NHTSA Complaint #10384069 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH AND TRANSMISSION IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWN-SHIFTED INTO 4TH GEAR AND HELD THAT POSITION WITHOUT SHIFTING MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY. THE SUDDEN SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE SIMILAR TO REVVING AN ENGINE IN NEUTRAL AND THEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WITH THE RPM'S VERY HIGH AND THE SENSATION WAS A LOUD THUD/THUMP SOUNDING LIKE I JUMPED A CURB, WITH A SIMILAR SENSATION FROM THE DRIVING POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE, BUT COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR EVEN WHEN I STOPPED AT A SAFE LOCATION A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN N, R AND P. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I WAITED 15 SECONDS, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE. AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION AND SHIFTED FINE. NO UNUSUAL NOISES OR CHANGES WERE NOTED. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE SALES PERSON WHO SOLD US THE VEHICLE AND HE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A COMPUTER GLITCH THAT HANDLES AUTOMATIC SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS APPROX 3200 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR CONCERN I HAVE EXPERIENCED. *TR