2022 Kia Sorento: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Acceleration, Transmission · CO

2022 Kia Sorento, VIN [XXX], subject to Recall 22V760 (Kia SC250, 8-speed DCT electric oil pump). The recall was performed with a software update only; the transmission and original pump were not replaced. On XXX at 116,273 miles, while driving, the dash displayed “Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately” and the vehicle entered limp mode. My scan tool read P193B79 (high-pressure electric oil pump performance) and P0868 (transmission fluid pressure low). The message cleared on its own. I later cleared the codes with my scan tool; P0868 returned and P193B79 has not as of XXX. No fluid leaks. Transmission gear oil was serviced at a Kia dealer about 13,900 miles earlier. Kia’s recall report says this pump defect can cause complete loss of motive power. I believe the software-only remedy left the defective pump in the vehicle and may be inadequate. I am limiting use of the vehicle. Kia America case #XXX. A dealer has not yet diagnosed the vehicle. That is the next step. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 8, 2026 · Transmission · CA

Car goes into "limp mode" and functions on only partial power. Warning light reads "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately." Dealership says car shows no codes. My 2022 Kia Sorento SX had a recall because this problem is known. Kia recalled all the 2021 and 22's and fixed the programming to allow for limp mode. This "fix" Kia dealership kept the car and drove it but could not replicate. I took the car back and it happened again. It has happened on July 24th, August 26, September 3, October 7. In between, I've paid for an $800 transmission service and Kia has replaced the "clutch pack for the transmission" (whatever that is). The Car Pros Kia service writers all said that I needed to bring the car back while the warning was on. So when it happened yesterday, 10/7/26, I "limped" it 15 miles with my 4 way flashers on and carefully did NOT turn the car off so that someone could observe the warning. The service writers would not even come out and look at it - AFTER ALL THOSE PREVIOUS DEMANDS THAT I BRING IT IN WITH THE WARNING ON. They just had a flunky drive it to the garage to look at tomorrow. I had a foster child in the car (I am a court appointed special advocate to foster children) on two of these occasions. Since they replaced the clutch pack, my MPG have dropped about 20 - 25%. This is a known problem - Kia campaign SC250. I have tried to only tell you the relevant essentials. If you need more information, please call, text or email.

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Transmission · IN

The transmission and related drivetrain components malfunctioned. While driving, the vehicle’s RPMs would surge into the 5,000–6,000 range without corresponding acceleration, and the vehicle would not shift properly into the next gear. The issue caused poor acceleration and inconsistent performance. The dealership later replaced the transmission and updated the ECM after identifying a fault code. My family’s safety and the safety of others were put at risk due to the vehicle’s inability to properly accelerate. The engine would rev excessively without increasing speed, making it difficult to merge, cross traffic, or respond to driving conditions. This created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not reliably keep up with traffic flow. The issue was initially reported to the dealership, but they were unable to duplicate the concern at that time and noted no active or stored diagnostic codes. However, the problem persisted after the vehicle was returned. During a subsequent visit, a check engine light was present, and the dealership identified a fault code and ultimately replaced the transmission and updated the ECM, confirming a drivetrain-related failure. Initially, there were no warning lights when the issue first occurred. At a later point, the check engine light began intermittently turning on and off when the problem occurred. The primary symptoms were sudden RPM surges, failure to shift properly, and lack of acceleration during normal driving.

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · IL

2022 Kia Sorento. Dec 2024(previous owner incident) to new owner purchase May 2025- April 2026 vehicle keeps displaying all lights and warnings, loses acceleration & loss of throttle power while driving. High voltage code P0653 code displays. RPM’s will go up and down while vehicle is in park. Have had an active case open with Kia America Escalated case specialist since Nov 2025. Vehicle has been taken to two different Kia dealerships and has had this incident 7 times since May 2025 used purchase. A few different parts have been changed while working with a Kia America tech over a computer, yet it doesn’t fix the problem. It was reported in 2024 by the previous owner and the dealership could not find the source. It was never disclosed from the dealership prior to reselling. My problems started 3 weeks after owning the car. Less than 200 miles. I got in contact with previous owner, the vehicle kept going into limp mode while driving & the code would clear before she could get it to the shop & they couldn’t resolve it, so she traded it back in. 1st Incident: Dec 2, 2024 (previous owner) 2nd: June 6, 2025 3rd: July 19, 2025 4th: August 14, 205 5th: September 19,2025 Contacted Kia after and finally assigned a case officer Nov 10, 2025. Taken to shop Nov 11, 2025. 6th: Feb 22, 2026 7th: April 4, 2026 - going 75Mph on a highway and having to cross 4 lanes of traffic with no throttle power.

Filed Mar 20, 2026 · AR

When I turned my car on and started to drive, an orange a popped up and started blinking. It looked like the automatic stop and start light. My car would not shift and I could not go above 60 mph. I had to turn my car off and turn it back on for it to stop doing what it was doing.

Filed Dec 15, 2025 · Acceleration, Fuel system · AZ

While driving from Phoenix to Tucson in midday traffic, the vehicle displayed a "Check Transmission" error message. Immediately following this warning, the vehicle experienced a significant loss of motive power while navigating a busy intersection. The car would not shift gears appropriately to maintain speed or move out of the path of traffic, which created an immediate risk of a collision. I was able to avoid an accident, but the vehicle's inability to accelerate or change gears left me stranded in a hazardous location. Component Failed: Transmission/Transmission Control Module. Safety Risk: The sudden loss of power in an intersection put me and other drivers at risk of a high-speed side-impact or rear-end collision. Warning Symptoms: The "Check Transmission" message appeared moments before the failure. Inspection Status: We have had the recall taken care of on January 25 , 2023 with 8810 miles at Peoria KIA initially. The incident happened on December 6, 2025 and the vehicle was taken to Royal KIA on December 6, 2025 for inspection.".

Filed Oct 24, 2025 · Engine · AZ

2022 Kia Sorento X-line SX Premier model (89435 miles) 2.5 l Turbo GDI is going into limp mode when trying to accelerate. The (A) Auto Stop indicator illuminates. Pulled car over, placed in park, turned off, restarted after waiting about a minute, no warning lights, car drives and acceleration is normal. About one year ago, car experienced the same problem, took to dealer for diagnostic troubleshooting, the battery was suspected and replaced, issue persisted, the codes indicated either low pressure or high pressure fuel pumps, the low pressure pump was replaced, after further drive testing by the dealer issue was still present, the high pressure pump was replaced and the issue was resolved. Fuel pumps were replaced under warranty. Kia dealer said that Kia engineering believes the issue is possibly heat related, I live in Phoenix, Az. Summertime temperatures exceed 100 degrees in summer some days exceeding 110 to120 degrees. A month ago September 2025, the car experienced limp mode again this time with check engine light, problem was identified with faulty low pressure fuel pumps gasket which was replaced. The limp mode has been experienced again 5 times in last month, twice today. Ambient Temperature in 80s. This is a significant problem that could lead to a possible accident if the car fails to accelerate properly. My wife is afraid to drive the car until the failure mechanism is identified and is properly repaired.

Filed Aug 18, 2025 · Fuel system · FL

I saw the KIA Sorento safety recall #24V‑220 for the defective high pressure fuel pump. When I look up my VIN on your site, it doesn't show this affecting my vehicle. Although my vehicle does this exact same thing. It will randomly go into limp mode and not accelerate when pulling into traffic. I took it to the Kia dealer and they said it is the Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor and would be $1266 to replace. I believe this is an Increased Crash Risk due to the loss on acceleration when the vehicle converts to limp mode and should be added to the recall you issued under #24V‑220.

Filed Sep 23, 2024 · Transmission · TX

While parked on a residential street. I started car and put it in reverse. Car would not reverse when I applied gas. I shifted to drive. Car would not go forward when I applied gas. Repeated attempt to reverse. No movement. Shifted into drive and after applying more pedal , almost to floor, car lurched forward. In just about 30 minutes later car again would not move when reversing. It did go forward in drive the second time. The kia dealership has been dealing with a complaint regarding the car going into limp mode while merging in traffic ...an on going problem since the car was at 25,000 miles. They have "reset" the transmission according to a recall notice but say they can not replace transmission without a "code" that verifies it is the transmission. This is a new issue but also unable to pull any codes. There is a definite safety concern with driving this car. What can I do.

Filed Jul 9, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · OH

10/19/2022 – Vehicle stuck in drive and would not shift out of drive. Vehicle towed to the dealer and not touched for a day and a half. Dealer found walnut lodged in shifter column which was preventing the shifter from going into park. Dealer also performed software update on vehicle. 10/21/2022 – Picked up vehicle and it was shifting very hard through every gear, returned to the dealer for further repairs. 10/26/2022 – Picked up vehicle again and performance improved but it still shifted hard and lurched when coming to a stop and when going in reverse. Dealer stated that they had retrained the transmission and performed another software update related to the transmission. I told them that I was driving out of town tomorrow morning for 10 days and that this was the only vehicle I could take and asked if they could provide a rental. Dealer stated that the current issues would not cause any long-term damage and that I could bring it back when I got back in town and that they would take care of it then. 11/17/2022 – Returned vehicle to dealer to correct the previous issues, they said that they did another software update and that it is shifting properly. Performance has improved but the vehicle would still lurch when going into reverse and occasionally when coming to a stop. 12/22/2022 – Returned vehicle for scheduled maintenance and safety recall for the transmission. Another software update was performed and transmission has been working without issue so far. 4/18/2024 - When driving while accelerating we experience a significant loss of power and it will not accelerate as normal. I can have the pedal nearly to the floor and it will barely move. When this occurs you can see the @ symbol flashing on the dash but no other warning lights or indicators. This is the 6th time this happened since February of this year and it has happened 3 times while on the on ramp to the freeway. This has continues to occur at least 3 times a week every week.

Filed Aug 25, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

In early June, my car went into limp mode. The two lines with a car between on the dash were blinking red. I notified Kia, both Roseville and Folsom, but they seemed unconcerned since it seemingly corrected itself after restarting car and driving it. Since then, the car has had the Ebrake engage while driving at least 6-7 times. After the 5th or 6th time, I reported to Kia and after much back and forth they agreed it was a safety problem since it would cause my car to brake slowing it suddenly to about 1/2 of my traveling speed. The week of August 7th, they had it a week and said they couldn’t replicate the issue. They did do something pertaining to TSB SC252. I got it back on Aug 11th and on the 17th, it did it again when I was traveling about 35 mph causing my car to pull right. It is back in the shop again. On Aug 4th, it engaged, causing me to swerve into the lane to my right. I was in rush hour traffic. On July 28th, I was on the Hwy 50 traveling approx 70-75mph, when it happened causing me to suddenly slow to 35 MPH. It happened 3-4 times previously as well. The emergency brake lights up red and blinks a few times before it disengages. Kia refuses to acknowledge there’s an issue, but they’ve asked me to turn off driver assist and other safety features. It is random and I googled if anyone else had ever had the issue. I found on Kia Forum of someone that had a 2021 model that did the same thing. Kia customer care rep said it wasn’t a real Kia site and the person was probably lying. The contact stated the dealer believe it’s the forward collision sensor that is malfunctioning.

Filed Nov 23, 2022 · Transmission · CA

This has happened to this car 2 times already. First when the vehicle only had 12k miles, an MIL showed up. Took it to the dealer and they said they could not find any DTC codes in there. When they gave it back to me the MIL light was off... Surprisingly. 2nd time, 16k miles, the transmission gear was slipping some of the gears and we have never taken this vehicle to off road. The MIL light came back on and also a message saying "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately". After this message came to the dashboard , the transmission started to fail and like going into limp mode - could not drive this vehicle over 20mph. Fortunately , this issue happened during the day so I took my kia 2022 Sorento AWD to the dealer. Now my vehicle is there for 4 days now and they dont know what is really going on with it. They are now talking with the headquarters Engineers to see if they can figure this out but so far nothing yet. The dealer still have my vehicle trying to figure this out.