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KIA transmission problems

Owners have filed 4,195 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on KIA vehicles — 7% of everything reported about the brand, across 40 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the KIA Sorento, worst in 2011.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

4,195

Complaints

7%

Share of all KIA complaints

147

Crashes

70

Fires

Which KIA models have the most transmission problems

Sorento 1,162 27.7%

Worst in 2011

Optima 503 12.0%

Worst in 2016

Sportage 483 11.5%

Worst in 1998

Soul 424 10.1%

Worst in 2020

Sephia 293 7.0%

Worst in 1999

Forte 215 5.1%

Worst in 2019

Telluride 168 4.0%

Worst in 2020

Sedona 115 2.7%

Worst in 2006

RIO 98 2.3%

Worst in 2001

EV6 96 2.3%

Worst in 2022

Spectra 84 2.0%

Worst in 2004

Seltos 82 2.0%

Worst in 2021

Niro 80 1.9%

Worst in 2019

K5 57 1.4%

Worst in 2022

Amanti 39 0.9%

Worst in 2006

Optima Hybrid 31 0.7%

Worst in 2012

Niro Phev 26 0.6%

Worst in 2019

Worst KIA model years for transmission problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2011 KIA Sorento 266 13% 34,000 B
2021 KIA Sorento 129 36% 63,750 D
2016 KIA Sorento 123 8% 73,000 C
2020 KIA Soul 88 18% 8,850 C
1999 KIA Sephia 78 10% 31,000 C
2016 KIA Optima 72 7% 50,000 A
1998 KIA Sportage 71 13% 85,000 B
2014 KIA Sorento 70 5% 70,000 A
2020 KIA Telluride 70 8% 6,438 B
1998 KIA Sephia 69 7% 42,000 C
2013 KIA Sorento 69 5% 55,768 B
2013 KIA Optima 64 3% 64,837 B
2021 KIA Seltos 64 13% 6,700 B
1999 KIA Sportage 62 13% 67,500 B
2022 KIA Sorento 62 22% 24,330 C
2016 KIA Soul 61 5% 74,500 A
2015 KIA Soul 60 5% 92,640 C
2012 KIA Sorento 56 5% 31,000 C
2014 KIA Soul 56 5% 76,400 B
2012 KIA Optima 54 4% 78,992 A

Other KIA problems

Transmission problems on other brands