2019 Kia Sorento Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Kia Sorento, 12% of its 426 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 12,600. No related recalls are listed for this area.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 51
- 12% of 426
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 12,600 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners describe the transmission stumbling or hesitating when accelerating from a stop or on hills, especially at low speeds.
- Several drivers report the vehicle lurching or feeling like it's on patchy ice under light acceleration, most noticeable shortly after startup.
- Multiple complaints describe surging or jerking with the RPM needle jumping suddenly, sometimes while cruise control is engaged.
- Owners note the hesitation is worse in Eco, Comfort, or Smart drive modes and reduced but not eliminated in Sport mode.
- Some report the transmission feels sluggish getting into gear, particularly when the vehicle is cold, with dealers unable to reproduce a diagnostic code.
- One owner describes the front tires spinning briefly when the vehicle surges after hesitating while pulling into traffic.
When 2019 Kia Sorento transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 24, 2018, latest Sep 4, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2019 Kia Sorento
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Sorento model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are transmission problems on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
- NHTSA lists 51 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Sorento, which is 12% of the 426 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2019 Kia Sorento transmission?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2019 Sorento.
- At what mileage do 2019 Sorento transmission problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 12,600 miles.
- What do owners say the transmission does wrong?
- Owners describe hesitation and stumbling during acceleration, lurching similar to driving on ice, and sudden surging or jerking, often worse in Eco or Comfort mode.
- Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these complaints?
- NHTSA records 0 crashes and 0 injuries tied to these complaints, though 1 fire is listed among the total complaints for the year.