Kia Sorento hesitation problems

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

UNKNOWN. Car all of a sudden wouldn’t accelerate while driving on the road. It was hesitating while pressing the gas pedal.

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine · VA

On or about XXX, my KIA Sorento LX FWD Auto 2.4-liter engine with an approximate mileage of 36,000, began having drivability problems, none of which occurred before that date. On XXX the vehicle was serviced at Ourisman Chantilly Kia (VA051) for a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign (SC340) THETA II 2.4L GDI ECM S/W Upgrade. Records reflect that it was a Theta II Emissions Logic Improvement 250A21R1 0.3 M/H. This was a voluntary campaign from Kia America, Inc., [XXX]. Failure to have this performed, as cited from the Kia Corporate Headquarters, could nullify warranty/warranties. What ensued was a vehicle that stalled, seized, hesitated, and/or jolted at low speeds that had the potential to cause severe injury or accident. Uncontrolled rough accelerating and seizing is a serious complaint, and the causation can be linked to the dealership performing the voluntary recall where the vehicle was purchased on March 15, 2015, in [XXX]. Further, this vehicle has a full and complete record of all repairs and symptoms, which includes, and is not limited to, maintenance, Service Campaign, Service Action, Recall, and Product Improvement. This vehicle, included in a class of vehicles with a history of potential engine failures, has a Lifetime Engine Warranty extension coverage included in PI1802 Y/Z Engine R&R Warranty Bulletin 2020-26 and PI1802W/X Warranty Bulletin 2018-10. Therefore, when the records were reviewed for the initial Voluntary Emission Service Campaign recall code SC234 completed in 2022, along with my former the federal safety agency Complaint Number XXX submitted electronically, an apparent history of obfuscation relating to material safety concerns emerges. KIA America, Inc. sold this Kia as a five-star safety rated vehicle. It now makes me feel uneasy with its defective drivability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 25, 2026 · Transmission · FL

Vehicle: 2021 Kia SorentoCurrent Mileage: Over 100,000 miles (Original Owner) Description of Safety Defect & Failed Recall Remedy: Background: This vehicle is equipped with the 8-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) and has suffered from severe slipping, jerking, and hesitation since delivery (at 5 miles). In 2023, the vehicle received the software update remedy under Kia Safety Recall SC250 (the federal safety agency Campaign 22V760) for the defective electric oil pump circuit board. The Failure: The 2023 software patch failed to resolve the underlying physical safety defect. An independent technician recently diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed a permanent, un-clearable fault code for a completely failed electric transmission oil pump—the exact physical component failure targeted by safety recall SC250. This defect causes an immediate risk of a sudden loss of motive power. The Dealership Violation: The vehicle was dropped off at Greenway Kia West Orlando on Monday, August 17, 2026. The dealership held the car for over a week, logging it under a separate fuel pump recall to stall. On August 25, 2026, the dealership formally denied safety recall coverage and issued a $7,000 out-of-pocket quote to replace the transmission, claiming the vehicle is no longer covered because it is past the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Federal Mandate Violation: Under federal law, safety recalls do not have mileage caps. The manufacturer's remedy failed to permanently correct a documented safety hazard, and the dealership is actively attempting to shift a multi-thousand-dollar safety recall replacement cost onto the consumer.

Filed Aug 25, 2026 · Transmission · PA

The transmission failed for the fourth time. The transmission (Power Train) is the component that failed and is available for inspection at the dealership. The vehicle became unsafe and unreliable to drive due to the repeated transmission failures, creating a risk of sudden loss of power or control. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer on multiple occasions, most recently on August 24, 2026. The vehicle has also been inspected by Kia America as part of an open case (Case #25964896). History: The 1st transmission failure was covered under the original factory warranty. The 2nd failure occurred after the 12,000-mile transmission replacement warranty had expired, requiring an out-of-pocket repair of $5,500. The 3rd failure occurred within 12,000 miles of that replacement and was covered by Kia. On August 24, 2026, the dealer confirmed the transmission had failed again — a 4th failure of the same component. Warning symptoms typically appeared as loss of power, hesitation, or rough shifting prior to each failure.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

previous warranty repair for a failed fuel injector (RO #1103175) resulted in severe gasoline dilution of the engine oil. the vehicle now vents raw fuel vapors into the cabin (Fire Hazard) and hesitates/jerks when braking at stoplights (Stall/Crash Hazard). Kia Corporate has refused to communicate for over two weeks while the dealer holds the car.

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · NY

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Sorento, which has suffered a transmission failure. The transmission slips, shifts harshly, hesitates during acceleration, loses power unexpectedly, and has become unsafe to drive. This defect has put my safety and the safety of others at risk. On several occasions the vehicle failed to respond properly when accelerating, including while entering highways and driving in traffic. The hesitation and sudden loss of power created fear and anxiety because I could not trust the vehicle to operate as expected. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a repair facility, and the symptoms are consistent with a transmission torque converter clutch failure. I also contacted Kia and provided the vehicle information. Kia informed me that they would not repair the vehicle because it has exceeded 100,000 miles and that the recall or warranty extension had expired. However, my vehicle is experiencing the same transmission-related symptoms reported by many other Kia owners.I never received any recall notification because I purchased the vehicle from a dealership as the second owner. Had I been properly notified, I would have taken the vehicle in for inspection much earlier or would never have purchased the dangerous vehicle in the first place. It is extremely frustrating and costly to be denied assistance solely because of mileage when the failure appears to be related to a known transmission defect.Before the failure, the check engine light illuminated and then went away even though the issue did not. Prior to that warning, the vehicle had already shown delayed shifting, slipping, hesitation, rough gear changes, and loss of power, which became progressively worse. I reported this to Kia on a previous service visit to Romeo Kia in Lake Katrine, NY and was told they did not find anything wrong. This situation has caused significant emotional stress and anxiety. I am requesting a full review and a fair resolution from kia. Thank

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · FL

I have a 2023 Kia Sorento with approx 60k, purchased new from New Pot Richey Kia. Approx 7 days ago, while driving home from dropping my son at school, my transmission system error warning came on as well as my check engine light. My RPM'S would increased without corresponding acceleration, which meant my transmission, was slipping. I was also experiencing jerking during shifting. In addition to that, my car would hesitate before moving. And I would also experience a slight vibrations at low speeds. All of this would make me feel unsafe when driving my car.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MA

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Sorento, which has suffered a serious transmission failure. The vehicle is displaying diagnostic code P0741, indicating a torque converter clutch malfunction. The transmission slips, shifts harshly, hesitates during acceleration, loses power unexpectedly, and has become unsafe to drive. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.This defect has put my safety and the safety of others at risk. On several occasions the vehicle failed to respond properly when accelerating, including while entering highways and driving in traffic. The hesitation and sudden loss of power created fear and anxiety because I could not trust the vehicle to move when needed to avoid a dangerous situation. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a repair facility, and the symptoms are consistent with a transmission torque converter clutch failure. I also contacted Kia and provided the vehicle information. Kia informed me that they would not repair the vehicle because it has exceeded 100,000 miles and that the recall or warranty extension had expired. However, my vehicle is experiencing the same transmission-related symptoms reported by many other Kia owners.I never received any recall notification because I purchased the vehicle from a dealership as the second owner. Had I been properly notified, I would have taken the vehicle in for inspection much earlier. It is extremely frustrating and financially devastating to be denied assistance solely because of mileage when the failure appears to be related to a known transmission defect.Before the failure, the check engine light illuminated and code P0741 appeared. Prior to that warning, the vehicle had already shown delayed shifting, slipping, hesitation, rough gear changes, and loss of power, which became progressively worse.This situation has caused significant emotional stress, anxiety, and financial hardship. I am requesting a full investigation and a fair resolution from kia.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Transmission · OH

The transmission is not shifting gears correctly. The engine revs loudly and hesitates for a few seconds before shifting. There were no warning lamps. The vehicle has not been inspected yet. This causes a dangerous situation when driving and accelerating in traffic.

Filed Jun 29, 2026 · Engine · 7,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2026 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light started flashing and the vehicle entered LIMP Mode. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended while driving to the residence. The contact stated that the following day, while driving 75 MPH with an 18-wheeler behind the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated, shuddered, and jerked. The check engine warning light was consistently illuminated, and the message "Engine Management System - Follow Up Check Required" was displayed. Additionally, the Mobile App displayed the message "Engine Issues" with DTC: P030100. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted while driving to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with cylinder injector failure. The dealer replaced the cylinder injector; however, the failure recurred while driving 30 minutes later. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted, and the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle failed to exceed 25-30 MPH and was taken to the dealer. The dealer had not yet provided the result of a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the latest diagnostic report submitted by the dealer on June 22, 2026, stated that the vehicle was diagnosed with a gasket failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.