YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Sorento Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 20 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Kia Sorento, 17% of its 119 total complaints. There is 1 crash tied to this area, no fires, no related recalls, and a median failure mileage of 21,700 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
20
17% of 119
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
21,700 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle in drive fails to accelerate or move forward despite the accelerator being depressed, with no warning lights on.
  • Transmission shudders when shifting through lower gears and worsens with mileage, with intermittent problems appearing at highway speeds.
  • Sudden jerking or bucking during acceleration or lane changes, sometimes repeated across multiple drives.
  • Transmission gets stuck in first or second gear and revs high without engaging, temporarily fixed by turning the car off and back on.
  • Transmission warning light appears along with bucking, stalling, and improper shifting; one case traced to transmission fluid filled below specification from the factory.
  • Hesitation or near-stall when starting out or climbing hills, sometimes forcing following traffic to brake.

When 2023 Kia Sorento transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 25, 2023, latest Aug 25, 2026.

2023 Kia Sorento transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2023Feb 2024Sep 2024Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2023 to Aug 2026; peak Apr 2024 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2023 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.

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 2011265 (17%)
  3. 201255 (6%)
  4. 201369 (7%)
  5. 201471 (7%)
  6. 201542 (6%)
  7. 2016125 (10%)
  8. 201737 (5%)
  9. 20189 (4%)
  10. 201951 (12%)
  11. 202018 (13%)
  12. 2021137 (55%)
  13. 202264 (34%)
  14. 202320 (17%)
  15. 20244 (10%)
  16. 202519 (26%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2023 Kia Sorento have?
NHTSA lists 20 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Kia Sorento, which is 17% of the 119 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2023 Kia Sorento?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the 2023 Kia Sorento's Transmission & Powertrain complaints.
At what mileage do 2023 Sorento transmission problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2023 Kia Sorento is 21,700 miles.
Are the 2023 Sorento's transmission issues dangerous?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2023 Kia Sorento, with owners describing sudden loss of acceleration and stalling in traffic.
How does the 2023 Sorento compare to other Sorento years for transmission complaints?
The 2023 Sorento's transmission complaints make up 17% of its total complaints, lower than the 2021 Sorento's 55% and the 2022 Sorento's 34%, based on NHTSA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.