Table 1 shows one common power train related problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Sorento.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Power Train problems |
While driving, have had the engine of my 25 Sorento hybrid stop working. An emergency notice comes on the screen (see photo) stating to pull over safely. The hybrid system error message has come on 4-5 times in the last month. The vehicle will not drive more than 15-20 miles per hour and has virtually no acceleration making it very dangerous to drive in or around high speed/traffic areas. Took it to a local kia dealership where I was told nothing was wrong and their only guess was that it was related to the battery and cold weather. The same messaged/incident has happened 2x since bringing it into the dealership. With the most recent being 1/22/26. Problem first arose on 1/9/26. There are dozens of reports of this in online threads over the past few months with kia hybrid engines.
This incident started within the first 100 miles of ownership. The dealership hasn’t been able to recreate the incident. I put my 2025 kia Sorento in the “automatic” drive position. I start driving and my transmission won’t shift gears. I looked down at my dashboard and it shows the vehicle is in “manual” drive gear 1. I look at my gear shift and it shows the vehicle is in “automatic” drive position. If I push the vehicle to its redline or approximately 5000 rpm’s the vehicle shifts and dashboard changes from “1” to “d”. In summary my transmission is malfunctioning and shifting intermittently on its own from automatic to manual drive and the gear shifter is always in the automatic shift position. This happens several times a month. I video taped the incident because the dealership didn’t believe me when I told them this keeps happening.
In December I submitted a complaint about the powertrain not knowing the extent of the problem. My 2025 kia Sorento x-line sx prestige with shy of 48000 miles had a catastrophic and potentially life threatening malfunction with the powertrain. The technicians revealed that the transmission housing actually exploded, launching shrapnel into the surrounding area. This had the potential to impact other drivers on the road, and had the blast gone in my direction it may have pierced the shielding and struck me or my passenger. It was far beyond a regular breakdown. The damage was so severe that while under warranty I still as of today 4/18/2026 do not have my vehicle back. They seem to be unable to fix the problem.
Today is 12/15/2025 about a month or 2 ago I was on the highway coming from south carolina to north carolina when the engine revved up unexpectedly without input. It has hda2 and that was doing most of the work. The vehicle started to speed up beyond the set limit and once I hit the brakes and manually shifted I was able to regain control. Last week the vehicle made a small noise that I wasn’t sure about. I called the dealership thinking that it could be a transmission problem. When I called they didn’t seem concerned and asked me to bring it in Monday (today). I had no lights or error codes (and still don’t) on the dash and they did not recommend that I don’t drive it so I continued using the car. Last night it made a horrendous noise started revving on its own and shifting very hard ans if something was coming apart. This morning on my way to the dealership the car completely seized up at an intersection. The car has 47900 miles on it. It’s a 2025 and the transmission seems to have completely blown. Ive read online several complaints about the transmission on these vehicles and think that they may be a major concern. For a new car to have this type of issue locking up while on public roads and smoking is absolutely a hazard. My only saving grace is that it happened at an intersection and not on the highway where an accident would have been inevitable. Please look into the dct transmission on kia Sorentos. Particularly x-line sx prestige models. It is a highly unsafe vehicle. Another issue that the car is having is a clicking noise on the steering column that seems to be getting much worse over time and im afraid will result in loss of steering. Im having them check it out as well. The vehicle never showed a malfunction and I’ve attached a screenshot of the app showing it in perfect health despite being undrivable. I still have no invoice and no police report was made.
Vehicle: 2025 kia Sorento (leased) VIN: [xxx] mileage at failure: 11,345 incident dates: March 23, April 27, November 28–December 1 type: loss of power / electrical failure / safety hazard complaint description: I am reporting repeated electrical failures and complete loss of power in my 2025 kia Sorento that created unsafe situations for myself and my children. The first failure occurred on March 23, approximately 2½ weeks after leasing the vehicle. The vehicle died without warning and had to be jumped. I brought it to the kia dealership, but service would not perform a diagnostic without an appointment and sent me home with no repair. The second failure occurred on April 27. This time the vehicle was completely dead again. Kia’s service manager retrieved the vehicle from my home, diagnosed a failed battery cell, and replaced the battery. The third failure occurred between November 28 and December 1. The vehicle was again completely inoperable. I attempted to jump the vehicle on multiple days, but it would not hold a charge. I was stranded without transportation. The interior doors and trunk would not unlock because the power locks failed, and my belongings and large business related were inaccessible. Headlights flickered like a strobe light before the vehicle lost power entirely. Kia towed the vehicle from my home on December 1. These repeated electrical failures have resulted in multiple incidents of being stranded, including with my children, and have caused loss of use of the vehicle for several days. The defect is unpredictable and creates a serious safety concern, especially because the vehicle can lose power without warning and I am unable to unlock the doors. This raises a serious safety concern when transporting children. I am requesting that NHTSA document this as a potential electrical system safety defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Beginning at approximately 750 miles on a brand-new 2025 kia Sorento hybrid ex, the vehicle experienced a flashing check engine light accompanied by severe shaking while driving, rough idling, loss of power, and loud engine/exhaust noise. The vehicle became difficult and unsafe to operate due to the vibration and reduced drivability. These symptoms appeared suddenly on November 22, less than three weeks after purchase. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on November 24. Their technician retrieved diagnostic codes p0300 (random misfire) and p0304 (cylinder #4 misfire) and identified a failed ignition coil on cylinder #4. The coil was replaced, and the dealership reported the issue resolved. However, less than 24 hours later, with the vehicle still under 800 miles, the exact same symptoms reoccurred: heavy shaking while driving, vibration while idling, loss of power, and unstable engine operation. This indicates the underlying issue may be more serious than a single coil failure. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership, and the vehicle is currently back in their possession for further inspection. A loaner vehicle was issued because the vehicle was not safe to drive. The sudden shaking, engine misfire, and loss of power created a significant safety risk, especially if this failure were to occur at highway speeds or while turning across traffic. Given the extremely low mileage and recurrence immediately after repair, this may indicate a broader defect affecting engine performance or ignition components in this model. The vehicle remains available for inspection by NHTSA, the manufacturer, or investigators.
Our 2025 kia Sorento has exhibited several issues with shifting into gears especially from 1-2 gear there is hesitation, hard shifting, where it has delayed engagement, rough or jerky shifts, and a feeling of power loss while driving. It has a hard time getting into 3rd gear and just stalls, dragging at 1st/2nd when attempting to accelerate and coming down from 4th gear back into 2nd and 3rd. A "check transmission' warning light has appeared on the dashboard. This is teh second time we have had this issue. The car only has 16k miles on it, we have had it for 12 months exactly now and only drive it locally.
On 10/3 driving at roughly 60mph on the freeway, when going to accelerate, the vehicle would not accelerate with no power going to the engine. The gas motor was not engaging, and the car rapidly decelerated to around 20mph in an incredibly unsafe situation. Coasting it off the freeway, it was towed to the local kia dealership. No warning lights or any indicators went off during that event. 10/9/2025, I picked up the vehicle after they replaced the high-pressure fuel pump and high-pressure fuel line, I noticed the battery was very low and thought it would charge while driving. As I left the dealership, the vehicle did not engage the gas engine and quickly avoided acceleration - no power was going to the engine. The battery reached a catastrophic low, and the engine failed in a busy intersection - creating another extremely unsafe situation - as I was turning around to return to the dealership. This time the hybrid system warning system went off and the battery and oil lights went on. While waiting for the tow truck, the vehicle would not turn off. It is currently with the dealership, 41k miles on vehicle, 1 year old.
The contact owns a 2025 kia Sorento. Upon starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse(r); the vehicle failed to respond with the message "service in" displayed on the instrument panel. The contact repeatedly depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact placed the gear shifter back into park(p) and then shifted back into reverse(r) and the vehicle started to accelerate slightly before coming to a complete stop with the accelerator pedal depressed. After repeatedly depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jolted backwards. The contact decided to park(p) the vehicle and scheduled an appointment with the dealer for service. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 4,850.
There is an electronic glitch with the gear shifting system where it will randomly / sporadically not allow shifting from reverse to drive and provides the error message "gear already selected. " this has happened numerous times and resolves itself after 1-2 minutes. However, the vehicle remains in the wrong gear (reverse) while waiting, creating a significant safety issue. I purchased this vehicle brand new from kia coughlin in dublin, OH. After two service visits where they were unable to recreate the problem (it happens randomly / sporatically), they have not provided resolution or a way ahead. I have multiple videos of this issue taken while it was happening.
While driving at speeds below 25 mph, my transmission seems to get caught between gears. When I press the accelerator, the engine revs, but the car doesn’t accelerate as it should. It feels like the power just drops out. There were no warning lights or indicators on the dashboard. The exact same thing happened again the very next day, at low speed, in the same general area. Both times, the car suddenly lost power in traffic, leaving me unable to move normally. This is extremely dangerous — other drivers have no idea that my vehicle isn’t responding, which puts me and everyone around me at risk. It’s clear there’s a serious issue with the transmission malfunctioning.
Transmission caught between gears at speeds below 25mph. Engine revs without acceleration: drivers report pressing the accelerator, and the engine's rpms increase, but the vehicle does not speed up as expected. Driver returned the vehicle to dealership and reported the incident. Dealership reported, malfunction could not be replicated. No indicator or warning lights present. The same incident occurred the following day for second time. Both incidents occurred around [xxx]. On [xxx] at low operating speeds. Sudden loss of power places you and those around you in harm's way when traveling at/below posted speed limits. Other drivers around you don't know that your car is unable to move. This is a safety hazard. Clearly the transmission is failing in malfunctioning. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Dad, driving back with daughter, noticed a brief and unusual delay between shifts, but was able to make it home fine. A few minutes later, mom left for picking up son after school. On the way there, she noticed sluggish acceleration, louder engine sounds/effort on acceleration and mild slopes, and there was a lag in acceleration response. After powering off the vehicle and sit in idle to recharge battery, restarted trip home and was unable to get acceleration response up the hills, doing only 20 mph. Engine was struggling and not getting any acceleration response. No check engine lights were generated as usual. Dad called service manager at kia temecula and he said to call kia roadside assistance to come tow the car to them. He also said that likely we'll be out of pocket to do any car rentals until they have a car to loan to us.
Nhtsa complaint – kia Sorento vehicle: 2025 kia Sorento component/system: engine, fuel/propulsion system, power train date of incident: [xxx] location: [xxx] , southbound description of the problem: while driving my 2025 kia Sorento southbound on [xxx] , the accelerator did not respond properly both on a flat road and while going uphill. The engine failed to provide adequate power, creating a serious safety risk on the highway. The vehicle is currently at the dealer for inspection, which will take place on Monday. However, I am extremely frustrated that I have not been provided a loaner or rental vehicle, even though I need transportation immediately. Additionally, as a u. S. Citizen, I feel I am being treated unfairly and receiving discriminatory service compared to others in similar situations. No warning lights or messages appeared before the incident. The dealer has not confirmed or fixed the issue yet. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. I am reporting this issue to document the safety risk, service denial, and potential discrimination, and to seek proper investigation. Inspection availability: unknown – vehicle can be inspected upon request. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
On [xxx], while driving home at highway speeds, I attempted to accelerate and the vehicle bucked and sputtered violently. The check engine light came on, and my obd scanner showed multiple misfires in cylinder 1. I have also experienced suspected transmission slipping from a full stop and during highway driving—rpms will spike (up to ~5,500) with little or no increase in speed, sometimes after releasing the accelerator. These issues have occurred multiple times prior to [xxx]. On [xxx], while traveling 80–85 mph, I released the accelerator and the rpms again spiked to ~5,500 while the vehicle rapidly lost speed and barely moved. Starting mileage at first occurrence is unknown, but kia should have this documented from a prior service visit. The condition is ongoing and worsening, creating a serious safety risk by causing loss of acceleration and unpredictable power surges while in traffic. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
On June 5, 2025, I was driving my 2025 kia Sorento. I proceeded to get onto the highway from an on ramp. At that moment, the engine stalled. The car would not accelerate. I could not go faster than 20-25 mph. This was a huge safety risk to me, to my passengers, and to others on the highway. Eventually I exited the highway and drove home very slowly, since the car would not accelerate beyond 20-25 mph. I was pressing the gas pedal as far down as it would go. I even tried turning off the car and restarting it. The check engine light was on. The car was towed to a kia dealer. The kia mechanics noted that the fault log in the car's computer system noted that the stalling/failure to accelerate event did occur, but that they were unable to reproduce it, even after several attempts driving it around in various conditions. The kia mechanics told me there was nothing they could do or fix, since they were unable to reproduce the stalling event. Then just yesterday, on July 6, 2025, the Sorento stalled again while it was being driven on the highway. I am having it towed tomorrow to the same kia dealership to have the same mechanics look at it again. At this point, this is an extreme safety issue for anyone driving the car, in the car while it is being driven, or on the highway when the car is on the highway. Imagine if the car stalls again and another car behind us traveling at a high speed slams into us. We could potentially suffer mortal or grave physical injury.
On July 5th 2025 round 5:15 pm est, while driving in the center lane of the highway at approximately 73 mph, the check engine light and multiple amber warning lights suddenly turned on. This occurred at just 1,920 miles on a brand-new vehicle. At the time of the incident, the vehicle stopped responding to the accelerator and would not move forward. Fortunately, traffic was light, and I was able to steer safely to the shoulder. However, I was traveling with my family, and under heavier traffic conditions or with vehicles closely following, this sudden loss of power could easily have resulted in a serious multi-vehicle accident. Following the above incident, I brought my vehicle to the kia dealership for a diagnostic check. However, they did not take any corrective action, stating that the check engine light was not currently illuminated—even though I provided photo evidence and the fault code p069811 captured from the kia app. This raises serious concerns, as I cannot predict when the issue might occur again. According to multiple reports on kia forums and blogs, many owners of new vehicles have experienced the same problem, yet kia has not addressed it. This is a serious, life-threatening safety issue while driving, and this trim should be publicly acknowledged as having low reliability and safety concerns until a resolution is found.
When accelerating, like when turning from a driveway onto a main road, or from a stop on an incline, there is a significant delay in acceleration, as if the transmission is not moving to a higher gear, or like a turbo lag. This vehicle does not have a turbo but the effect seems similar. This could potentially cause an accident when the driver expects the car to behave as it normally would on a flat straight surface.
While traveling to va from TX, [xxx] and on [xxx] the vehicle hesitated to accelerate multiple times. Some were from a complete stop, and other times it occurred when accelerating to merge on the highway. On [xxx], I pulled out of a driveway onto a very busy road and upon increasing pressure on the gas, the vehicle shook (similar to the behavior of a manual when letting up off the clutch and not applying even pressure to the gas. Due to the vehicle's hesitation, I as almost hit by a large truck traveling on my exact path. This was the sole instance that warranted a call to kia corporate, as I feel the issue is a significant safety concern. I placed the vehicle in service 11-12 Jun and the attached receipt highlights that the dealer was unable to replicate the issue. As of 16 Jun, the vehicle is still exhibiting the same issue intermittently, along with the break pedal popping when ascending or descending on a hill/ramp. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Have had an issue of losing power while on an interstate traveling back from work twice now. After the second time I reported to my local dealership. While driving home, my vehicle lost power and was extremely slow and unresponsive. Check engine light came on but when checked under the diagnostics of the entertainment system, showed no issues present. Light turn off but still was having issues with responsiveness. When arriving home connected my personal odb scanner tool to the vehicle and showed 1 code p0301cylinder 1 misfire. Had take. Pics of the code and of my obd tool and cleared the code. Car started functioning correctly again. But still took to dealership for analysis. Dealership could not find any issues or codes, probably cause I cleared the code which allowed the vehicle to run normally again.
The dct transmission causes significant hesitation at slow speeds or starting from a stop. This often leaves the driver and it’s occupants in a vulnerable position if the car hesitates when trying to navigate through traffic. I have taken it to the dealership and they stated that nothing is wrong with it, however, in reviewing online forums, it is obviously a significant concern.
The contact owns a 2025 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 mph, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact's husband coasted the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted. The contact called the dealer and made an appointment to have the vehicle serviced. The contact drove the vehicle without failure. The dealer performed a diagnostic test, but no fault was found with vehicle. The contact was instructed to pick up the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was 213.
I pulled out of my subdivision and immediately received an error check engine light warning and initially didn't think much of it. As I pressed the accelerator I noticed there was no engine power at all just electric (this is a Sorento hybrid sx prestige) so I immediately pulled over and turned the car off for two minutes. Upon turning it back on the engine did rengage so I decided to proceed. About a mile further the same check engine error occurred with the engine not responsive at all and only electric power available so I made a u-turn and proceed back to my house. Prior to arriving at my house another warning error appeared warning me the electric battery was dangerously low and to stop the vehicle immediately. I believe the error was a hybrid system error with code p112000. Once again I turned the vehicle off and waited 2 minutes with the engine reengaging. I had the car towed to the dealer where it sat for 3 weeks. Their response was they couldn't reproduce the error so had no idea how to proceed to fix the issue. That is unacceptable to me since kia programmed the car in the first place they should be very aware. I have had two cases open with kia where they are refusing a solution and my request to buy back the vehicle. I have had another case with kbb auto and they likewise refer to the WI state lemon law. I have clearly communicted to them that I don't feel safe driving this vehicle any longer and they need to take action for all consumers but that is falling flat. My safety and that of others is being put at major risk here as if this error occurs in situations such as pulling into heavy free flowing traffic or on a busy freeway where the engine doesn't engage many lives are at risk. There was no attempt to fix the vehicle at all. Just reset the error and told me to come get it. Let me make it clear here. . . The vehicle is working but hidden somewhere in the software is a major programming glitch. Please help!.