Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. Three days after purchasing the vehicle, the air bag light illuminated, which indicated that the passenger side air bag was deactivated. While driving between 40-45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. When the vehicle is stopped at a stop sign or a red light, the exterior lights shut off. The contact has had to strike the dashboard in order to get the air conditioning to work. In addition, none of the windows will roll down. The blinkers, turn signal, and cruise control do not work. After owning the vehicle for ten months, the alternator had to be replaced and it currently needs to be replaced again. The rails to step up into the vehicle had to be replaced twice. During a crash with a deer, both the driver's and passenger side air bags failed to deployed and the seat belts did not work. As a result, the passenger sustained a broken arm. …
We had an electrical issue with the car and it was towed to a dealership a couple hundred miles from home. There the dealer noticed the bracket that holds the rear end on had rusted away and it was leaking fluid. The car has around 45,000 miles on it and I feel that an issue like this should have been a recall as I have since found is a common problem and was recalled in europe for the same thing. My daughter could have been killed. This car has been in a Kia dealership 3 times so far this year for an oil leak issue and they should have mentioned this issue. The warranty ran out in May after the last visit up to this one. The dealer even said there could have been a fire.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while moving the gear shift lever from park to drive, the gear shift lever fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
My 2007 Kia Sorento was involved in two accidents in 2009-10. Both were as a result of a faulty 4-wheel drive mechanism. When we purchased the car in 2007, we reported to the dealership that when the car was in 4-wheel drive and stopped to turn, it made a jerking movement that was dangerous. We were told it operated as designed. On February 21, 2010, I was turning into my garage in central oregon on ice, the car was in 4-wheel drive and it made a series of lurching movements which caused the car to slide into the garage wall. I still have the dent in the passenger door from that incident. On October 27, 2009 on my way to work, I noticed the temperature was 31 degrees, and put my ("on the fly" 4-wheel drive) car into 4-wheel drive. I immediately went into a 360 spin on a highway. I was driving approximately 40 miles an hour. …
I own a 2007 Kia Sorento lx with 47,760 miles on it currently (today's date 09/10/2014). The first symptoms happened a few months ago where my car would hesitate upon acceleration and/or I would be traveling between 30-45 MPH and the car would begin bucking/jerking for a few seconds. This was very intermittent and random. If I took my foot off the gas pedal, then reapplied the gas the car would be fine. Then that symptom went away and I gained a new symptom. I was driving approximately 30 MPH, when all of the sudden my ecs off light and check engine light came on simultaneously, and I instantly lost power/acceleration. It appears that when this happens the car goes into "limp home" mode? It has happened twice to me in the past 3 days. This is very dangerous because the loss of power/acceleration is instant, it happens without warning, and it does not matter how fast you are going. …
I purchase a 2007 Kia Sorento at vandevere Kia. It came with the 5-speed auto-matic sportmatic shifting. It bangs into gear, slips into gear and slides into gear. It hardly ever shifts 100%. Plus it pulsates between 40 & 50 miles an hours. Not all the time & not the same way all the time. Also when it's in 5th gear and I move it to the right in the sportamatic position, it drops to 4th gear. I've drove 2 other Kia's with that type of shifter and if your in 5th & move it to the right, your in 5th gear. Also there is play either in the transmission or the drive shafts. You can feel it when you go from forward to reverse. Comes into play as a detriment when on icy roads. I traded my beautiful 2004 Kia Sorento in for this piece of junk. I've purchased 3 Kia's now & found out that customer loyalty doesn't matter to Kia. I've been trying to get my car fixed for 6 months now. …
I purchased a 2007 Kia Sorento on 1/6/07 from chris leith Kia in wake forest, nc. Not long after I bought it, I noticed that it frequently jerked when accelerating at higher rates of speed. On 1/11/07, I took the car back to the dealer and complained of the problem. At that time they told me it was the electronic throttle body which was self adjusting ,and would fix itself as I drove it. The vehicle continued to struggle, so I took it back to Kia on 3/5/07. They had the vehicle for 3 days. After correspondence with Kia, I was told to come pick up the vehicle. They told me that Kia was aware of the problem and that they were working on a solution. It is believed to be a software issue. As of today, 4/5/07, I still have no solution to my problem. I have been in touch with the dealer, and have been told that they are still working on a solution. I am very frustrated! …
I have taken this vehicle to the purchasing dealer 7 times for multiple issues including transmission or torque converter difficulty switching gears, the main wiring harness fell down into the dash, poor braking performance. The major issue has been the random, but daily ESC off light coming on and off. The dealer seems either unwilling or incapable of correcting this issue. I have filed a customer service request we Kia two weeks ago, randy ext 45295 Kia customer service assured me he would 'get back to me' in two business days. Today is the seventh business day and no reply. It's my opinion that the ESC issue, wiring harness, and poor braking are issues that should be address in via recall since Kia customer service and warranty commitment are meaning less to Kia corporation.
We purchased this a 2007 Kia Sorento for folgers Kia in feb of 2007. After about 4 months we noticed that when accelerating between 35 and 45 miles per hour the car shudder violently and loses power. In my opinion very dangerous. We finally got the car in the shop on jan 2, 2008 only to be told that Kia says their is a software problem and it can't be fixed. Also told it is normal for the Sorento. If normal, why didn't it do it when we first bought it and test drove it? I find their answer unacceptable. In my opinion it is very dangerous and if this problem can't be fixed then it is a lemon. Please assist with how to proceed. I'm getting nowhere with Kia's very inadequate service departments.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento lx. The contact stated that the vehicle's transmission surges and has difficulty switching gears. She has taken the vehicle to a Kia dealership twice because the torque converter continues to lock up. The failure is noticeable at 35 MPH. During the first service visit, a software update was performed. On the second visit, the dealer stated that no repair was currently available for the torque converter. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage is 720 and failure mileage was 100.
Transmission complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2007 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2007 Kia Sorento, 13% of the model year's 154 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Kia Sorento transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2007 Kia Sorento, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Kia Sorento transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 16,000 miles, and 61% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.