8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
5,550 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission (2 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Kia dealer.

problem #3

Dec 272022

Sorento SX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

At around 12,000 miles the SUV wouldn't accelerate while driving 20mph tom 40mph, and I had the reserve power to find a safe place to pull off to, and restart the SUV. Also, it wouldn't get out of 1st gear off the line. I brought it to the dealership, and they did a software update and said it was fixed. A week later, the same issue happened, so it wasn't fixed. I brought it back, and they did a brand new software update and said it was fixed.

The next day, it happened 3 times on the way home from work, so it obviously wasn't fixed again. The dealership picked up the SUV the next day. After having it for 3 days, they said they needed to request from Kia corporate that a new transmission be installed. It took a week to get approval, and about 3 weeks to get the transmission because it was on back order. They had the SUV for about 5 weeks. I got it back on 2/1. As soon as I got home and put it in park, I noticed the SUV wouldn't go into gear properly and you had to slam the shift knob into park to get it to stay. Something they should have definitely picked up on before returning the vehicle to me. They had to realize it wasn't safe. If you didn't slam it into park, it would slide out of gear, and the SUV wouldn't turn off properly, and have the potential to roll if parked on any type of incline.

I brought it back to a different dealership this time, hoping to avoid the incompetence of the first dealership. They had the SUV for 3 days before they could give me a diagnosis. They finally gave me a diagnosis on 2/17 and said the NEW transmission was failing either due to installation or manufacturing. I am guessing it was the installation. Now, they need to install ANOTHER new transmission, and I have to go through the approval process again, wait for the new transmission to come in, and get installed, and be without the SUV for another 5 weeks or so.

It is amazing to me that a brand new SUV with 13,000 miles will be going on it's 3rd transmission in 2 months. This is the 4th Kia I have gotten in a row, and never had a problem with any of the vehicles I have leased until now. But, because Kia is showing they really don't care, and they are not replacing the vehicle at this point, I would NEVER get another Kia again at this point. The right thing to do after installing a faulty transmission would be to buy back the lease, and put me in a new one that isn't a lemon. Instead, I have to go months without a new car while paying for it, and getting little to no communication from Kia. I really liked the way the SUV looked and drove the first 12,000, but at this point I would advise people to stay far away from the 22' Sorento.

- Adam B., Long Beach, US

problem #2

Aug 042022

Sorento ES 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,012 miles

2022 Kia Sorento is 5 months old, with 2017 miles locally driven, and this is the third time the transmission has failed me while driving. The first two times the car slipped out of drive and I was able to drive on the shoulder of the highway. The red engine light was on and the Kia would not go forward or reverse. The third time the car locked up on the highway, and the Engine revved up to 5800 rpm and I shut it off and call AAA towing - and now it sits at the dealership. I gave the mechanic the Computer code that was sent to my wife's phone which is P1C2D03 POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH TRANS MISSION CONTROL SYSTEM.

I inquired about the situation and found bout that another Kia Sorento is at the Dealership from a week prior still waiting on Kia Engineers to figure out the transmission problem on that car, with the exact same problem as my Kia. When it came time for a rental car, my wife went to the dealership 2 days later and demanded a car, which we finally received an old 2017 with 75,000 miles on it.

Here I sit with an old car while Kia tries to figure out the problem with the new transmissions they put in the redesigned 2022 Kia Sorentos. Hey, the Dealership did offer a upgrade trade-in to the Telluride for $23,000 more - they could extend my payment by only $57.00 more a month over 72 months instead of the 53 months of payments that are now left. Hey, what - $894.00 a month over 72 months and have a new Kia and be worry free of the Sorento.

One more thing I would like to address is the Kia onstar for emergency is worthless unless you're in India... Don't rely on it for any help.

- grigus, Fountain Valley California, US

problem #1

Feb 212022

Sorento EX 2.5L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,561 miles

Transmission failed at 1561 miles. It would accelerate to 3000rpm, do the 1-2 shift then bang back to 1st gear. Car was taken on flat bed to the dealer. Transmission is on backorder with unknown timing. With a low mileage failure in current model year you would think the manufacturer would get the trans out quickly to figure out why it failed. They don't seem to be in a hurry, so it makes me think they know the problem.

- Ron S., Milford, MI, US