My wife was driving our 2011 Kia Sorento Feb. 2012 (17,450 miles) when it went "clunk" and lost power; the engine ran as normal but no/little power from transmission. She was on a dangerous highway and damaged the car trying to back up to a safer spot. Sorento was towed, dealer kept it for three days and said they'd fixed the problem, but Kia said the body damage was our problem. Today, April 30, I was driving when it went "clunk" - (approx 21,500 miles at 47 mph) engine ran but no/little power from transmission; I pulled over, shut the ignition off and restarted after a minute or so - I am home and the car is going to the dealer. This car scares me - if this happens in other circumstances I see the real possibility of a serious accident. How do I report this problem? other than trading it (and giving the danger to someone else), what are my options? this is our second dangerous incident... I don't believe anyone at Kia really cares.

- Kalama, WA, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While stopped with the brake pedal depressed, the contact attempted to place the gear shifter from drive to park but the shifter became stuck in neutral. The contact shut the vehicle off and restarted it approximately three times before being able to shift into park. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.

- Elgin, SC, USA

My 2011 Kia Sorento downshifts while at a high rate of speed. It also gets stuck and while the rpms are racing, it will not shift up. The bluetooth does not work properly and am only able to make a call 30% of the time. Backup cameras and sensors are intermittent. Window will not work. Back drivers side door fell off hinges while I was driving with my child in the backseat. My passenger side seat overheated and would not turn off. Causing my car to fill with smoke on the expressway. Many issues with this lemon! shifter will not go from drive into park leaving me stranded in my car. Vehicle has no power....poor engine. Paint and chrome of handles are coming off. Pulls to the left and ESC light comes on all the time.

- Burlington, KY, USA

1st problem: I bought the car, drove it off the lot, dealership did not get it inspected so I had to take it at 10 miles to get an inspection sticker on it! 2nd problem: Immediately after buying the car, I noticed all the windows and doors rattled. Took it to Kia in kingwood 5 times and they could never hear the sound and/or fixed other things on the car that did not need to be fixed. Problem still exists. 3rd problem: Engine light kept coming on, 3 visits later, I needed a new transmission, at 13,000 miles..something wrong with sensor that measures fluids?? 4th problem: Taking back at 14,500 miles on Monday(3/18/12) to get doors checked out now electronics are messed up and loud noise everytime I lock or roll down windows. Also, cant get key to turn in ignition alot!! what a piece of crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- New Caney, TX, USA

Sometime in Oct. 31, 2011, my Kia Sorento 2011 failed to start up. It took me to dial my cell and call Kia roadside assistance to deal with this problem. And now, March 6, 2012, another problem, worse than the first, occurred. It was Tuesday morning, while I'm excited to report to work early for a scheduled post conference with the asst. Principal, one of my evaluators, I just can't work and get the post conference done due to the failure of my Kia Sorento 2011 to move via D shift. I went outside to see what happen but I don't see any outside trouble until another driver asked me what's wrong and heard something underneath from my Kia Sorento 2011 then he said --- transmission. I called Kia roadside assistance and waited for almost three hours until we get there at orr Kia-Mitsubishi dealer shreveport (same dealer where I got my Kia Sorento 2011). I was told to rent a car for 2 - 3 days since they can't provide me a dealer's temporary car to keep me going and do what I'm supposed to do. After 2 days, I called and was told that indeed transmission is the problem.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from stops. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,000.

- Benton, IL, USA

02/23/2011 vehicle would not start; dealer replaced brake switch. 10/14/2011 vehicle would not start; dealer replaced battery. 11/14/2011 vehicle would not start; dealer replaced transmission shifter. 01/05/2012 vehicle would not start; dealer could not find problem, started after battery jump. 01/29/2012 vehicle would not start; called for tow; vehicle started after 40 minutes of numerous attempts. 02/07/2012 vehicle would not start; vehicle started after 30 minutes of numerous attempts. 02/09/2012 vehicle would not start; towed to dealer. Something is obviously wrong with these push-button starters! 5 tows within one year plus other non-start times?! Kia needs to recognize they have a problem!

- Orlando, FL, USA

While on vacation in South Florida, I was traveling on a city street at approximately 45 mph in my 2011 Kia Sorento sx (6 cyl, auto trans), when the engine suddenly began racing (but not accelerating), and I felt a heavy thump in the rear end of the vehicle, as if it had been struck by another vehicle. There were no other vehicles near me, and no warning lights came on. When I pulled over to check the vehicle, there was no visible damage. The vehicle was purchased in October, 2010 and this was the first time I had the problem in 12,000 miles of use. I telephoned my Kia dealer in Pennsylvania and was told that if no warning lights came on they would not be able to diagnose the problem unless it were duplicated during a test drive. They did tell me to take the car to a Kia service department if it happened again.

- Warminster, PA, USA

I was driving to work on Monday Jan. 9th going approximately 60 mph, when all of a sudden the car jerked violently. Then the car lost power I had to pull over it would not drive, I was pushing the accelerator but it would not respond. Also the tach quit working, check engine light came on. I called my husband who called and scheduled service with our local Kia dealership. On my way home it done the same exact thing I had to pull over again, luckily both times there was not a car following too closely. My husband drove the car to the dealership and they kept it for 4 days and said they could not duplicate the problem. We picked it up on Sunday thinking everything was fine, we made it home and went to the store. On the way back coming across the pomeroy mason bridge it jerked again very hard and we had to come to a stop in traffic! we called to schedule another appointment for Thursday Jan. 19. on my way to work today Jan. 16 it done the same exact thing! I don't feel safe driving this with my 2 kids in the back seat.

- Middleport , OH, USA

I was driving on I-95 at aprox. 65 mph and felt a severe jolt. This could have caused an inexperienced driver like either of my kids to loose control. I initially thought someone had hit the rear of my car. There didn't seem to be any other vehicles close enough to have hit me, so I pulled over onto the shoulder to see if I had hit something. Everything looked fine so I proceeded to get back onto the highway. I noticed the car was sluggish and then noticed it was not shifting gears. As I continued to accelerate the engine RPM continued to climb so I had to drive below 45mph.when the shifter was moved to the manual side it was in 4th gear. I pulled over onto the shoulder again and shifted into neutral and drive a few times but it would always go back to 4th gear when in drive. I had to drive the rest of the way, about 20 miles at a slower speed with the flashers on. This morning I checked out the car and it was operating normally. I will bring the vehicle to Kia, but will not let other family members drive the car unless I am certain it is corrected. I now see there are a lot of the same complaints on edmonds. Com. Is there a recall for this? I could not find one on your web-site.

- Hawthorne, NY, USA

I was driving about 40 mph, when the vehicle appeared to miss/skip gears! it felt as if the vehicle was going to stop altogether, and I definitely lost acceleration ability. Next the malfunction indicator light came on and it has not gone off. I am going to take the vehicle in to the dealer on 12/17/2011 to see what may be causing a problem like this.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after driving 2 mph over a ditch, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. The contact also stated prior to the failure the transmission was replaced by the dealer. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to address the current failure. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 14,980.

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

My 2011 Kia Sorento 2.4 L w/ auto tranny fwd was fixed on recall almost two months ago.after driving 26 days I had bad accident. From my house to work I stopped at mcdonald rest. To buy breakfast. I got on, started my vehicle, step on my brakes to engage in reverse, the vehicle start shaking, reversed, span 360 degrees, hit the railings and ramp of the restaurant and drive forward in the middle of the parking lot. It stop because the two control arm/axles were damaged. I was shaken and it was hard to remember what really happened what I explained was the same as what the witness saw while lining up on the drive thru to order her breakfast. The witness came over and helped me. The damaged was so expensive that I have to fix the damage thru my insurance. I had the vehicle fixed by reliable shop not by Kia dealership in order for me to verify if the accident was the cause of the recall repair. I almost forgot that on the early morning before the accident the vehicle reversed from my garage @ unreasonable speed that I have to control by applying the brakes. The vehicle is drivable and I am still waiting for some parts from Kia. Do I have to notify Kia what happened or wait until the problem happen again. What is your advise. As of now I am driving the vehicle and I have phobia everytime I back up, at least I am aware what happened. Thank you

- Edmonton, WA, USA

The transmission will not shift from drive to reverse/park at intermittent times. The vehicle must be put into neutral, turned off, and restarted in order to shift into park/reverse. This has occurred on three separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the nearest Kia dealer. The service team stated that they could not recreate the problem and did nothing to correct the error.

- El Paso, TX, USA

I was driving on the X-way at about 65mph and felt a huge jolt and heard a loud bang and the same time and the vehicle seemed to lose control a bit. I worked the shift gear to try to regain control and got off the X-way, and turned around to see what I had hit or run over. Nothing was in the road. I made it home and made a service appointment at the nearest Kia dealership. I barely drove for 3 days until the appointment on Tuesday, 10/25/11. During that time we found information about the faulty transmission recall on the NHTSA site (Kia safety recall #SC089) that is related to the 2wd automatic Sorento. However, the symptoms described are exactly the same as I experienced on my AWD vehicle. Kia drove it for about 5 minutes and when the same problem didn't present for them, they told me nothing was wrong and to take it home. The Kia service team didn't seem to be aware of the NHTSA recall. I have contacted Kia by phone and also by E-mail in an attempt to get the defective parts replaced. I am waiting on a response. I don't have a back-up car, and I need to drive every day to keep my job, etc. Please expand the NHTSA action number PE11010 - Kia safety recall # SC089 to include the 2011 AWD Kia Sorento models and help me get this vehicle repaired while it is still under warranty and before a crash takes my life or that of someone else. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Akron, OH, USA

Brand new Kia Sorento (4,000 miles) needs to have a completely new transmission after the transmission went out driving down the highway.

- Lexington, KY, USA

Transmission issues. Driving at 30mph when I notice suddenly the traction control and downhill assistance lights came on the dashboard. I tried to turn it off but I couldn't, it just would go away. At the next stop sign I put the car on park when it for my surprise it got stuck, would not go fw or reverse. I had to turn the car on and off a few times when I was finally able to get it to work. The transmission got stuck a few times before and when I inquired the dealership they ran some tests and said everything is fine. After doing some research I found out this is common issue on 2011 Kia Sorento. Several customers had the transmission replaced once, twice and even 3/4 times and the same thing happen over and over. It seems to me Kia does not care, it is a safety hazard and a rip off for a $25K car with less than 17K miles.

- Spring, TX, USA

I was accelerating from a stoplight, and the transmission did not engage, and vehicle seized to accelerate. There was a loud gear grinding noise when gear was engaged, both forward and reverse. Car started fine afterward, but same gear grinding occurred when placed in gear, with no vehicle motion.

- St Paul, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that two children were able to shift the vehicle into neutral when it was parked and shut off. As a result, the vehicle rolled forward until crashing into bushes. Both children suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle operated to its specifications. The contact was also informed that all vehicles made by this manufacturer could be shifted out of park in the same manner. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Fairfield, OH, USA

Placing the car in reverse resulted in a loud "clunk" felt in the transmission area. However, the vehicle drove normally for a short period of time (about 4 minutes). After entering a highway and beginning to accelerate to merge with traffic, there was a much larger "clunk" form the transmission area, followed by a metallic whining/whirring noise form the same area, and loss of speed. The engine remained running, but the vehicle would not accelerate. I pulled the car off the main road, and had a difficult time getting the car into the "park" gear so I could turn the vehicle off. Kia roadside assistance came and towed the vehicle to a Kia dealership for replacement of the transmission.

- Newhall, CA, USA