The gear was stuck in park and I can’t move it to other gears like drive, reverse. I contacted Jones Kia in Belair and was informed this is a normal wear and tear that costs over $1000.00 and the extended warranty won’t cover this repair. I purchased this SUV in 2023, which this year I needed a catalytic converter due to oil consumptions and now the SUV won’t come out of park. Waiting to be seen next week for final cost of repair.
Kia Sorento won't shift problems
199 of the 10,244 owner complaints about the Kia Sorento describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 199
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical repair cost reported
- $800
- typical mileage
- 41,569
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 51Knocking 30Engine failure 24Loss of power 23Stalling 15Jerking 13Oil consumption 9Adaptive cruise 7
Trouble codes mentioned
P1326 8P2106 2P2A03 1P2A00 1P2138 1P2135 1P2127 1P2110 1P1336 1P0868 1
What owners say
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)
My car's check engine just started flashing and the ECU has reduced my drivability to limp mode stating that my knock sensors are showing up on scan test and camshaft position exhaust sensor. When I removed the camshaft exhaust vvt sensor it indeed had metal shavings on it. A have a P1326 and a p0014 code which is basically telling me that my engine is having issue within the internal engine and oil consumption.
Check engine light flashing going into limp mode
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.
When traveling up an incline or when gassing the car to accelerate quickly my car registers a spike in heat causing my car to go into limp mode creating a dangerous situation where I can not accelerate at the cars normal rate. When I lift off the gas the temperature normalizes and the car goes back to normal. I have taken the car to two Kia dealerships and they both charged for an assessment and gaslighted me saying they don’t see the issue even tho there are reports all over the internet with the same issue. I also presented a video showing the problem. Two years ago around 35000 miles I had the same issue and the dealership replaced the itm module which corrected the problem. The problem returned at 82000 miles and now they are saying my car is fine which it is not.
I was driving to work on the interstate and my car went into limp mode almost causing me to get hit at those speeds. I sent it to my mechanic but was told about the theta2 lawsuit so I had it towed to Kia. Was charged $300 and it wasn’t even diagnosed or looked at due to missing oil change receipts. I have since contacted bbb and Kia headquarters to just be told it’s not covered due to missing receipts of oil changes. Even though it’s a known issue with the gdi engine. Was faulty due to metal left in the drive train after assembly. I have a car that I still owe $4,000 for still making payments and I can’t use the car. I just want it fixed?
Car will lose power sporadically ,go into limp mode . Need to shut off ignition,restart and then fine till next time!
The transmission pump on my transmission just went out randomly last week. The power in my car went into limp mode and the car won't drive properly now. The car was being driven at the time this happened, and my husband had to pull over, as the car wouldn't work. I had this looked at by an auto body shop and they diagnosed it with this, which is to be found that there is a recall on my specific year and model of car for this issue as well. For about a month prior, we had noticed a few "stutters" when driving the car. After I hit 100k miles on the car, it was doing it almost daily.
On August 15, 2026, while operating my 2021 Kia Sorento, the transmission warning light came on and the vehicle displayed the following warning on the infotainment screen: “A possible condition with your Transmission Control System has been detected. Please press the SOS button on the rear view mirror or roof console for Roadside Assistance.” At the time of the malfunction, my vehicle would not properly switch gears. The transmission appeared to become stuck and would not shift as expected. This created a serious safety concern because I could not rely on the vehicle to change gears or respond normally while driving. The component/system that appears to have malfunctioned is the transmission and/or Transmission Control System/Transmission Control Module (TCM). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem first occurred on August 15, 2026. Prior to this occurrence, I had not received this specific transmission control system warning. When the problem occurred, the transmission warning light illuminated and the vehicle displayed the transmission control system diagnostic message described above. As of the filing of this complaint, the vehicle has not yet been inspected or diagnosed by a Kia dealership or independent repair facility. I have photographs documenting the warning message that appeared on the vehicle's display. I am concerned about the safety of continuing to operate this vehicle because an unexpected inability of the transmission to shift gears could cause a loss of acceleration, an inability to maintain appropriate speed, or an inability to safely maneuver the vehicle in traffic. I am also requesting that the federal safety agency review whether this failure is related to any existing recalls, investigations, technical service campaigns, or known transmission/Transmission Control Module issues affecting the 2021 Kia Sorento, including vehicles equipped with the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. 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.
- Risk
- Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.
Recall number 22V760000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016 Sedona and Sorento vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.
- Risk
- A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.
Recall number 22V612000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. 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 being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
- Risk
- Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.
Recall number 15V626000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- Kia Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2014 front wheel drive Sorento vehicles manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.
- Risk
- A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542 . Kia's recall number is SC099.
Recall number 13V356000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- 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. The intermediate shaft may suffer from noise and excessive wear due to a misalignment of the intermediate shaft with the right side output gear. Continuing to drive the vehicle in this condition leads to the development of a whirring/whining noise and can eventually cause damage to the automatic transmission.
- Risk
- Damage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the right side output gear and intermediate shaft free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during may 2011. Owners may contact kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542.
Recall number 11V258000 · Recall details
Questions about the Kia Sorento won't shift
Which Kia Sorento years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (43 complaints), 2016 (43 complaints) and 2017 (19 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix stuck in gear or won't shift on the Kia Sorento?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $800 (median of 13 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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