Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2022 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking and was losing motive power while at a stop light. The vehicle was able to restart, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where an unknown software update was completed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure recurred and the gauges on the instrument panel were failing to display and that the auto START/STOP function and the downhill brake control were activating and deactivating independently while driving on flat surfaces. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The contact then stated that when she was shifting the gear into drive(D) the vehicle started reversing, and while shifting into park(P), the vehicle moved forward. …
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the engine revved without the vehicle responding as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and was able to drive the vehicle to the local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that a cylinder was clogged, and the engine needed to be serviced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that later while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the "Service Transmission" warning light was illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated after driving 25-30 MPH into a parking lot and parking the vehicle, the message "Transmission System Error Check Transmission" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an auto parts store, where it was determined that the transmission pump was failing, there was low oil pressure, but no debris found inside the transmission. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where no diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved; a hard transmission reset was performed. Following the repair, the failure recurred, and an unknown vehicle symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was returned to the local dealer with the error message and symbol present. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. …
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 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.
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 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.
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.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an unknown software update was completed; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the same software update was completed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train), which she related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost drive power. The vehicle was able to continue driving but at a reduced speed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a second dealer, Shawnee Mission Kia (7951 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Mission, KS 66202), but the failure was not duplicated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,067.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge.
Transmission complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2022 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2022 Kia Sorento, 35% of the model year's 193 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2022 Kia Sorento transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 22V-760 (automatic transmission, Oct 11, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2022 Kia Sorento transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries 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.