kumho Tires, Tire Line: Crugen, Tire Size :235/65/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, there was an abnormal vibration coming from the tires. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of tread separation to the driver’s and passenger’s side rear tires. The tires were replaced. The tires were the original tires. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Reported
Aug 2023
Incident date
Aug 2023
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11537443 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherJun 2021 · ODI 11422400 · crashDetails +

Vehicle is easily stolen, and is a safety risk for others. Kia's are getting stolen at an alarming rate and should be recalled! Not only are they getting stolen but they pose a major safety risk because the people stealing them are crashing them, running from police, etc. Damage to my own property as well as others (mine had mysterious damage but I have no idea who or what they hit). Something must be done!

Reported
Jun 2021
Incident date
Jun 2021
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
Crash
Open ODI 11422400 at NHTSA →
Vehicle Speed ControlApr 2021 · ODI 11414324Details +

DATE OF INCIDENT: 22 APR 2021, THURSDAY DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 45 MPH ON A WELL-PAVED TWO-LANE ROAD WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES OR OBSTACLES PRESENT IN EITHER LANE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATED SHARPLY, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO PLUNGE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL ALERTS, BOTH IN WORDS AND SYMBOLS FLASHED ON THE DASH. THESE INCLUDED 'CHECK COLLISION ALERT' AND LIGHTS SHOWING A SKIDDING VEHICLE AND A SECOND SHOWING THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE IN A CRASH. ALTERNATING MY ATTENTION BETWEEN THE ALERTS/MESSAGES ON THE DASH AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. ALL ALERTS AND SYMBOLS WERE EXTINGUISHED. AN INSPECTION OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED NOTHING COVERING OR OBSTRUCTING ANY PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. I ACCELERATED BACK ONTO THE ROAD AND RETURNED TO A SPEED OF 45 MPH WITHOUT USING CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING WITH NO ALERTS OR WARNING SYMBOLS. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 20 MILES, WITH TWO PERIODS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS AGAIN ENGAGED AT 45 MPH ON AN OTHERWISE EMPTY ROAD. WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE FOLLOWING-DISTANCE CONTROL FEATURE, THE VEHICLE AGAIN BRAKED SUDDENLY WITH THE SAME SET OF ALERTS AND SYMBOLS AS DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT. AGAIN STEERING TO THE ROAD SHOULDER, THE ENGINE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED WITH ALL ALERTS/SYMBOLS EXTINGUISHED EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

Reported
Apr 2021
Incident date
Apr 2021
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11414324 at NHTSA →

Recalls

No recalls are listed for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change when NHTSA publishes new information.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2021 Kia Sedona MV FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Sedona3.3L 6-cylFront-Wheel Drive182421

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

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Compare the year-by-year record

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2021 Kia Sedona: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2021 Kia Sedona?

Owners filed 8 NHTSA complaints about the 2021 Kia Sedona. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.

What are the most common problems on the 2021 Kia Sedona?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (25% of complaints) and tires (25%).

How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Sedona have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2021 Kia Sedona as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Kia Sedona get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Kia Sedona at 21 mpg combined.