2008 Kia Sorento Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 11%of 217 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Kia Sorento, 11% of the 217 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I started my 2008 Kia Sorento ex when I put it in reverse all of a sudden it makes a loud bump noise and with pressure on the brakes it jumps hard in reverse I look and see my ESC light came on and I could not accelerate, my vehicle in fact slowed down terribly. I have noticed that if I shut my car off then turn it back on sometimes this will take care of the problem for a short time. It looks like this has happened 3 times during hot days. This is very dangerous when driving with my kids in the backseat. …”
NHTSA complaint #11100355, filed 2018-06, 88,000 miles“I have had nothing but problems with my 2008 Kia, first it was the front rotors replaced three times within 3 mos. After multiple diagnoses to figure out the problem. I have had acceleration problems, I just put 800.00 in new rotors and tires and fuel/air induction services. Then the other day driving 45 MPH the vehicle started to shake, making a thud thud thud noise in the front end, felt like I had a flat tire, I pulled over, no flat tires. …”
NHTSA complaint #10637156, filed 2014-09, 116,000 miles“On 3 occasions my car has slipped out of park after stopping & removing my key... It is possible that my Kia has allowed me to remove the key when it is not in park, but I think it is the former..”
NHTSA complaint #10450326, filed 2012-03, 49,000 miles“After removing the gear from reverse to drive, the acceleration will not comply, goes less than 10 MPH while pressing on the gas. I stopped and switched back to park. Tried the drive gear again, and it was still not acknowledging the change, it responds like it's in neutral. I parked for a few minutes and turned off the vehicle. After 10 minutes I tried it again and it was fine. This has since happened on four different occasions. After the first incident I had the vehicle checked by a mechanic, told the transmission was fine, no sign of the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10615217, filed 2014-07, 97,500 miles“My 2008 Kia Sorento is experiencing intermittent transmission lunging. There is only 40,000 miles on this vehicle. The vehicle does this every day, except when I take it into the dealer. Once I do take it in to the dealer, they say that nothing is wrong and that they cannot get the car to do the same thing I do. I believe that no diagnostics were performed, and I know that a proper road test was not performed. I have taken this vehicle in 2 times within the last month and no solution has been determined.”
NHTSA complaint #10418202, filed 2011-08, 40,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10037693Jan 1, 2011Kia: there may be erratic shifting, shift shock, and a malfunction light on with stored trouble codes. This is caused by a problem within the transfer motor.
- 10032617Feb 1, 2010Kia motors: some vehicles with a 3.8l engine may experience a bumping symptom during engagement of the damper clutch (torque converter lock up clutch), and a bucking symptom when…
- 10032792Oct 1, 2009Kia: information related to the transmission control module (tcm) upgrade for certain models. Vehicles with 3.3l engine may experience a bumping symptom during engagement of the…
- 10024989May 1, 20082007-2008my sorento (bl) tcm reprogram.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | 25% |
| 2024 | 5 | 11% |
| 2023 | 22 | 17% |
| 2022 | 68 | 35% |
| 2021 | 144 | 56% |
| 2020 | 18 | 13% |
| 2019 | 51 | 12% |
| 2018 | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 | 37 | 5% |
| 2016 | 126 | 10% |
| 2015 | 42 | 6% |
| 2014 | 72 | 7% |
| 2013 | 69 | 7% |
| 2012 | 55 | 6% |
| 2011 | 265 | 17% |
| 2009 | 9 | 16% |
| 2008 | 23 | 11% |
| 2007 | 20 | 13% |
| 2006 | 35 | 14% |
| 2005 | 38 | 12% |
| 2004 | 40 | 18% |
| 2003 | 22 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2008 Kia Sorento
66 complaintsElectronic stability control
44 complaintsEngine
35 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
28 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology