2020 Kia Sorento Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Kia Sorento, 13% of its 135 total complaints. The median mileage at failure was 5,000 miles, and no related recall is on file. No crashes, fires, or injuries were reported in this area.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 18
- 13% of 135
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 5,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Transmission shifts erratically between 20 and 40 mph when the engine is cold, smoothing out after several miles of driving.
- Vehicle surges or jerks forward when coming to a stop at low speed, most noticeable on a cold start.
- Transmission hesitates or stutters during 1st-to-2nd and 2nd-to-3rd gear shifts, especially in the first minutes of driving.
- Vehicle stutters or skips when taking off from a stop, particularly on hills, when cold.
- Some owners had the transmission reprogrammed multiple times or replaced with a rebuilt unit, with the problem persisting afterward.
- Later reports describe abnormal jerking at various speeds occurring intermittently over about a month before the dealer test-drove the vehicle without a clear diagnosis.
When 2020 Kia Sorento transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 23, 2020, latest Jul 29, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 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 many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2020 Kia Sorento?
- NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Sorento, which is 13% of the 135 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2020 Kia Sorento transmission?
- No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2020 Kia Sorento.
- At what mileage do transmission problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2020 Sorento is 5,000 miles.
- Did the transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- No. NHTSA records show zero crashes, fires, and injuries linked to these complaints.
- How does the 2020 Sorento compare to other years for this problem?
- The 2020 Sorento's share of transmission complaints was 13%, lower than the 2021 model year's 55% share, but higher than several other years like 2017 at 5% and 2018 at 4%.