When cruise control is set or just starting the Kia and going it will without warning surge, jerk, and jump. The RPM needle will show acceleration from 2.5 RPM and it jumps to 4.5 RPM and stays their for awhile before going back down to 2.5 RPM. This happens without notice and not on any incline or declines, it's on straight aways. This also happens at any speed when the cruise control is set or when just starting the Kia and going. It's not just on the highway when this happens it also happens in city streets. It first only started happening when it was cold out but now it's happening even with warmer weather. I've taken it to Kia of duluth many times and always get told nothing is wrong or to just change the drive mode from smart to eco but it doesn't make a difference and it has been doing this since I got the Kia which was 16 months ago.

- Buhl, MN, USA

Our 2019 Kia Sorento LX V6 engine is surging and hesitating really bad. Car was brought in for service but nothing has worked to correct the issue. When pulling out onto the highway it will hesitate and then surge spinning the front tires, this is very serious safety issue! it has become dangerous for us to exit our development onto a busy high speed thoroughfare! dealership indicates this is a known problem with the Sorento and we should contact the manufacturer. We have driven other new Kia models and none of them have this issue.

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

Purchased vehicle new with 12 miles on it back Sept. 2019. I noticed almost immediately that it feels like the car is lurching forward, or skipping like when I accelerate. I took to dealership to have them check it out. Before I could get it into service dept. Tech told me that they all do it. With the new sport, eco, comfort and it is trying to adjust to your driving habits. It is still doing it. The other day, it lunged forward like it wasn't going to stop when I had my foot on brakes. I am taking back to dealership to have it checked out again. Will post update. I personally thing Kia needs to investigate problem.

- Milner, GA, USA

Transmission hesitates from a stop and during acceleration at low speeds. Cannot seem to maintain consistent speed and acceleration. Dangerous pulling into traffic with a hesitation. Transmission feels skittish as if it is jumping between gears until you are up to speed around 50 miles per hour.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

[xxx] I have some records from (lev Kia) I am going to share with you as soon as I get them together, in the meantime I am going to drive this 2019 Kia Sorento and hope on the highway it does not decide to down shift at 60 or 70 mph like it was doing, especially if a large tractor trailer is behind me. I think it would be a mess when they find out that a (serious electric problem that the manager Warren rios at lev Kia told me that the vehicle has) caused the transmission to down shift, I will send those papers soon. Also if there was nothing wrong with the transmission, why did they replace the first one. They told me because of a moisture problem was the cause of the internal shifting modulator valve to act up, after the transmission was replaced I had the same problem I called and was told to bring it back and leave it they had to do a program update for the transmission to correct the modulator valve. How do you correct a moisture problem in an internal modulator valve with an update? we will see what your answer to this is, there were other problems with the #1 E-brake light coming on by itself #2 the right front head lamp lower lamp going out 2 times, they had it in the shop for three days and went through the wire harness cleaned all the connectors to the lamp. I told [xxx] that a lot of this happened after a heavy rain storm that something was getting wet and causing either a short or a surge or a bad ground connection, I have pictures of the E-brake light being on and the headlamp lower light out only on the right side. That's it for now I will sent the paper work soon. I am also sending a copy of this note to the attorney general's office and to Kia corporate headquarters, and the better business bureau information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Milford, MA, USA

I sent this to [xxx]<[xxx]> I have some records from (lev Kia) I am going to share with you as soon as I get them together, in the meantime I am going to drive this 2019 Kia Sorento and hope on the highway it does not decide to down shift at 60 or 70 mph like it was doing, especially if a large tractor trailer is behind me. I think it would be a mess when they find out that a (serious electric problem that the manager [xxx] at lev Kia told me that the vehicle has) caused the transmission to down shift, I will send those papers soon. Also if there was nothing wrong with the transmission, why did they replace the first one. They told me because of a moisture problem was the cause of the internal shifting modulator valve to act up, after the transmission was replaced I had the same problem I called and was told to bring it back and leave it they had to do a program update for the transmission to correct the modulator valve. How do you correct a moisture problem in an internal modulator valve with an update? we will see what your answer to this is, there were other problems with the #1 E-brake light coming on by itself #2 the right front head lamp lower lamp going out 2 times, they had it in the shop for three days and went through the wire harness cleaned all the connectors to the lamp. I told Warren rios that a lot of this happened after a heavy rain storm that something was getting wet and causing either a short or a surge or a bad ground connection, I have pictures of the E-brake light being on and the headlamp lower light out only on the right side. That's it for now I will sent the paper work soon. I am also sending a copy of this note to the attorney general's office and to Kia corporate headquarters, and the better business bureau information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Milford, MA, USA

I noticed an engine/ transmission hesitation problem. I currently have 6500 miles on my 2019 Sorento ex V6 AWD.. when I took it to the dealer for an oil change I told them about the hesitation especially in eco and smart modes. Sometimes it hesitates initially from a stopped position but the real concern it hesitates after you pull into an intersection which is very dangerous because it prevents you from driving away from oncoming traffic. This is a huge safety problem. I mentioned this to two Kia employees and they said that they had the same problem with their Kia vehicles. The service department said they checked my vehicle and did not find a problem but the 'reset' the transmission computer. It did not fix the problem. There are two other similar complaints listed on this site and many reports of this on the Kia Sorento forum. This problem is well documented.

- Hazleton, PA, USA

My 2019 V6 Kia Sorento stumbles and hesitates under part throttle, low RPM, acceleration regardless of speed. It's more noticeable in city driving, but is present when traveling on the highway. Keeping the transmission in 'sport' mode reduces the severity, but does not eliminate it. When I place the gear selector in manual mode, and lock in a higher (numerically) gear, I can duplicate the hesitation. I had my dealership reflash the logic controlling the transmission, per a tsb, but that only partially addressed the issue so it may be a combination of fuel delivery/automatic gear selection. I believe it's more of a fuel delivery problem, though. Sometimes the hesitation is such that it prevents prompt acceleration, posing a safety concern. I've used various fuel system cleaners designed for gdi engines with limited success. My vehicle has 13K miles on it, and it has performed in this manner sincei bought it apx. 2K miles, and two months, ago.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

Purchased new 2/22/19. Reported acceleration hesitation problem to the dealer the next day. Since then it has been in the dealers shop over 30 days. Consistently hesitation and stumbles on acceleration. Kia motor co, has denied their is an issue and vehicle is running properly according to design. Kia engineers agreed there was an issue with my car but no fix available. I drove 3 different brand new Sorento's with exact drivetrain and they all performed exactly as my car. Almost got run over last week trying to accelerate on an interstate on ramp.

- Tampa, FL, USA

My 2019 Kia Sorento has hesitations while ramping up in speed. Told dealership about this after the 1st week of ownership. Told it was nothing since it didn't show up in sport mode. I'm seeing in forums that this is a problem with the 8 speed trans. Dropping off to dealership today for them to look at it again.

- Thornville, OH, USA

Transmission stumbles / hesitates when accelerating up hill or on level surface at low speeds. Vehicle briefly and repeatedly lurches under acceleration as if driving on patchy ice-covered road surface. Noticeable to driver and passengers. Worst in comfort, smart and eco modes. Not as pronounced, but still present in sport mode. Most noticeable when driving shortly after start-up. Less noticeable after 10-15 minutes driving.

- Johnston, IA, USA

Car has problem when driving in econo mode. Will hesitate when given gas in morning and at times when pulling out in traffic. Note never informed about the problem before leasing of car. Told by service department that is the way it was designed. May cause problems for other drivers or accidents. Note by mileage was never test driven after so called fix.

- Depew, NY, USA