Kia Sorento transmission and drivetrain problems, 2016–2027
519 of the 3,710 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sorento 2016–2027 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2021 (140), 2016 (126), 2022 (75). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin, 2 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Kia Sorento transmission and drivetrain problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 39 | 30% | — | 5 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 7 | 14% | — | 5 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 26 | 16% | — | 23 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 in depth | 75 | 34% | 21k | 37 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 140 | 52% | 65k | 29 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2020 | 18 | 13% | — | 9 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 51 | 12% | 14k | 10 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 | 0 | — | — | 23 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 | 37 | 5% | — | 22 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 in depth | 126 | 10% | 71k | 21 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.
When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 32 · 2021: 31 · 2022: 84 · 2023: 70 · 2024: 63 · 2025: 92 · 2026: 116
Across the model years, half of the 122 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 13,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
At first from 1st to 2nd took RPM to 5,000 before shifting to 3rd. Almost like it was stuck in neutral over that time but clearly in Automatic. Once in third girl no power until RPM drops and then shifted. At high speed all seemed fine. Happened ever time I start/stopped until When turned off car and it on went away.
The vehicle has a dual clutch transmission which causes the vehicle to lunge forward at idle. The transmission also "slips" at times during hard acceleration and results in very slow acceleration when entering a highway on a ramp or making way across an intersection.
Two oil change stations told me I need a new power train. I know power train is covered under 100,000 miles for Kia. Want to see if I need your help in the process for defect or anything else to assist me at nearest Kia dealership?
My transmission failed while driving, stopping and picking up became unsafe. I took it into a Kia dealership since it became dangerous to drive. I was then told that there was a TSB sa292 patch that was intended to prevent this exact issue. Kia is only willing to cover part of the cost.
The drive train and motor slow to a near stop in traffic when trying to clear a lane and makes it very dangerouos for other traffic to have to wait for me to clear a lane. There is something wrong and we complained about this before the warranty ran out, but they could not find anything. The car stops in traffic unexpectedly.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 22V760000 HighOct 11, 2022 · 69,038 vehicles
- 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.
- 22V612000 HighAug 10, 2022 · 28,065 vehicles
- 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.
1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Apr 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
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Kia Sorento
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Kia Sorento problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Kia Sorento years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?
2021, 140; 2016, 126; 2022, 75. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2021 (52%).
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Kia Sorento?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 22V760000 (2022), 22V612000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Kia Sorento?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 38,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 13,000 and 80,000. 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.