2022 Kia Sorento Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I am reporting a serious safety defect regarding my 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid (Mileage: 91,661). The vehicle was diagnosed with an internal short in the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Control Unit (Error codes P0404, P049D). Upon inspection, significant engine oil intrusion was found inside the EGR unit. The EGR system is designed to handle exhaust gases only; the presence of liquid engine oil indicates a critical failure in the powertrain system (likely the PCV system or turbocharger seals) which is forcing oil into the intake/exhaust tract. Safety Risk: This defect causes the EGR system to short-circuit, which can lead to unpredictable engine performance, reduced power, or sudden engine stalling while driving. Any sudden loss of power on a highway poses a severe risk of a rear-end collision. Furthermore, oil intrusion into electrical components increases the risk of thermal incidents or localized fires within the engine bay. Despite the vehicle being within the 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty, the dealership (Suntrup Kia South) is refusing coverage, claiming the EGR is not a powertrain component, while ignoring the fact that a powertrain failure (oil bypass) is the root cause of the damage. I request NHTSA to investigate this "oil intrusion into EGR" issue as it appears to be a systemic defect in Kia’s hybrid powertrain that compromises vehicle safety.
2022 Kia Sorento LX started off with rpm acceleration randomly. It progress and started happening multiple times during a ride. Took it to Jake Sweeney Kia dealership, they were not able to pick up on any codes. They said they tried a flight recording and couldn’t record data, but not even 15 minutes off the lot the symptoms proceeded. Now the vehicle is trying to shift gears while in drive. I’ve provided videos and the dealership responded back and said, “After speaking with my manager about this situation I can't really do too much until it becomes a constant issue. I know that isn't what you want to hear but at this time without a check engine light or it happening all the time there isn't much I can accomplish for you.” Not only is this a safety hazard for myself and my child this is negligence on Kia and Jake Sweeney Kia Florence.
2022 Kia sorento under 86,000 miles is jerks intermittently but no codes are being shown. Currently at the dealership and tech suspects transmission, which has been reported by numerous consumers of this issue but the recall was only applied to certain Kia sorentos and it should be broader.
While driving my 2022 Kia sorento on the interstate a sudden check engine light illuminated and the car totally stalled out with a severe decrease in power causing me to almost be rear ended by interstate traffic before I could get off the road safely. After taking the vehicle to the dealership for diagnostics I was informed there was a P1C2D03 trouble code which is associated with the 8 speed dual clutch transmission indicating an internal fault in the electric oil pump of the TCU. Upon further investigation we find out this code was associated with a safety recall that went out for this particular Kia model and transmission. The original owner took this car in to have the recall repaired back in 2023 without the fault code showing or any issue presenting from the vehicle. They were simply taking it in to clear the recall they were sent. While it was at the dealership they flashed the system like they were supposed to do according to the campaign instruction and sent them on their way. Fast forward to now and I am getting this same fault that the recall was sent out for but I have the code which according to the campaign instructions Kia was supposed to replace the transmission due to a mfg defect. Kia is refusing to replace the transmission now saying the recall can not be reopened and since I am the second owner and my warranty is expired I will have to pay over $5,000 for a replacement.
Vehicle lost power and transmission failed. Vehicle only has 36,000 miles. Dealer is denying recall from manufacturer.
Transmission loses power.Does not go foward after being in park. Have to turn off car and start it again making weird noise never heard before when it starts and when you turn it off. Has happened several times while driving.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact called a mobile mechanic to the residence, and the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a defect in the transmission. The mechanic informed the contact that there was a recall on the model vehicle related to the transmission. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); which was linked to the failure. The contact called several dealers in the area and was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided with the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Vehicle jerks and goes into a neutral mode while driving. Vehicle shifter still shows it's in "Drive", but vehicle stops moving. Once I drift over to the shoulder of the road, I can shut the engine off and restart. Then it moves. Twice this has happened now. Once on December 13, 2024 and again on January 24, 2025. I reported this to my dealership, Gurley Leep Kia with the first incident and they said it was just a fluke. They did not pursue inspecting anything on the vehicle, knowing some 2022 Sorento's were involved in a transmission recall. In both incidents I was driving on an incline. My VIN currently doesn't have a recall on it, but should. This could result in a crash.
I have had this happen 4 times now with my Sorento hybrid where the gas engine does engage with the drivetrain, leaving only the electric motor providing power. All incidents have occurred where I was sitting idle with the vehicle on. All incidents occurred when I had the vehicle in ECO mode. 2 of the 4 incidents have warnings about pulling over immediately because the hybrid battery was nearly depleted. The only resolution I've had is to pull over or come to a complete stop on the highway and restart my vehicle. Afterwards, the vehicle runs normally. I have not brought this up with a Kia dealer due to others I've discussed with saying Kia does not know what is happening. The circumstances that replicate this problem are probably difficult to recreate.
I backed a boat trailer into the lake to load a boat. I had the car in Park and had the engine running and the driver side door open about half way. After about 2 minutes I was standing behind the vehicle cranking the boat onto the trailer. The car came out of park without notice and no one in the vehicle. It went into reverse and was driving into the lake. I was nearly runover by the vehicle but got to the side. The open driver side door caught the dock and slowed the vehicle down enough for me to get in the vehicle and step on the brake. I was able to drive the vehicle out but water was over the rear tire. The driver side door is a complete loss. If the door did not catch the dock to slow it down I could have been trapped under the vehicle and drowned or the car fully submerged in the lake. Dealer was contacted. Insurance claim filed.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Vehicle lost power on the highway without warning. I would hit the gas but nothing would happen. Turned the car off and on a few times and after a few minutes it worked but every light on the dashboard came on. Took it to dealership who said the transmission lost contact with power steering and hybrid system. They reset the code but then 4 days after I got it back, every light on the dash lit up again and it was very jerky as I drove it. Seems like it’s the same issue as the recall from late 2022 even though online it says my car isn’t one of the ones affected when I enter my VIN.
Received "Stop Vehicle Immediately" warning on 5/11/23. Notified Destination KIA service department on 5/12/23 and was advised that if the check engine light was not on, that I shouldn't bring vehicle in. Destination KIA scheduled recall service for 07/09/23. On 5/13/23, vehicle lost all power, on highway, and rolled to a stop. Vehicle stopped on a bridge, with no shoulder, and in a travel lane. Myself and three occupants were placed in substantial risk of being struck by other vehicles. Vehicle was diagnosed at Destination KIA and determined this was a result of transmission failure.
When accelerating onto a highway from a stop the vehicle hesitated to the point that a collision with cross traffic was imminent. This has happened 5-6 times in the year we have owned the vehicle. It is not predictable and mechanics have not been able to duplicate the problem. This happened a week ago and we were able to see the Electronic Stability Control indicator light flash on and off as the hesitation occurred. We have had the KIA dealership in Joplin, MO try to troubleshoot the problem but to no avail. The dealership has installed other transmission-related updates but none have fixed this problem. We are unable to report this on the KIA website due to glitches on the site such as "invalid VIN" or "session has timed out". The Sorento "Features and Functions Guide", page 44, comments that "aggressive acceleration maneuvers" may cause a "slight time lag" due to clutch overheating in cars with Dual Clutch Transmission. The incidents we have experienced have been associated with what we would consider to be normal acceleration needs.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, he heard abnormal sounds coming from the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer where a software upgrade on the transmission was performed. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and had the recall repair completed. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
Loss of power while shifting gears for roughly 3 seconds between each gear change causing check engine light to illuminate. No issues detected by Kia diagnostic check in Kia Access app. Believed to be a similar issue as stated in recall 22V760000 regarding power train, but has yet to result in a complete loss of power.
There was a complete loss of motive power. Myself and my passenger were on a busy 5 lane road approaching a busy intersection when the check engine light came on as well as a "Stop Safely Immediately" message and an audible chime sound. Then the car lost power. I was in the middle lane and had no way nor time to pull over safely before the vehicle lost power. Thank goodness I was slowing down for a stop light. This was the first time I had received any warnings, messages or other symptoms. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. They tell me that the recall number 22V760 is not the reason for the incident, but they do not know what the problem is. They have now had my vehicle for 43 days and still do not know what is wrong with it. I just completed a letter to KIA Consumer affairs as a written demand for a refund. I am calling them and filing a complaint online tomorrow.
There was a complete loss of motive power. Myself and my passenger were on a busy 5 lane road approaching a busy intersection when the check engine light came on as well as a "stop safely immediately" message and an audible chime sound. Then the car lost power. I was in the middle lane and had no way nor time to pull over safely. Thank goodness I was slowing down for a stop light. This was the first time I had received any warnings, messages or other symptoms. The vehicle was towed into my KIA Dealership. They have had the car since December 6th and have not been able to tell me what is wrong. Before I received my recall letter, I had researched where other people have had the same issue and that KIA was recalling over 65,000 Kia's for this problem. KIA has run diagnostics on the vehicle but claims it is not due to this issue. Then on December 27th I received a safety recall for this very same issue stating that this notice applies to my vehicle and had my VIN number on it. The dealership has been waiting for KIA to diagnose the problem and have no idea when I can have my vehicle back. After demanding a loaner vehicle from KIA, two weeks later, I was finally given a Hertz rental car that is not comparable to my vehicle and which I have to pay $14.99 daily for insurance that KIA would not pay for.
This has happened to this car 2 times already. First when the vehicle only had 12k miles, an MIL showed up. Took it to the dealer and they said they could not find any DTC codes in there. When they gave it back to me the MIL light was off... Surprisingly. 2nd time, 16k miles, the transmission gear was slipping some of the gears and we have never taken this vehicle to off road. The MIL light came back on and also a message saying "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately". After this message came to the dashboard , the transmission started to fail and like going into limp mode - could not drive this vehicle over 20mph. Fortunately , this issue happened during the day so I took my kia 2022 Sorento AWD to the dealer. Now my vehicle is there for 4 days now and they dont know what is really going on with it. They are now talking with the headquarters Engineers to see if they can figure this out but so far nothing yet. The dealer still have my vehicle trying to figure this out.
After applying brakes and momentarily stopping the car surged forward as if the transmission didnt properly disengage and required me to apply max force to brakes in order to not move forward.This happens every time I come to a stop .
I purchased a new 2022 Kia Sorento in March of 2022. By the end of April, at 1626 miles, the vehicle started giving me a warning on the dash stating "Transmission System Error! Check transmission oil immediately." The problem was intermittent and the dealer was not able to reproduce it. The difficulty is that the transmission does not have a method to check the transmission oil level. I have returned this vehicle to the dealer three times for this same problem. When the message is displayed, the transmission only provides power to the wheels in the odd numbered gears (1, 3, 5, 7) and slips badly in the even numbered gears. During slippage, the engine revs to 4,000 RPM. Unknown damage has most likely been done to my transmission at this point and Kia refuses to take care of their customers.
While driving on the highway, a warning message came on the screen that read "Stop Car Immediately". After getting off the highway, the car suddenly slowed down on the major road. Fortunately, I was in the right lane and able to turn off the road into a nearby parking lot. I had to get the car towed to the dealership overnight. In the morning, a representative of the dealership drove it around their building and said he didn't notice anything wrong. However, when I went to pick up the vehicle and tried to drive it off the lot, the same message appeared again, and the car wouldn't move. I went into the dealership and got the service tech. I showed him what was going on, and he confirmed the problem. They kept the vehicle to run more tests to determine the problem.
CODE P1C2D03 POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. Kia Red Engine displays on dashboard,as the transmission disengages and will not engage in Drive or Reverse.Transmision locked up on highway and engine revved up to 5800 rpm's.Kia started to smoke and AAA towing needed to be called.The Kia sits at Dealership with another Kia Sorento brought in a week earlier with same problem.Kia Engineers are evaluating the problem since it's 2022 with 2017 miles and this is the first year with a new transmission.
Transmission failed at 1561 miles. Will accelerate to 3000rpm do a 1-2 shift then immediately bang back into 1st. Car was flat bedded to dealer. Awaiting new transmission which is on backorder.
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The 2022 Kia Sorento has 24 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.