2021 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Sorento and the repeated lack of resolution from the dealership where the vehicle was purchased and serviced. I have taken my vehicle to the dealership multiple times to address ongoing and serious safety concerns. Despite having active warranties on the transmission and powertrain, I have continually been told that there is nothing they can do, and my concerns have not been properly addressed. The vehicle is experiencing persistent issues, including: The transmission jerking and jarring when shifting gears The dashboard and center display screen intermittently go completely black while driving These issues do not occur constantly, but they happen frequently enough to pose a significant safety risk. I regularly have my grandchildren in the vehicle, and their safety, as well as my own, is my highest priority. Each time I have contacted the dealership to report these problems, I have been met with excuses and resistance to even scheduling an appointment. Due to the lack of cooperation, I felt I had no choice but to drop off my vehicle on April 13, 2026, without an appointment in order to have it addressed. I am extremely disappointed in the level of service and treatment I have received. As a loyal customer—this being my third vehicle purchased from the same dealership—I have never experienced this type of disregard. I also feel that I have not been treated fairly and, at times, have been dismissed in a way that is concerning and unacceptable. I am requesting the following: A full and thorough diagnostic of my vehicle, specifically addressing the transmission and electrical issues Proper repair under warranty Clear communication regarding findings and next steps Immediate attention to these safety concerns I purchased this vehicle with the expectation of reliability and safety. At this time, I do not feel safe driving it, and I am requesting that Kia take this matter seriously

The system that failed is the high-pressure fuel pump and the intake fuel pump. The fuel system pressure is too low, and the cold start fuel pressure is too high. This is defective because I purchased the car used in November 2023. The car is a safety risk as it stalled immediately yesterday while I was driving with my children and it began smelling like gas fumes from exhaust. The vehicle has been diagnosed by a certified mechanic at Mike and Nick's Tires and Services in Canyon Country, California No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the failure. The engine light came on as soon as the car began to stall and shake/lose power.

Our 2021 Kia SORENTO has been to Elmhurst kia service numerous times . The chief complaint is the Kia Sorrento keeps losing power while in drive reverse middle traffic even on the highway but yeah every time we take it in, they say either it’s the battery .you can’t use it in the Eco mode .turn off the shut off while in drive mode when at stops ! always a different excuse, but yet no recall and it’s not showing up on their computer, but yeah it’s happening and Kia does not want to take ownership. The vehicle has been left there for numerous weeks at a time leaving us without a vehicle no loaner . But because cannot duplicate issue release vehicle back with no repairs or maintenance. Kia prefer you taking the car getting into a car accident before they decide to do anything or even a lawsuit because not enough people having same issue with the 2021 kia SORENTO s model ! If you also have these issues please report them here so they can be forced to open a recall !!! Before someone gets seriously hurt my SORENTO has loss power on highway and in the middle of train tracks with my little ones in SORENTO and we drove the vehicle from day one original owners not a used SORENTO

The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of drive power and entered a 'fail-safe' mode with check engine light, warning chimes and service vehicle warning message. A diagnostic scan revealed fault codes P1C2D03 (High Pressure Electric Oil Pump Motor Position Sensor), P193B79 (High Pressure Electric Oil Pump Performance), and P086800 (Transmission Fluid Pressure Low). These three specific codes are cited in Kia Recall SC250 (NHTSA 22V760) and associated technical bulletins as evidence of an internal electric oil pump failure requiring full transmission replacement. The safety of occupants was compromised by the sudden loss of motive power on the interstate. I presented these codes to Value Kia 6915 Essington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19153 and dropped my car off on 4/7/2026. The dealer stated the safety recall was 'closed' and that the vehicle was 'out of warranty' due to its 95,000 miles and second-owner status. They would only agree to perform a diagnostic at my personal cost. The vehicle has been at the dealership for two days without an inspection report being provided to me. I have contacted Kia Corporate Consumer Assistance (Awaiting Response) and am filing this report because the vehicle is exhibiting the exact safety defect and 'triple-threat' fault codes of SC250 but is being denied a free safety remedy by the authorized dealer due to mileage and second ownership. As of 4/9/2026, the vehicle has been at the dealership for 2 days. Despite signing an authorization for a $190 diagnostic fee, the dealership has been completely silent and has not provided a status update or the diagnostic report. I am being left without transportation while the dealer fails to address a documented safety defect.

Car began going into limp mode not accelerating. Brought it in to be told it was the transmission which in my car some of them had recalls for the exact same things but mine was not included in this recall

On 3/26/2026, I was driving at 45mph when the vehicle started slowing down and the auto stop light on the dash was blinking yellow. Every time it blinked, the car slowed even more. I tried to speed up, but it slowed down more. This could have caused an accident. I pulled off on the side of the road and shut the car off. I waited a few minutes and started the car. It ran alright and the light did not blink. It has been alright so far. If it occurs again, I will call the dealer to have it checked out.

During my recent oil change, I was informed that the oil pan gasket appears to be leaking. I understand that this issue has been subject to prior investigations, and I am reporting it..

My check engine light came on and went to dealer ship jn Oct of 2025 they stated the Egr needed to be replaced and would cost 1300 to repair but inform me they didn't have the piece to replace at that time to reschedule app. Also reservoir coolant light keeps coming on . I called several times to Lumberton Kia at one time they stated that they didn't have but 1 mechanic that worked on hybrids and he was behind. I finally have a appointmentthis weekto see what is exactlygoing on with my suv cause now i have a hesitation when pressing the gas and my transmission jerks.

Referencing report [XXX] We are having issues getting the fuel filling door to open. We have unlocked the car, several times, but it will not open. We had to pry it open so we could fill the tank and have left it open since as to not have the issue again. Part number in question - 81560R5000 There are other recalls on the car that we need to get taken care of. Is this another one in addition? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The issue appears to involve the electric oil pump and related components. My 2021 Kia Sorento had a recall for the electric oil pump that was marked “completed” in January 2023; however, the dealership only performed a software update and did not replace any mechanical components because no fault code was present at that time. Beginning around October 2025, the vehicle started experiencing drivability issues including hesitation and bogging down when accelerating from a stop. A dealership representative later stated the electric oil pump and housing likely need replacement and that the transmission may also be affected. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This issue creates a safety risk because the vehicle frequently hesitates or bogs down when attempting to accelerate, especially when pulling into highway traffic. When pressing the accelerator, the vehicle sometimes struggles to engage and move forward, which increases the risk of a collision. I brought the vehicle to Kia of RBC and spoke with Service Advisor Justin Hawkins. At the time of inspection, the check engine light had turned off and I was told they could not diagnose or repair the issue unless the warning light was active. I was instructed to continue driving the vehicle until the light returns. During a later conversation, dealership staff indicated the electric oil pump and housing likely need replacement and that the transmission may also require replacement, but they could not confirm this without the warning light being present.

This has been occurring intermittently since my 2021 Kia Sorento reached approx. 15k miles and now has 26,600 miles. There are no lights or indicators on the dash letting me know anything is wrong. When the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or stopped in heavy traffic, the vehicle will start idling high and shaking and the engine will seize up. I am not able to steer, the brakes lock up, I cannot accelerate, all functionality is lost. The only thing I can do is put the vehicle in park (in heavy traffic) and shut the car off and wait a minute and turn it back on and it seems to reset itself. This is EXTREMELY dangerous for myself and my passengers (some of which are children) and can cause a serious accident. At no point should I ever need to be concerned with my vehicle seizing up in the middle of the road and having to park and restart my car. This has happened on several occasions already. I have taken my car to 2 separate Kia dealerships to address this problem I have been experiencing. The first dealership failed to attempt to duplicate the problem and instead informed me the firmware update the performed from a previous recall should remedy the problem. It did not. Then I recently took it to another Kia dealer in another state and explained the situation. I specifically asked them to take the vehicle for a test drive and they argued with me that my battery was low and needed to be replaced and it would not be covered under the warranty. I have been driving this vehicle for a while and it has been having this issue around 15k miles so I know it is not the battery. They totally disregarded the safely of myself and my family and only focused on making money for themselves. This is a serious safety issue with this vehicle and has continuously been swept under the rug by Kia. Even the customer service is rude and I have reported this to them and asked for an escalation to their consumer affairs dept and have received no response.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and occasionally jerked while accelerating with the accelerator pedal depressed. The message to "Pull Over and Shut off Vehicle" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,846.

The car has completely shutdown and nothing works while parked and has not started until the next day. This has happened 3 times in 5 months.

The contact owned a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side taillight became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the wiring harness for the passenger’s side taillight had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to the tow hitch recall repair. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired because it had an aftermarket tow hitch part. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,178.

My vehicle started to shift irregularly. From a stop, I would accelerate and before shifting to the next gear the vehicle would lose power, pause, and then shift to the next gear. Doing this until the vehicle reached the desired speed. At first, I could turn the vehicle off then on again and it would be fixed. Eventually, the check engine light came on and stopping and restarting no longer fixed the problem. If this would have occurred while I was pulling into busy traffic, expecting my vehicle to accelerate normally, an accident would have happened. The vehicle is now experiencing a loss of power even at highway speeds. Upon taking the vehicle to the dealership, I had to climb a hill and the vehicle speed dropped down to 30mph from the 75mph I was doing before making it to the top of the hill. There is currently a recall for this issue, NHTSA ID: 22V760000, and it matches everything in relation to my vehicle, however my VIN doesn't show as part of the recall. And the dealership is refusing to fix it under this recall. Please advise on what can be done. Thanks

The engine pump went in my vehicle (21 Kia Sorrento) and is giving a code of P193B79. There was a recall that the dealership said they completed in 2023 to fix this. When I asked the dealership what they did to fix this in 2023, they said they checked for the code and it didn't have the code. Since they closed the recall, because it didn't currently have the code, they marked it complete and won't fix the issue with the transmission now. This was the information I got from the dealership. Then they proceded to tell me that SC250 is for code P1C2D03 and my car is giving code P193B79. I explained when I search online the two issues are very closely related and the kmsister company of Hyundai includes both coves in their recall. I have loss of power, as stated in the recall. I explained to the dealership that when I pulled out of my road, I tried to cross and I pressed the gas. The car would not got above 15 mph and the rpms went very high. The dealership called it a "limp motor" when I described it to them. After calling Kia customer service they told me that the dealership makes the call if it is under warranty. I called the dealership back and they told me again that because it was marked completed in 2023, it can't be under that recall. I easked because I didn't have the code in 2023, what was done to prevent this issue from happening on my car. They explained again they closed the ticket in 2023, so it can't be under that recall. I am having the loss of power, explained in SC250 and the dealership told me it is the engine pump fail. They explained it is the same part but a different code. I explained again how those 2 codes are very similar issues and their sister company agrees. I also explained an article I found online for Kia, where those 2 codes are very related. The article explained if the dealership did not cover it, call Kia. If still not resolved, file a complaint with NHTSA. That brings me here. Thank you!

I am submitting a complaint regarding a 2021 Kia Sorento SX that experienced a premature and catastrophic transmission failure at approximately 76,000 miles. The vehicle developed loss of power, hesitation, and erratic shifting at low speeds (0–30 mph), creating a potentially dangerous condition when attempting to accelerate into traffic or cross intersections. A Kia dealership diagnosed the issue as TCM code P193B79 and determined that the failure involved an internal high-pressure oil pump within the transmission, requiring full transmission replacement. This failure occurred despite proper maintenance and completion of Kia’s SC250 software update, which appears to address transmission-related drivability concerns. My maintenance records confirm compliance with manufacturer recommendations. The symptoms and failure mode closely align with the type of transmission issues addressed in Kia service campaigns and recalls (including SCN-520), yet Kia has refused to provide coverage or reimbursement, stating that my specific diagnostic code does not exactly match the recall criteria. As a result, I was forced to pay approximately $5,300 out of pocket for a full transmission replacement on a vehicle with relatively low mileage. This raises serious concerns that: * The underlying transmission issue may extend beyond the narrow criteria defined in the recall * Software updates may not fully address an underlying mechanical defect * Consumers may be experiencing similar failures without coverage Additionally, the loss of power and hesitation at low speeds presents a clear safety risk, particularly in normal driving conditions. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether transmission failures in the 2021 Kia Sorento are broader than currently recognized and whether affected consumers should receive expanded coverage or reimbursement.

I was driving my car on [XXX] and my car suddenly lost power and when I pressed the gas pedal the RPM quickly increased but the car was hesitating between gears and not engaging. Shortly thereafter a malfunction code showed up on my car screen along with an engine warning indicator. The code was DCT P193B79. That code indicates a High Pressure Electric Oil Pump Performance issue pointing to problems with the 8WDCT; the same issue and symptoms associated with the recall bulletin for the 2021 Kia Sorento Transmission. When I brought it to Ken Gariff Kia in Phoenix Arizona they stated there is no such recall for my vehicle with this problem and that since I have 76000 miles on the car it is not covered. I feel that this repair falls squarely within the scope of the recall for the Kia transmission and would like it replaced at the manufacturers expense. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the vehicle rolled backwards and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The ignition key was cycled several times before the vehicle restarted. The failure was intermittent, with the check engine light illuminating intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,500.

While driving on an interstate highway, our sunroof exploded with a loud boom and glass fragments fell into the passenger compartment. 2021 Kia Sorento SUV with only 65,000 miles on it.

The collision alert system is out of wack. The system is at a glitch era where as no cause prompts the alert. I am now responsible to disable all systems prior to each drive to avoid unnecessary automatic braking. The following are of concern: Automatic Emergency Braking Blind Spot Warning Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance Parking Collision Warning Rear Cross Traffic Warning

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (Electrical System, Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was called but was unreachable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but the contact was informed that the call could not be transferred to the recall department because the department was undergoing a training session. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Based on my best assessment, the issue appears to be related to the transmission pump. The vehicle experienced transmission malfunction consistent with a failing transmission pump. This vehicle has an active federal safety recall listed under its VIN; however, the local dealership in Puerto Rico refused to honor the recall and attempted to charge for the repair.

My vehicle has been slow to start and I have had all other issues come on on my vehicle as far as lights as far as the forward collision warning light has came on and the check driver attention warning light has come on as well while I’m running my HVAC past the level 2. I have also had my battery tested and that has tested fine. I have had my alternator tested and the first time it came back good the second time it came back failed and the third time it came back good.

The drive mode selector in my Kia Sorento was found to be defective. The selector forces the vehicle into "Eco" mode on startup regardless of the previously selected mode. This creates unexpected throttle response at startup given the manual states leaving the vehicle in other modes (such as "Smart" or "Comfort") will be retained on key-cycle. The specific incident in question produced unexpected throttle response while backing into a highly-trafficked road and resulted in unexpected proximity to oncoming traffic. The selection module has a further failure state: the backlight lamp showing selected drive mode has gone out preventing ready identification of current drive mode.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, with the A/C activated, there was an abnormal burning odor entering the vehicle through the vents. The burning odor was coming from the vehicle whether the A/C was in use or turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. On a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure was more evident while the vehicle was driven uphill. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the vehicle was not repaired. Most recently, the battery was replaced, and the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

After driving the Kia sorento and parking it for a little bit then restarting it again the transmission jerks very hard at times and sometimes it’s moderate. Its an on going issue. It starts happening after the car is being driven but on a cold start like overnight while its parked and the next day you turn the car on you dont feel anything until you start driving it then parking it and turn it off to go inside the store or something and once you come back out to start it you will feel it. My car only has 45K miles on it.

Vehicle is showing symptoms and issues related to a recall on 2021 Kia Sorento transmissions. The vehicle hesitates shifting gears and there is no manual shifting mode available. Vehicle also has issues when accelerating due to the hesitation in shifting the gears. This vehicle was not included in the recall for this issue however it is the same issue as the recall describes.

The car has completely shutdown on 3 separate occasions. It wouldn't start and all the electrical did not work. It started the next day. All this in a span of 5 out of the 8 months we purchased it. The last time, we found the fuse box was burnt when the tow truck showed up to take it to the dealership. The dealership is trying to blame us because we changed the battery after the second time and not honoring the warranty. They are trying to charge us $18,000. The car had already shut down two times before we even changed the battery. We contacted Kia corporate and nothing has been done, but just phone call saying they will call us back after they talk to the dealership. I got so scared for my wife because she was the one driving the car. This is such a dangerous problem with the fuse box. I researched car problems with Kia Sorentos and sure enough other Sorentos have been recalled, but not ours.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal clunk coming from the transmission while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred and became worse. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,658.

Sorento is not working properly due to transmission oil pump. This has been recalled by Kia but my car does not fall under the warranty.

The contact owned a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 15-20 MPH and making a quick left turn to avoid a truck that did not have the right-of-way, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side door of the vehicle. The driver's side curtain air bags deployed. The front driver's seat air bag deployed but failed to inflate. The front passenger's side seat belt retracted even though the front passenger's side seat was not occupied. There was no injury sustained. No police report was filed. Both drivers were able to drive away from the scene. The vehicle was taken to an autobody repair shop, where an estimate of the damage sustained was provided. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance company. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the front driver's seat air bag and the front passenger's side seat belt operated as designed. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

My car will sometimes completely stall at a light when stopped and not restart with the Automatic stop system it has happened about 5 times almost causing a wreck.

My vehicle completely shut off while I was driving with my children in the car. The dealership replaced the battery but never identified the root cause. Since then my car has been experiencing RPM surging while in Park — the engine revs up and down repeatedly on its own. The vehicle also feels sluggish and does not want to accelerate properly while driving. Additionally since taking ownership of the vehicle my window has squealed every time it rains and I roll down the window. The dealership has replaced the seals, lubricated and cleaned the window multiple times and the problem persists. The defective window seal also caused a gash in my window tint requiring replacement. I have taken my car to my Kia dealership multiple times and they have been unable to fully resolve these issues. My car is currently at the dealership right now and they still cannot find the problem. I contacted Kia Corporate on March 20, 2026 and opened a formal case. These defects have put my children in danger and I am requesting a formal federal investigation.

Airbag light on drivers side lit up, clock spring is defective

Power train incident - • transmission holding gears, jerking between shifts, gear shifted into S mode on its own and stuck there, unresponsive acceleration, locked up steering/inability to turn the steering wheel and total loss of drive power. • happened while merging onto a highway in one of two split lanes for highway access. A merging semi truck in the other merging lane almost ran into me because I could not give it gas. Me and a local police officer who saw me broke down and stopped to provide additional cover, were nearly hit several (6) times from other vehicles and semi trucks due to malfunctions happening. • diagnosed by Kia dealership and was told there was a major electrical failure which caused the electrical oil pump to fail and need a new transmission. Although my VIN doesn’t list recalls, similar issue to the recall on my same year/make/model under NHTSA Campaign Number 21V519. • Warning lamps/messages shown in photos attached. __________________________________ Forward Collision warning incident - • front forward safety system light appeared on dash, then moments later a warning appeared and the vehicle braked on its own detecting a vehicle in front of me when there was not another vehicle in front of me within vision!! • happened while driving in a 55mph zone, a vehicle was driving behind me when this occurred and that vehicle almost slammed into the back end of mine causing a crash. • problem not yet inspected on vehicle due to blown transmission from above incident and inability to start/move the vehicle.

My 2021 Kia Sorento (VIN: [XXX] , built July 2021) has a persistent scraping/metal-on-metal noise when turning the steering wheel. This noise comes from inside the steering column. It matches exactly what Kia documents in TSB CHA111, which identifies failure of the worm shaft small bearing inside the C-MDPS (Column-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering) system. My vehicle uses the same steering column system covered in that bulletin, though my VIN is not included in the bulletin’s range. The video embedded in CHA111 features the exact noise my vehicle is producing. I recorded it and sent it to Kia Consumer Affairs, along with proof of the C-MDPS configuration and production date. Despite clear evidence that my steering system is affected by the same design flaw, Kia declined support unless I pay for a dealer inspection — despite the issue being a known, documented defect. This noise has been present as far back as I can remember. and is steadily worsening. The steering column bearing is a critical safety component. If it fails, it could lead to steering resistance or failure. Other Kia and Hyundai vehicles using this system have already had the part replaced under warranty or goodwill coverage. I can provide a video of my vehicle making the noise. I’m submitting this complaint because Kia refuses to address a defect they’ve already acknowledged when it appears in later VINs. I am asking NHTSA to investigate and consider requiring Kia to expand the scope of TSB CHA111 or issue a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

See attached document for complaint.

My 2021 Kia Sorento lx has been having issues everyday where all of my dash lights come on, my power steering goes out and I can’t shift into or out of any gears. I have taken it to a Kia dealership (towed) twice already and they can’t find out the issue or unwilling to find it out. I have contacted Kia corporate and still no response from them. Kia has also refused to give me a loaner during this issue

Electrical issue all dash lights came on and couldn’t shift into gear, had to replace my main computer as it was fried at 72,000 miles, also had to get the steering column replaced total of $6,000 fixes

My car has turned off completely twice while in reverse.

I have had many issues where my car will completely shut off after the auto start-stop function causing me to almost get into accidents with my toddlers in the vehicle. There was one incident where I was at a stop light, when the light turned green I started my car again to go and another vehicle continued to bypass me. When i halted for the other vehicle, my engine shut off again almost the cause of a horrific accident. I have had many incidents after this with the related cause of engine shutting off.

Back in June 2025 my car started having an issue with the auto on/off light blinking on the dash and unable to be turned off. While driving and this happens, the car is unable to maintain its sped or accelerate. This has caused safety concerns many times. Dyer Kia first said it was an update, problem still remained. Then they said a deeper update was needed to no avail. The third attempt was a new transmission which caused more problems and still did not address the initial issue. Then they said it was the battery. They installed/ replaced an already new battery yet the problem still existed. Another transmission was put in and the problem still existed. Then they replaced the TCM and the issue still exists. The car is at a new dealership and already they are saying they have not found any codes to explain the problem yet and that they need to repair the battery terminal leads that the previous dealership broke before they are able to go further. Kia corporate is not helping me find a permanent solution to this issue and I still do not have my vehicle.

Transmission problems match those outlined in SC250. The dealership says our car wasn't included but our manufacturing date/model are a match. I've reported a problem with the dealership previously but they dismissed it.

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding Recall 22V-760 (SC250) affecting my 2021 Kia Sorento. This recall was marked “complete” by Kia, even though no actual repair or remedy was performed on my vehicle. I am now facing a complete transmission failure and have been quoted $7,100 to repair a defect Kia already acknowledged and promised to fix. The reality is, the defect was always present, it just hadn’t reached full failure yet. The recall being closed does not mean the issue was resolved, and this approach leaves thousands of Kia owners like myself unprotected.In May 2023, I brought my vehicle to Daphne Kia in Alabama for a radiator leak. During that visit, they noted the transmission recall was open but stated that no defect was found. As a result, they marked the recall as “complete” without conducting any meaningful repair or replacement. No transmission work was done, despite known problems reported nationwide.In May 2025, my Sorento began showing the exact symptoms described in the recall: surging RPMs, transmission hesitation, jerking, and drifting in and out of gear. At times, the vehicle would slow dramatically or jolt in the middle of traffic and lose drive! Extremely dangerous situation for me in traffic with complete loss of acceleration. I had to take time off to bring the vehicle to Step One Automotive Kia in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on June 30, 2025 the soonest my schedule allowed. At that appt, I was told the transmission had failed and would cost over $7,000 to replace.I also am paying for a rental vehicle while my car is still with Kia for resolution as of now. Recall coverage did nothing to protect me when the defect eventually surfaced. Kia has publicly stated that:“If your vehicle is affected by a recall, Kia will repair the vehicle free.” They have a legal obligation under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act to correct safety related defects.They are not meeting that. kia consumer relations contacted as well.

My electrical system failed. While on park I was unable to shut of the vehicle using the engine start stop button. After waiting for the vehicle to automatically turn off. The vehicle started trying to restart itself. The negative battery post had to be removed for the vehicle to stop. The entire safety system failed and all warning lights are still displayed on the dash. The backup camera and radio display went completely blank and was unavailable.

I started the car and it started having a hard time shifting around 13 and 30 miles an hour. And had a lack of power. No lights were on. Took it home and shut it off. The next day started the car and it told me to put it in park and the check engine light came on. I had no acceleration when in drive. Checked for powertrain recalls for my 2021 Kia sorento sx awd and 0 recalls came up for my vin #. It’s definitely a transmission powertrain issue.

I bought the car at 28k miles certified pre owned at jake sweeney kia in Florence ky. I had taken the car to the service station multiple times complaining of a clunky transmission. Things got worse and a whine from the engine bay occurred. At this time kia replaced the transmission at just under 42k miles. After having the new transmission about 500 miles later this issue is occurring again. Within 50 miles of replacement I went back to the dealership complaining of the the same clunking issue. At this time the dealership told me they could not replicate the problem. Now just a few hundred miles later the problem is extremely worse. I once again visit kia were they tell me again they could not replicate the issues. At this time I asked the service advisor Donavon to ride with me and I will point out the issue. Within a mile of our trip the problems occurred and the advisor noted the issue. I now am driving the car and waiting for a loaner from the dealership so they can yet again diagnose the issue which may result in another transmission replacement

The vehicle is hesitant during acceleration and linger in one gear. when try to move from a stop have to remove foot of the gas and back again with a pause before it will accelerate, only to start jerking.

The stop go feature is not working correctly, when it does cut off at a light after releasing the brake to move forward it takes 3-5 seconds to start. when the cars behind me see that i release the brake they assume im going to move which doesnt happen at first. some occasions the stop n go just doesnt work at all.