2017 Kia Sorento: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Oct 11, 2026 · Engine · SC

Check engine light flashing going into limp mode

Filed Jul 31, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · IN

2017 Kia Sorento 2.4L GDI engine seized due to connecting rod bearing failure confirmed by P1326 diagnostic code multiple times. Vehicle entered limp mode limiting RPMs to 1800-2000 exactly as described in PI1802 campaign. Engine subsequently fully seized. Battery tested 98% healthy ruling out electrical cause. Vehicle towed to [XXX] Kia Avon Indiana. Kia Techline and Consumer Affairs denied PI1802 lifetime warranty claim citing used vehicle reconditioning despite PI1802 explicitly stating coverage applies to both new AND used vehicle owners per official Kia corporate document dated XXX. Consumer Affairs appeal case XXX opened but Kia states no further appeals possible. Kia is wrongfully denying lifetime warranty coverage guaranteed under PI1802 Product Improvement Campaign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · MD

The car gets stuck and will not shift out of park. I've had to use the manual override. And when the ambulance came to my house, I could not move my car out of the way fast enough and this delayed emergency response team. I thought it was a one time fluke, but it started happening again this week (4/1/26) Every time I use the car. This cannot be safe.

Filed Dec 7, 2025 · Transmission · NC

Car is losing power, won't go into gear, slipping

Filed Mar 24, 2025 · Transmission · 94,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The contact stated that once the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter remained stuck in park(P). The contact manually depressed the button under the gear shifter to move the gear shifter. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after the first failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown part in the gear shifter had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

Filed Mar 8, 2025 · Engine · NC

Car went into limp mode and check engine light began blinking. We do not have a Kia dealer in our town so we had it towed to local mechanic. He did not save the code but said it indicated one of two options: change the oil or replace engine. He changed the oil and cleared the code. The car had been using oil for some time so we called Kia to report it. We were told to let it run out of oil until it goes into limp mode again and then tow it to the dealer. We can’t do that! We live on a mountain. If the engine locked up, we could die. So, we add a quart to a quart and a half every couple of weeks. The car smells hot so we know the engine is bad. It is one of the GDI engines. There was a class action suit for this problem in CA. We believe Kia should be held responsible for the Over Consumption of Oil issue before more accidents occur. Our case number with Kia is [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 25, 2024 · Engine · TN

The car was making a noise but no check engine wasn’t on I stop at a stop sign and the check engine light came on and car went into limp mode and couldn’t go over 2000 rpms it’s not showing this recall on this vehicle but it’s on some of the serentos and it’s the knock sensor or bearing in the bottom of motor I have 3 kids and now no vehicle I would deeply appreciate a recall on this vehicle vin number to get this fixed quickly this is kinda urgent if you can reply quickly that would be so appreciated it has 169000 miles on it it’s a 2017 model vin number is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 23, 2024 · OH

This has happened 3 times, out of no where my car goes into "limp Mode" and this last time I was pulling out and it wouldn't go and my kids were in the car. This is uncalled for and this needs to be addressed.

Filed Sep 18, 2022 · Transmission · CT

While on a road trip down south, at my first gas stop, the vehicle's gear shift was stuck in park and refused to move. After removing the small cap cover marked Shift Lock Release, I manually inserted a screwdriver into the hole and was able to release the shifter. This has been the only way to release the gear shifter from Saturday, 09/10/2022 until present time. I have an appointment for service with Premier Kia dealership in Branford CT.

Filed Jan 19, 2022 · MA

Driving on the highway at 65mph uphill, engine started making horrible noise and started to fail. Pulled over on shoulder and had to have it towed. Kia is denying warranty because I cannot provide service records. Whether or not they will right this wrong it is a major safety issue when you have complete engine failure with no warning. The engine in my vehicle (3.3 v6 Lambda)completely failed without tripping any warning devices that are equipped on the vehicle. There is a Defect that causes the engine to burn too much oil and there is a defect where the vehicle fails to warn of potential safety issues. There was total engine failure with no warnings. No Service Message No Check Engine Light No Low Oil Pressure Light No Knock Sensor Code No Limp Mode activation. In the service technician's report it even says "no codes set in the ecm" This could have caused a fatal accident and I don't see how this is acceptable.

Filed Jun 23, 2021 · Engine · 8,664 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 65 mph when the vehicle began to decelerate independently until reaching 20 mph and went into limp mode. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle failed to go over 20 mph. The contact was able to continue driving to her residence. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the O2 sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continues experiencing failure a total of 5 times. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,664.

Filed Jun 1, 2021 · Electrical, Transmission · CA

When pressing on the brake pedal, the transmission will not shift out of park. The only way to shift out of park is to depress the transmission shift override. A new brake light switch did not correct the issue. To date, the vehicle has not been repaired, inspected by dealer, manufacturer, police or insurance representative. No warning lamps, message or other symptoms of the problem occurred prior to the failure.