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All cars · Kia Sorento · Transmission

Kia Sorento transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2021 (111 complaints), 2011 (204 complaints), 2016 (66 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2018, 2024, 2014.

Kia Sorento
Photo shows a Kia Sorento. Dinkun Chen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

2003918.3 per 100K sold20041834 per 100K sold20051939.9 per 100K sold20061325.7 per 100K sold20071849.6 per 100K sold20081137 per 100K sold2009832.7 per 100K sold201120485.3 per 100K sold20122823.4 per 100K sold20133028.4 per 100K sold20141312.7 per 100K sold20151613.8 per 100K sold20166657.5 per 100K sold20171515 per 100K sold201821.9 per 100K sold20192526.1 per 100K sold20201114.7 per 100K sold2021111135.7 per 100K sold20224349.8 per 100K sold20231719.2 per 100K sold202466.3 per 100K sold20251616.9 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Hard or jerky shifting20%
Lost power while driving17%
Delay or hesitation10%
Transmission replaced9%
Stuck in gear or limp mode8%
Rolled away or park trouble8%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2022 2022

    The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

  • 2014 2013

    Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.

  • 2013 2015

    In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes b…

  • 2011 2011

    KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 22, 2010.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Transmission is stuck in 4th gear while driving I can go in reverse and forward but when I go forward it is stuck in 4th.

2011 Kia Sorento owner · NHTSA complaint

Car jolts/shudders/ slightly jerk when pressing on the gas pedal for more power. Car suddenly jerks forward when going from 60 to 65 mph.

2011 Kia Sorento owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Kia Sorento years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Kia Sorento years are 2021, 2011, 2016.

What are common Kia Sorento transmission problems?

Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving, delay or hesitation.

Which Kia Sorento years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Kia Sorento years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2018, 2024, 2014.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Kia Sorento reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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