2021 KIA SORENTO Complaints

After being driven for 45 miles, with no problems, then parked for 2 hours, then when I started to drive, dashboard lit up "PULL OVER SAFELY IMMEDIATELY". I pulled over, shut car off and restarted. Same notice appeared. Tried again and nothing appeared. I attempted to move the car and it would not engage in drive or reverse. Shut car off, started again and still would not move. Then was towed to a KIA dealership. Upon inspection, I was told it needed a new transmission. Vehicle had 5,606 miles. Car is at dealership since April 4 waiting for new transmission. I was told there are other KIA's also waiting for new transmissions. If I had been driving and car suddenly shut off, it would have been very dangerous (there are many such reports online where people have experienced this). There is documented evidence on line that others with low mileage have had this problem dating back to April 2021. This car needs to be recalled and significant changes made. The car is available for inspection at the dealer's location, Lou Sobh Kia, 1135 Buford Road, Cumming GA 30041 if you need. You can reach me at[XXX] or via email [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

1. Transmission; vehicle is currently at dealership 2. Yes, I was driving with my daughter in the vehicle at the time 3. Yes, they were able to verify that the vehicle needs a new transmisson 4. Yes, the vehicle is currently at the dealership and has been inspected by the mechanic 5. Since I started the lease, in April 2021, I have noticed "rough shifting" of gears. I have notified Kia dealership of such, and they told me it was normal for the engine, so I continued to drive the vehicle. While driving on the interstate, on April 1 2022, the transmission light illuminated on my dash and an error message also across the LED screen.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while reversing, she noticed a trail of oil on the ground. The contact parked the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys who informed the contact that oil had leaked onto the skid plate. The engine oil was refilled and the contact drove back to her residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact with towing the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the oil drain plug had fallen out causing the oil leak. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that the lack of engine oil had caused the engine to fail, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at her own expense. The failure mileage was approximately 10,394.

Vehicle's transmission would not engage in "drive" or "reverse". After sitting for almost an hour, tried again and it engaged in "drive". Took to dealership, could not duplicate the problem. 4 days later, while driving, the vehicles transmission automatically disengaged from "drive". The car was left inoperable, in traffic. This is very dangerous.

In 2 instances the car shut off without warning. Once After the car had been shut off, ( would not restart.) Then again while the car was in drive sitting at a red light. (Engine shut off without warning). Dealership could not figure out cause. When trying to restart the dash lights would come on with all codes being thrown as failure for multiple systems but engine would not start or try to start. The car did think it was running though as the dash would say car will shut off in alloted time frame that was set in car settings. Both times after the car being towed to the dealership and sitting for the night it started back up next morning like nothing ever happened. I ended up getting traded out of the vehicle at 18,500 miles after owning the car for 30 days. I’m assuming that’s why previous owner traded it. It’s a lemon.

The vehicle stutters before it comes to a complete stop and creates a panic feeling thinking it is not going to stop completely. Have had the car into KIA for two separate inspections and they just tell me it's due to a dual manual clutch working in and automatic car. I know I am not the only one experiencing this terrifying sensation on a brand new vehicle. KIA won't do nothing until the transmission completely fails. Even their master tech indicated there are issues with these transmissions causing shifting and breaking issues.

Suddenly one morning the transmission didn't work at all. I had to get a towing service to bring the car to the service. After a couple of days, they told me that the car needs a new transmission. BTW, the car ONLY has 12,000 miles!

2021 Kia Sorento EX had 3,196 miles on it when the transmission failed. The car was driving down a street when it lost speed and alerted driver to pull over. Driver had seconds to pull over before car completely stopped among traffic. Had the car been in heavy traffic, it almost certainly would've resulted in a collision from behind, especially at high speeds. The vehicle is currently at the dealership awaiting shipment of a new transmission. The vehicle has been expected by Kia dealership. There were no warnings of transmission failure before it failed, only once the problem was occurring in real time did driver receive an alert to pull over and a code regarding powertrain issues. Kia dealership mentioned that they had "a whole wall of cars with transmission issues" which conveys that this is a wide spread issue among their brand. If that is the case, it needs to be investigated and a recall needs to be issued.

I was on a straight road no cars around the collision sensor went off and slowed me down. Another time it kept slowing the passenger side wheel down as the traction control was going off it did this 2 separate times. Got down the road some and it did it 2 more times but with the driver side. Last week I pulled into my drive way and was in park when it started telling me traffic was coming from the left, like I was about to back into something, I can't remember if I had shut it off at this time due to someone had fell out of the 3rd row when her foot was caught in the seat belt trying to exit the car. I called my nearest kia dealer and was told they were so far behind and since I did not buy my vehicle from them it would be last. I asked if an accident was to happen who would be responsible and he couldn't answer me.

I've had a concern for last several months with my transmission not shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. A new car with 100,000 mile warranty shouldn't be having transmission issues, so just started paying closer attention to ensure it wasn't my imagination. Gears not shifting became worse & more noticeable. On 2-21-2022 (on way to work), the transmission wouldn't shift from 1st to 2nd and then 2nd to 3rd gears. The RPMs went to 4,000 and 5,000 respectively. No lights are showing. I noticed a beep (like a seatbelt not engaged) that sounds 3 times prior to the transmission issues. Nothing in seats to activate a "seatbelt not buckled" sound. I pulled over, shut car off, sat for a few minutes & restarted the car. Same issue. The car was not moved again until 5:15 p.m. to head home from work (35 miles one-way commute). I pulled out onto the highway and transmission again rev'd to 5,000 RPMs. Pulled over and shut car off again. Car in park, restarted the car, and the car lunged as if going into gear, but I was in park. On 2-22-2022, same issue as the day before. Still no lights coming on. Called dealership & had Kia roadside assistance tow the car. Dealership kept for 3 days and could not duplicate the error. On 2/27/22, drove to church & had same issues. Returned home, put car in park in driveway (still running), the car shuts off and restarts on it's own. Monday, 2/28/22, does not appear to have any gear shift changes on the way to work until 5 miles from work when traveling 45mph and the car stalls almost to a dead stop in traffic; engine light comes on. Sent pic of engine light & text service advisor. Car towed by Kia roadside assistance to dealership. Now I'm without a vehicle because Kia won't provide a loaner car. I can rent a car and take it up with Kia Customer Cares in hopes of getting reimbursed - which is not likely to happen. 25,000 miles on car. Very Unsafe - does someone have to die to get issue resolved/recalled?