YearToAvoid

2025 Kia Sorento Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 19 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2025 Kia Sorento, 26% of its 74 total complaints. No related recalls are listed, and no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported. Median mileage at failure is 2,531.5 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
19
26% of 74
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
2,532 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden acceleration hesitation at highway speeds, sometimes forcing the driver to coast to the shoulder.
  • Several report the engine bucking, sputtering, or shaking similar to a manual transmission slipping clutch, with RPMs spiking without matching speed increase.
  • Multiple owners report the transmission getting caught between gears at speeds below 25 mph, where pressing the accelerator raises engine RPM but produces little or no forward speed.
  • Some describe complete loss of power or unresponsiveness to the accelerator at highway speeds, requiring the vehicle to be towed.
  • One owner reported hard, jerky, or delayed shifting between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears with dragging and stalling sensations.
  • A separate complaint describes an electronic glitch where the gear shifter would not move from reverse to drive, displaying a 'gear already selected' error.

When 2025 Kia Sorento transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 19, 2025, latest Aug 2, 2026.

2025 Kia Sorento transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2025Aug 2025Nov 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2025 to Aug 2026; peak Oct 2025 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2025 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 and powertrain complaints does the 2025 Kia Sorento have?
NHTSA lists 19 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2025 Kia Sorento, which is 26% of the 74 total complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2025 Kia Sorento transmission?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this component area on the 2025 Kia Sorento.
At what mileage do these transmission problems occur?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2025 Kia Sorento is 2,531.5 miles, indicating issues surfacing early in ownership.
Did the 2025 Sorento transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?
No. NHTSA data shows zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries reported among these complaints.
What kind of transmission symptoms are owners reporting?
Owners describe acceleration hesitation, engine bucking or sputtering, gears getting caught below 25 mph, sudden power loss at highway speeds, and one report of a gear-shift electronic glitch.

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.