Problems · by component

2022 Kia Sorento power train problems

68 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Sorento cite power train, 35% of all 194 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
68
35% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“On [XXX], a 2022 Kia Sorento with 37,971 miles displayed "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately." The vehicle is currently drivable, with no crash and no injury reported, but the driver is concerned about a potential loss of drive power while driving. Pride Kia of Lynn, 793 Lynnway, Lynn, MA 01905, confirmed an appointment only for December 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM, 36 days later, and refused to advance the inspection. A VIN recall check on October 26, 2026 showed 0 unrepaired recalls for this vehicle, including no open SC250 transmission recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2026Power trainODI 11773710
“2022 Kia Sorento, VIN [XXX], subject to Recall 22V760 (Kia SC250, 8-speed DCT electric oil pump). The recall was performed with a software update only; the transmission and original pump were not replaced. On XXX at 116,273 miles, while driving, the dash displayed “Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately” and the vehicle entered limp mode. My scan tool read P193B79 (high-pressure electric oil pump performance) and P0868 (transmission fluid pressure low). The message cleared on its own. I later cleared the codes with my scan tool; P0868 returned and P193B79 has not as of XXX. No fluid leaks. Transmission gear oil was serviced at a Kia dealer about 13,900 miles earlier. Kia’s recall report says this pump defect can cause complete loss of motive power. I believe the software-only remedy left the defective pump in the vehicle and may be inadequate. I am limiting use of the vehicle. Kia America case #XXX. A dealer has not yet diagnosed the vehicle. That is the next step.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11770758
“Car goes into "limp mode" and functions on only partial power. Warning light reads "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately." Dealership says car shows no codes. My 2022 Kia Sorento SX had a recall because this problem is known. Kia recalled all the 2021 and 22's and fixed the programming to allow for limp mode. This "fix" Kia dealership kept the car and drove it but could not replicate. I took the car back and it happened again. It has happened on July 24th, August 26, September 3, October 7. In between, I've paid for an $800 transmission service and Kia has replaced the "clutch pack for the transmission" (whatever that is). The Car Pros Kia service writers all said that I needed to bring the car back while the warning was on. So when it happened yesterday, 10/7/26, I "limped" it 15 miles with my 4 way flashers on and carefully did NOT turn the car off so that someone could observe the warning. The service writers would not even come out and look at it - AFTER ALL THOSE PREVIOUS DEMANDS THAT I BRING IT IN WITH THE WARNING ON. They just had a flunky drive it to the garage to look at tomorrow. I had a foster child in the car (I am a court…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2026Power trainODI 11769847
“The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power on the highway due to the failure of the transmission electric oil pump, matching NHTSA Campaign 22V760000. The vehicle previously received only the TCU software update remedy. The software update failed to prevent the underlying physical defect from occurring, and the vehicle is now dangerously disabled. The local dealership is refusing to perform the physical transmission replacement mandated by the recall remedy, falsely claiming the recall is permanently closed because of the prior software patch.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2026Power trainODI 11769456
“The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated after driving 25-30 MPH into a parking lot and parking the vehicle, the message "Transmission System Error Check Transmission" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an auto parts store, where it was determined that the transmission pump was failing, there was low oil pressure, but no debris found inside the transmission. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where no diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved; a hard transmission reset was performed. Following the repair, the failure recurred, and an unknown vehicle symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was returned to the local dealer with the error message and symbol present. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2026Power trainODI 11764664
“The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost drive power. The vehicle was able to continue driving but at a reduced speed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a second dealer, Shawnee Mission Kia (7951 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Mission, KS 66202), but the failure was not duplicated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,067.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2026Power trainODI 11761830

Showing 6 of 68 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 2, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

Power trainReported Oct 11, 2022NHTSA 22V760000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 2, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2022 Sorento problem areas