2022 KIA SORENTO Vehicle Speed Control Problems

While driving from Phoenix to Tucson in midday traffic, the vehicle displayed a "Check Transmission" error message. Immediately following this warning, the vehicle experienced a significant loss of motive power while navigating a busy intersection. The car would not shift gears appropriately to maintain speed or move out of the path of traffic, which created an immediate risk of a collision. I was able to avoid an accident, but the vehicle's inability to accelerate or change gears left me stranded in a hazardous location. Component Failed: Transmission/Transmission Control Module. Safety Risk: The sudden loss of power in an intersection put me and other drivers at risk of a high-speed side-impact or rear-end collision. Warning Symptoms: The "Check Transmission" message appeared moments before the failure. Inspection Status: We have had the recall taken care of on January 25 , 2023 with 8810 miles at Peoria KIA initially. The incident happened on December 6, 2025 and the vehicle was taken to Royal KIA on December 6, 2025 for inspection.".

I am filing this complaint regarding a serious transmission defect in my 2022 Kia Sorento. The vehicle frequently hesitates, stalls, and at times fails to accelerate properly, creating a dangerous situation when driving in traffic, merging, or crossing intersections. This poses a direct safety hazard to me, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. I brought the vehicle to Mark Kia Service in Scottsdale, AZ. The dealership acknowledged that the transmission issue is a known defect in this model. However, they refused to repair the problem unless they could “replicate” the malfunction during their testing. Because the issue is intermittent, it does not always occur on demand, leaving me without any repair or resolution despite the safety risk. This policy effectively forces consumers to continue driving unsafe vehicles. I have already experienced several close calls where the vehicle’s hesitation and lack of response nearly caused an accident. The defect is widely reported among other owners of the 2022 Sorento, yet Kia and its dealerships are failing to provide adequate remedies under warranty. I am submitting this complaint to request an investigation into Kia’s handling of this matter. The failure to repair a known transmission defect, despite documented safety risks, places drivers and the public in harm’s way. A recall or mandatory corrective action should be considered to ensure consumer safety.

I've taken my vehicle to the dealership and explained what issues I'm having. I was told that the TEC experienced the same issues. When I asked for a loaner car until they make the repairs needed I was told that they don't give loaners out unless I call customer relations which I did and filed a complaint. My complaint was escalated to corporate and the person that was handling my complaint told me due to the regulations in my state they're not able to assist me with my concerns. I explained to her that I could not go over 5miles, the truck would and has shut down on me and my family while driving on the interstate. I've had my truck towed three times. Then the transmission light comes on the dealership stated they can't find anything wrong with the truck. At this point I don't even want the truck anymore I don't feel safe driving the vehicle anymore. I explained my concerns to the dealership and corporate office customer escalated Case Representative (Tiffany) and still no one CARES is it going to take for myself or my kids to lose their life in order for them to take this seriously!!!!! Case # [XXX] is my case number.... Please assist me with this matter as I'm currently deployed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the forward camera was obstructed. The steering over corrected while turned off. The vehicle was accelerating and decelerating independently. The Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged without an object being nearby. Additionally, the driver’s side seat belt randomly unlatched. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who diagnosed and determined that the transmission and seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case but declined to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 28,660.

Mileage: 28,660

10/19/2022 – Vehicle stuck in drive and would not shift out of drive. Vehicle towed to the dealer and not touched for a day and a half. Dealer found walnut lodged in shifter column which was preventing the shifter from going into park. Dealer also performed software update on vehicle. 10/21/2022 – Picked up vehicle and it was shifting very hard through every gear, returned to the dealer for further repairs. 10/26/2022 – Picked up vehicle again and performance improved but it still shifted hard and lurched when coming to a stop and when going in reverse. Dealer stated that they had retrained the transmission and performed another software update related to the transmission. I told them that I was driving out of town tomorrow morning for 10 days and that this was the only vehicle I could take and asked if they could provide a rental. Dealer stated that the current issues would not cause any long-term damage and that I could bring it back when I got back in town and that they would take care of it then. 11/17/2022 – Returned vehicle to dealer to correct the previous issues, they said that they did another software update and that it is shifting properly. Performance has improved but the vehicle would still lurch when going into reverse and occasionally when coming to a stop. 12/22/2022 – Returned vehicle for scheduled maintenance and safety recall for the transmission. Another software update was performed and transmission has been working without issue so far. 4/18/2024 - When driving while accelerating we experience a significant loss of power and it will not accelerate as normal. I can have the pedal nearly to the floor and it will barely move. When this occurs you can see the @ symbol flashing on the dash but no other warning lights or indicators. This is the 6th time this happened since February of this year and it has happened 3 times while on the on ramp to the freeway. This has continues to occur at least 3 times a week every week.

My car lost power & completely shut down at 70 mph on the highway. My dash lights went place & I had no control of vehicle other than to go straight & come to a rolling stop. It has shut off repeatedly while driving

I was driving on the highway last night again and my 2022 Kia Sorento SX Prestige AWD lost engine power and the check engine light immediately came on. The truck would intensely vibrate when I tried to push the gas to get over to the highway shoulder. This was extremely unsafe on a highway but I was able to pull over to the shoulder and stop the car and turn it off. When I turned it on, the check engine light remains on and vibrations persist. Even after waiting and multiple restarts. This was the fourth event of this engine issue in the past 6 months. With the same engine power loss and crazy vibrations. The three previous times, the engine light goes off after the first restart and truck drives normal. I even brought it into the dealer and they used the engine diagnostic device that showed no code so they say there’s nothing they can do. But now it’s the following morning, engine light remains on and car is shaking still. I have recordings of this event now bc Napleton Kia of Elmhurst is not believing me. As a traveling healthcare worker, my vehicle is my primary resource. The truck barely has 17k miles on it and all maintenance and care is on point. To shell out over $60k for a ‘top of the line’ SUV that could’ve just ended my life on the expressway is extremely terrifying and disappointing. I urge the NHTSA to please look into these engine issues before someone’s life is ended because of it.

Warning lights go crazy. Power steering goes out for several seconds. Rpms and speedometer go nuts or lay on zero. Sometimes I can’t shift into drive for several minutes. sometimes it sounds and feels like (under the pedal, in acceleration) it’s losing power for a few seconds, almost like a slipping feeling but in power. The clock and profiles have reset overnight before where I had to reset clock and presets. Kia has had my car for many weeks already in January at just 2-3 thousand miles I’d say (I bought it brand new in October 2022). My dash cam was plugged in. They tried so many things…the “remedy” was to not use the dash cam a while to see if it happens again. After a few months, I plugged it back in. Issues returned. Took back to Kia who said they’ll need it to do it again without dash cam in so I unplugged it that night. Issue has returned at least three times since then. I’ve sent video to Kia and i guess I’m still waiting for them to get an extra loaner because they’ll need to keep it…when I went up there a couple weeks ago, I was told they didn’t have any loaners available so they would call me when they did.

Vehicle not shifting properly..sometimes when you let off gas it will accelerate and rpms shoot up..I believe it's a transmission issue..dealership was able to confirm this happened...definitely not safe if a car is in front of you and it just decides to accelerate on its own

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that their vehicle was parked in their driveway with the vehicle off and unattended, an hour later the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a neighbor’s fence. The vehicle came to a stop in the neighbor's ditch. No warning lights were illuminated. There was damage to the neighbor's fence as a result of the crash. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they rejected to diagnose the vehicle until the cosmetic repairs were completed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact mentioned that in order to prevent another roll away when parking he utilizes rocks under the tires and activates the emergency brakes. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000