Kia Sportage won't shift problems

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Engine · AR

My 2021 Kia Sportage is in Limp Mode at 2,000 RPM, and my mechanic confirmed it has the P1326 Knock Sensor code stored. Vin [XXX]. I need to see if my car can be added to the list of vehicles regarding the product improvement campaign PI2002A. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

While traveling at highway speeds on the freeway, the engine experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure, causing the vehicle to lose power and violently force itself into an emergency low-speed "limp mode." This created an immediate, severe collision hazard with surrounding high-speed traffic. The vehicle is a 2017 Kia Sportage with a 2.4L Theta II engine, which had previously received the mandated KSDS safety software flash. The authorized dealership (Southwest Kia) refused to honor the safety recall and lifetime warranty parameters for this engine failure, instead classifying the issue as a "burnt valve" to deny coverage and forcing an out-of-pocket retail customer charge of $6,864.49 for a full engine assembly replacement.

Filed Aug 13, 2026 · Engine · NJ

While driving on the expressway posted speed 65 was doing 70, left lane driving, suddenly my check engine light started flashing, my oil light came on and my vehicle started slowing down. Acceleration was not an option, causing hazardous conditions to have to put my hazards on and cross two lanes of heavy traffic. Vehicle went into limp mode. Vehicle was caught up on an oil change, and was regularly checked and filled with oil. Oil seemed to have been burning rapidly or just simply disappearing. The motor blew and i purchased this vehicle less than 6 months ago. I only put 4,000 miles on it. 2020 kia sportage s, dealership was lilliston ford. Took vehicle to kia dealership to get two safety campaigns fixed. They informed me i was only a couple hundred miles over my warranty and my repairs are not covered. I now have an inoperable vehicle that i have payments on, which now needs a new engine. No recalls matching my vin, only my make, model and year. All repairs were denied. Worst vehicle decision ive ever made…

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Engine · NC

My car went into limp mode on the high way due to a faulty knock sensor. my car decelerated rapidly, which could have put me and others around me at risk. I had to repair this problem on my own even though other cars similar to my make and model have had the same issue.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · OH

I was driving on the freeway, when all of a sudden my car felt like it was driving on its own. It began jerking, rapidly accelerating causing the rpm to go up on its own, and causing the engine to rev. It alternated between accelerating and braking. I pulled off to the side and had it towed to the dealership I lease it from. The dealership drove it and the same thing happened. They said it was stuck in 2nd gear, so they have to completely replace the transmission. There were absolutely no warning lights or messages prior to this occurrence. It happened during rush hour so there were a lot of cars out, and I felt as if I lost control of my car. I also had to pull off to the side of an off ramp as I was attempting to get off at an exit to go to work.

Filed Jun 27, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · AR

We were getting in our car to drive home from a restaurant. We attempted to start our car like any other day, and the car started. However, our car was stuck in gear, it was in parking but also not in parking. The car was not moving, the gear was in “park”, the dot light for park was not showing, and then we had several warnings appear on our dashboard. At first it was three, then it went to six (after turning off the car and restarting again)!! The car told us to put it in park, but we literally could not move the gear shift at all. We had: check speed limit system, check high beam assist, check driver attention warning, check blind spot safety system, check forward safety system, check rear cross-traffic safety system appear in 20 seconds of car being on. This car just hit ~15,500 miles on it. To add to the strangeness, we open the Kia Access App and tried “lock” and “unlock” (while being in the car”, then turn the car off. We started the car again and it worked as if this never happened (no immediate warnings like above). Yet we did recieve a check engine light and a vehicle diagnostic on the instrument (dashboard) saying “follow-up check required: 2 (Engine Management System and Transmission Control System.)” The car allowed itself to recognize it in park gear and drive off. The Kia Access app said we experienced a UOO01F0 code tied to the Engine Control System. We never seen anything like that before. We did, however, experience a problem with the driver seat powertrain at 11,000 miles where the seat wouldn’t move. The seat was fixed by the dealership though. We are going to take the car in to the dealership to see what they say.

Filed Jun 17, 2026 · Engine · 180,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While accelerating to overtake a vehicle driving under the speed limit, the vehicle started to stall. The check engine light was flashing, and the vehicle went into ECO mode. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and engine failure due to an oil leak. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Filed May 27, 2026 · Engine · MT

While I was driving in the interstate my car when in limp mode while I was trying to pass a semi. I had my children in the car and was stranded on the side of the road. No warning lights ever came on before hand. My mechanic said it was a problem with my engine and it’s common in Kia’s in but doe not include my year. It’s a costly repair for a car that’s not even 5 years old.

Filed Dec 14, 2025 · Engine · IL

My Kia engine was replaced under recall. The replacement engine triggered P1326 KSDS failure while I was traveling overseas, placing the vehicle in limp mode. Kia USA refuses to assist or authorize diagnosis, leaving me stranded. This is a repeat recall-related safety failure, even though there is a Kia Dealership near me.

Filed Dec 3, 2025 · Engine · DC

My 2018 Kia Sportage (2.4L Theta II GDI engine) suddenly triggered diagnostic trouble code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System – Detection of Excessive Connecting Rod Bearing Wear) and entered limp mode at 111,595 miles on Sep 13, 2025. The vehicle is now speed- and RPM-limited to protect the engine from catastrophic failure. This is the exact failure mode covered under the well-documented Hyundai/Kia Theta II engine defect that has led to thousands of engine seizures and, in some cases, vehicle fires. Kia implemented the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update (Campaign SC200) on this VIN, yet the system has now correctly detected excessive connecting rod bearing wear. Despite the vehicle falling squarely within the class vehicles listed in the 2020–2023 Hyundai/Kia engine litigation settlement (In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II), Kia’s settlement VIN-check website [XXX] ) incorrectly states this VIN “has not been matched with an eligible Class Vehicle.” I am concerned this may be used as a pretext to deny the lifetime short-block warranty repair that other identically-equipped 2018 Sportage owners have received at no cost. Continued driving risks sudden engine seizure or fire, which the federal safety agency has previously investigated under PE21-003 and related actions. I am forced to keep the vehicle parked until Kia honors the repair or provides clear justification for denial. I can no longer safely use the vehicle for normal transportation Requested action: I request that the federal safety agency investigate Kia’s inconsistent application of the Theta II lifetime warranty and settlement benefits, particularly when the KSDS system (installed by Kia) has triggered the exact warning it was designed to detect. This appears to be a continuing safety defect affecting 2011–2019 Kia vehicles equipped with the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)