2019 Kia Sorento transmission and drivetrain problems
51 of the 428 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Sorento name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 10 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 51 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 8
Half of the 21 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 7,000 and 28,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
428 complaints in all about the 2019 Kia Sorento, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Sorento transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The transmission hesitates while accelerating. Acceleration is very slow in every mode except sport. The transmission still hesitates. Very unsafe. This occurs when Kia is first started or accelerating after a turn. It's also noticeable when accelerating while merging onto the interstate
We only have about 14000 miles on the vehicle. The vehicle has been checked twice now for the transmission having a problem. Yet the "dealership" keeps telling US that it is not "reproducible" yet they "tell me they reset the computer" even though it did not kick any codes. The transmission - is very sluggish in getting into gear.
When cruise control is set or just starting the Kia and going it will without warning surge, jerk, and jump. The RPM needle will show acceleration from 2.5 RPM and it jumps to 4.5 RPM and stays their for awhile before going back down to 2.5 RPM. This happens without notice and not on any incline or declines, it's on straight aways.
Our 2019 Kia Sorento lx v6 engine is surging and hesitating really bad. Car was brought in for service but nothing has worked to correct the issue. When pulling out onto the highway it will hesitate and then surge spinning the front tires, this is very serious safety issue!
Transmission hesitates from a stop and during acceleration at low speeds. Cannot seem to maintain consistent speed and acceleration. Dangerous pulling into traffic with a hesitation. Transmission feels skittish as if it is jumping between gears until you are up to speed around 50 miles per hour
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications10 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- TSB_TRA046_R5 Service bulletinApr 17, 2025
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Kia Sorento names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Kia Sorento
Source: the same files- engine problems 169 complaints
- electrical problems 68 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (12% of everything owners filed about it), and 10 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 14,000 miles; half of them between 7,000 and 28,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.