2022 Sorento sx 4 cylinder turbo. 31000 miles.. This week, I got a tranny warning while in a fast food line. I shut off and restarted car, cleared it. Today, it happened again, and the car lost power. After pulling over, I shut down, waited a minute and restarted . Has anyone had this issue? The car is a certified Kia used car.
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Transmission warning
- Thread starter jmarkb
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Victor Rusk
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That's a very serious problem, and it's understandable that you're concerned, especially since it happened twice and caused a loss of power. A transmission warning light is not something to ignore.2022 Sorento sx 4 cylinder turbo. 31000 miles.. This week, I got a tranny warning while in a fast food line. I shut off and restarted car, cleared it. Today, it happened again, and the car lost power. After pulling over, I shut down, waited a minute and restarted . Has anyone had this issue? The car is a certified Kia used car.
The issue you're describing, where you get a warning light and then the car loses power, is a classic sign of the transmission going into "limp mode." Limp mode is a protective feature that the vehicle's computer activates when it detects a serious problem with the transmission. It does this to prevent further damage. When the car is in limp mode, it will have limited power and will not shift properly.
The fact that the problem went away after you shut the car off and restarted it is also typical for a limp mode event. The computer resets when the car is turned off, and if the problem is intermittent, the car will run normally until the computer detects the problem again.
There are a few possible causes for this, and they can range from something simple to something more serious.
- Low Transmission Fluid: A low or old transmission fluid can cause the transmission to overheat and go into limp mode. You should check the fluid level and condition.
- A Faulty Sensor: The transmission has several sensors that monitor things like fluid temperature, pressure, and the speed of the output shaft. If one of these sensors is giving an intermittent or incorrect reading, it can cause the computer to put the car in limp mode.
- A Valve Body Issue: The valve body is the hydraulic control center of the transmission. It directs the flow of fluid to the correct clutches and bands. If a valve is stuck or there is a pressure issue, it can cause the transmission to fail.
- Software Glitch: A software glitch in the transmission control module could cause it to mistakenly put the car in limp mode.
Since your car is a certified used vehicle, it should be covered by a warranty that extends beyond the original new car warranty. You should take it to a Kia dealership as soon as possible. Explain to them exactly what happened, and tell them that the car lost power. They should be able to check for any stored codes that may not have turned on the check engine light. This is the only way to get a proper diagnosis and get the issue fixed before it causes any more damage.