general problems of the 2009 Kia Motor Sorento

Recently brought my 2009 kia Sorento to the dealer on 9/9/13. The vehicle was banging into gear (whether reverse or drive) and it was sluggish when attempting to drive. It was very scary trying to make a left turn while crossing over oncoming traffic as the car was not going anywhere when trying to drive. The check engine light also came on. My check engine light somehow was not on when they took possession of the vehicle. The dealership told me they couldn't duplicate the problem. Then sent me on my way with no recommendations. Now a week later, 9/17/13, I called the dealer and reported the same incident as before. They told me to drive it to them and keep the car running. The check engine light was on again. As the tech at the dealer took possession of my vehicle, you can hear it bang into gear and hear the rpm's racing as they drove forward. The tech advised that the check engine codes were stored history codes. They are to do with the transmission. This time kia advises to replace the transmission. Meanwhile, the transmission was replaced December of 2011. Kia still has my truck as I am afraid to drive it. I have a call into kia customer service regional office. This has been an ongoing problem from early on. I had brought the vehicle in on numerous occasions and the dealership would tell me they couldn't duplicate my problem. This is a safety issue! when you put the car into gear, there is a loud banging sound (sounds like you were rear ended). Then when you apply the gas pedal to go forward, the car goes nowhere. The rpms race and you are barely moving. At other times, when you slow down in traffic or are stopped at a light, and attempt to drive, you barely move as the rpm's are racing. This problem needs to be addressed! it is a safety issue!!.

When shifting my 2009 kia Sorento from p to r, it violently jolts into r and then when shifting into d, it has almost no power, as if I were driving in first gear with a manual transmission (vehicle is automatic). After a few minutes, it will drive normally until I stop, then it again is very sluggish with almost no power until it "catches". Sometimes if I stop the car, put it in park and shut it off, then restart, it works fine. This problem does not happen every day, it's random but when it happens, it is very scary and I am now afraid of driving it. Every time I start the car, I gingerly shift to d or r, waiting for the jolt. I am afraid it's going to jerk backwards out of control and hit someone/something. It has been happening for two years now, off and on. Dealer said they can't duplicate the problem and "there is nothing they can do until it breaks". In which case my warranty will be over and they'll charge me for a new transmission. Called kia and they told me the same thing but they opened a ticket for my problem. I know both kia and the dealership knows what the problem is but they are ignoring it. I have done a lot of internet research regarding this problem and see complaint after complaint (including three on this site just for the 2009 model alone). I know the 2011 models had similar problems also. It's very sad because I really like the car but I'm too nervous driving it now so I'll be trading it in and going back to a chevy.

While decending a mountian pass in colorado with the vehicle in 4wd-low range and the shift selector in the sport mode the transmission would up-shift at about 3200 rpm causing the vehicle to gain speed very quickly and requiring the constant application of brakes which causes the brakes to over heat. The owners manual clearly states that this is an approved use of the vehicle and that the transmission should not shift until the red-zone (approx 6000 rpm). I contacted kia customer service in November of 2009 and have had several conversations with kia's customer service and mr richard pulridia whith kia service has evaluated the vehicle and filed a report with kia engineering in may 2011. I talked to mr pulrida this week and he has not received any information to date and has no idea when or if any action will be taken to correct this unsafe condition. I believe this operation is unsave because it causes quick accelleration to unsafe speeds whin in a steep decent.