2021 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 38owner reports
- 45,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
138 of the 248 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 38 of those describe transmission shudder. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Transmission shudder on other Sorento years
No other Sorento model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Sorento year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (6 reports) and the clutch (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 4 recalls on the 2021 Kia Sorento, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Sorento
Front axle shaft failure. Closed sep 20, 2013, led to recall 13V-355.
Transmission intermediate driveshaft. Closed may 10, 2011, led to recall 11V-258.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 28,000 and 80,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Vehicle is showing symptoms and issues related to a recall on 2021 Kia Sorento transmissions. The vehicle hesitates shifting gears and there is no manual shifting mode available. Vehicle also has issues when accelerating due to the hesitation in shifting the gears. This vehicle was not included in the recall for this issue however it is the same issue as the recall describes.”
Filed Oct 6, 2025
“Transmission started slipping after 25,000 miles, very scary in traffic. Got home and transmission completely failed.”
Filed Jul 10, 2022 · 25,000 miles
“Car jumps when going into reverse, going into a stop and coming off a stop. Hesitates off of stops. Feels like it goes into neutral when going around bends. When Iâm park, it rocks back and forth and rpmâs go down. Itâs been happening since I bought the car a year ago.”
Filed Jun 25, 2022
“Transmission down shifts hard when coming to a stop or putting it in reverse. Car has been to the Kia dealership were we where told this normal. We had a expert look at the car and his diagnosis was there is something wrong with it. You can here the Transmission making a clunky sound when coming to the stop. People in parking lots have noticed this as well.”
Filed Jun 5, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 38 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 63 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 31 reports