Kia SORENTO transmission problems
648 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
10,135 owner complaints analyzed
40 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,421 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
648 of 10,135 complaints match this topic (6.4%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10101766 · 2004-11-29 (November 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THEN, SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FLAMES EMANATED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112870 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT THE FIRST TIME ON 10-04-04. IT WAS REPLACED AND IT BLEW AGAIN ON 01-21-05. THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS THIRD ENGINE. *AK THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS HAD TRANSMISSIONS AND ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE FOG LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,947 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135094 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)
COMMENTS: I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT I THINK IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING FROM A VACATION IN OUR CAR AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR SERIOUS DAMAGE. AT THE END OF THIS LETTER WILL BE ALL THE PARTICULARS. WE WERE COMING FROM SANTA CRUZ ON HIGHWAY 1, IN CALIFORNIA AND AT WHAT IS CALLED THE SUMMIT, OF I STARTED SEEING SMOKE IN BACK OF OUR VEHICLE. WE STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE CAR ,OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE DOWN ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE EXHAUST MA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184271 · 2007-03-05 (March 5, 2007)
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 03 KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN 2004. MY HUSBAND CALLED KIA TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE WARRANTIES WHERE TRANSFERABLE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HIM THEY WERE. SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TAIL/BRAKE LIGHTS 3 TIMES, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT BOTTLE, MY ROTORS WERE VIBRATING WHEN I BRAKED SO I HAD THEM SURFACED AND NOW THEY VIBRATE AGAIN. MY BLOWER FAN HAS GONE OUT AND NOW MY CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAS BROKE LAST WEEK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390391 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
VEHICLE MODEL: KIA SORENTO EX; THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS FAILING AND THE AIRBAG MODULE KEEPS BREAKING AND DISPLAYING RED LIGHT EVEN AFTER FIXING AT A DEALER SHOP "BILL DODGE KIA , WESTBROOK, ME. THE SYMPTOMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: YOU PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AND ONLY A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS, THEN YOU MOVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT UP AND DOWN AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS IT GENERALLY GOES INTO GEAR.WE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP. THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE CAR -- PLEASE DO NOTIFY MANUFACTURER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390391 at NHTSA ↗