2021 Kia Sorento Fuel Line Recall (21V519)
Kia America, Inc. · 21,575 vehicles · Reported July 8, 2021
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 21,575 2021-2022 Kia K5; 2021 Kia Sorento vehicles. 5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail. A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V519 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V519000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC214 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 8, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Kia K5; 2021 Kia Sorento |
| Units affected | 21,575 |
| Component | Fuel System, Gasoline > Delivery > Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings |
| Safety risk | A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Kia Sorento in recall 21V519?
5L turbocharged engines.
Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Sorento with recall 21V519?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Sorento shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the hoses, lines and piping, and fittings, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V519?
Recall 21V519 covers 21,575 vehicles: 2021-2022 Kia K5; 2021 Kia Sorento.
NHTSA lists 21,575 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Kia | K5 |
| 2021 | Kia | Sorento |
What is the fix for the Sorento fuel line recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.
When was recall 21V519 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 21V519 to NHTSA on July 8, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 21, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 8, 2021 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V519000. |
| July 21, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 months ago. If your Sorento was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Sorento is part of recall 21V519?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V519 is open on your Sorento, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Sorento vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Sorento owners do about recall 21V519?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V519000 applies to your Sorento.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any hoses, lines and piping, and fittings symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Sorento owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 542 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 123 of them about the fuel system.
Since recall 21V519 was reported on July 8, 2021, owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 14 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the fuel system and were received on or after July 8, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related fuel system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 542 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 123 of them involve the fuel system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Kia Sorento: 248 complaints in total, 24 about the fuel system
- 2021 Kia K5: 167 complaints in total, 56 about the fuel system
- 2022 Kia K5: 127 complaints in total, 43 about the fuel system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, when the gas tank expanded, and the back seat popped up. The contact stated that two teenagers were in the back seat, and one was injured.
2021 Kia K5 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11657502, filed April 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that fuel odor was entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s seat seemed to be inflated. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact became aware of fuel squirting out of the fuel filler neck.
2021 Kia K5 owner, WI, NHTSA complaint 11697698, filed November 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia K5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that days before the vehicle was scheduled for an unknown recall repair, while refueling, the contact observed gasoline pouring out of the tank.
2021 Kia K5 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11703986, filed December 9, 2025
Can recall 21V519 make my Sorento a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this hoses, lines and piping, and fittings recall means their Sorento qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Fuel system defects can cause stalling, fuel leaks or a fire risk. Repeat stalling after a recall repair is a strong sign the fix did not work.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Sorento been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Sorento recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V519
Did the recall 21V519 fix work?
Since recall 21V519 was reported on July 8, 2021, owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 14 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 21, 2021.
Is the 21V519000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Sorento is part of recall 21V519000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V519000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.