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Transmission Issue with the 1.6 L 8 speed

10999 Views 25 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  nick.burner621
Has anyone else had random fluctuations with transmission shifts. I have been noticing this a lot in Sport and Smart mode. The other day while in traffic, I was about to accelerate because the traffic lifted, and the car just held at the same low gear (Sport Mode)…To the point that it was over revving to the high 5k to 6k RPMS. It would not shift to the next gear. I had to let go of the throttle and change the drive mode for it to function properly. I have noticed this behavior on numerous occasion. All in various driving situations. Has anyone else experienced this? I am wondering if Kia will release a TSB for possible Transmission reprogramming.
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Hours within getting the car I was noticing issues. Coming off the gas caused a rather hard down shift. Transmission would shift a little hard in smart mode while getting back on the gas. Every once in awhile I have hesitation in all modes including sport. One commute home I had switched modes because of stop and go traffic and every time I gave a little gas the trans shifted so hard it felt like I got tapped by another driver. About 900 miles on the car now and it seems to not be as prevalent but it is still happening from time to time. It seems quite random and tough to reproduce consistently.
I really don't think this is a transmission problem, sport mode is just very aggressive for this car and seems to be built with a track racing mindset for cornering and heavy acceleration. This car tries very hard to hold boost in sport mode. Smart mode is probably switching you over into Sport mode when you notice this, it's purpose is to try and figure out what mode you are trying to drive in. Also if you are in the first ~2000 miles of driving the car, wait until you have a feel for the throttle and the car has been given some time to break in.
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Hours within getting the car I was noticing issues. Coming off the gas caused a rather hard down shift. Transmission would shift a little hard in smart mode while getting back on the gas. Every once in awhile I have hesitation in all modes including sport. One commute home I had switched modes because of stop and go traffic and every time I gave a little gas the trans shifted so hard it felt like I got tapped by another driver. About 900 miles on the car now and it seems to not be as prevalent but it is still happening from time to time. It seems quite random and tough to reproduce consistently.
Thank you! I’m glad I’m not the only one. And yes it’s hard to reproduce. Some days the car drives like butter.
I really don't think this is a transmission problem, sport mode is just very aggressive for this car and seems to be built with a track racing mindset for cornering and heavy acceleration. This car tries very hard to hold boost in sport mode. Smart mode is probably switching you over into Sport mode when you notice this, it's purpose is to try and figure out what mode you are trying to drive in. Also if you are in the first ~2000 miles of driving the car, wait until you have a feel for the throttle and the car has been given some time to break in.
I am not sure it’s the driving modes. I’ve owned 3 newer gen Kias in the last 4 years. The Cadenza and traded in the 4 cylinder Stinger for my K5. I had no issues with those engines/transmissions holding the Revs so high in sport mode. It’s as if I am driving the car in manual shift mode and I don’t change to a higher gear. Im at over 2k mileage wise and my last experience with this was the other day with the freeway traffic incident. I had a first Gen Optima hybrid in 2012. That car had horrible transmission shifts. Around the end of the first year there was TSB released that fixed about 90% of the funky transmission issues. Sold the car to a co worker and he still drives it today with zero issues and 120k miles. Hoping that a TSB will come out in the near future for the K5.
Smart Mode is just awful. I've stopped using it all together as the car doesn't seem to understand what is going on.

Sport mode makes sense for Rev Hang as it's designed to run the car balls out. But, it's not for your daily commute.

I stick with Normal for everyday driving, and Sport if I hit the highway (which happens infrequently in my daily life). I would like to set up the Custom mode for the Sport Suspension with the Normal driving characteristics, as I do have some nice curvy bits of my drive, but I can't be bothered to click the screen a few times.
I really don't think this is a transmission problem, sport mode is just very aggressive for this car and seems to be built with a track racing mindset for cornering and heavy acceleration. This car tries very hard to hold boost in sport mode. Smart mode is probably switching you over into Sport mode when you notice this, it's purpose is to try and figure out what mode you are trying to drive in. Also if you are in the first ~2000 miles of driving the car, wait until you have a feel for the throttle and the car has been given some time to break in.
Car shifts hard no matter what mode, highway or city driving, stop and go or long distance, doesn't matter. I've driven plenty of very responsive and powerful cars and this isn't that. Hasn't mattered when I switch modes either. If I was driving in smart and dropped it into sport I could see some issue there but It's even when starting the car in smart or normal or sport and shifting to drive and starting my ride. Like I said at times it feels like someone slow rolled into me. Thats not normal by any means or any type of car.
Car shifts hard no matter what mode, highway or city driving, stop and go or long distance, doesn't matter. I've driven plenty of very responsive and powerful cars and this isn't that. Hasn't mattered when I switch modes either. If I was driving in smart and dropped it into sport I could see some issue there but It's even when starting the car in smart or normal or sport and shifting to drive and starting my ride. Like I said at times it feels like someone slow rolled into me. Thats not normal by any means or any type of car.
Only time I've noticed a harder shift is when I forget to put the Parking Brake on when getting out of the car and the car rests on a gear. Even with a "Spirited Drive" last night close to 3 digit speed in Sport Mode, I did not encounter any shifting issues.
Has anyone else had random fluctuations with transmission shifts. I have been noticing this a lot in Sport and Smart mode. The other day while in traffic, I was about to accelerate because the traffic lifted, and the car just held at the same low gear (Sport Mode)…To the point that it was over revving to the high 5k to 6k RPMS. It would not shift to the next gear. I had to let go of the throttle and change the drive mode for it to function properly. I have noticed this behavior on numerous occasion. All in various driving situations. Has anyone else experienced this? I am wondering if Kia will release a TSB for possible Transmission reprogramming.
Mine did the same thing when trying to pull out on to freeway. Ran fine below about 50 mph but when I stepped on it it wouldn't go. I pulled over shut it off and restarted and it ran perfect had it in smart mode which I had been using for about 8 months. Read this forum that night tried switching to normal mode and ran fine on my way to work in the morning. When I went to get on freeway to come home same thing as the day before. Tried switching modes while i was driving this time did nothing. Pulled over shut off and restarted ran perfect. No recalls. Calling dealer to have it checked.
Have been experiencing this issue since purchasing the car in March 2021. I've brought this to the service departments attention at the dealership and they take me as a joke and I've been having fluid leak issues and somehow had a blown head gasket. Service department manager said they "repaired" the issue and sent me on my way. Next thing I know my car is still leaking. Took it back and the manager said he refuses to service my car and help me and dismissed me. By the way the manufacturer has been of no help either. They know of all the issues and have not done anything to help resolve them. Had to take my car out to Moreno Valley (another city) and they told me I have a lose drain plug (which was suppose to be repaired along with the head gasket) and I am missing parts underneath my car along with alot of hardware (screws, clips, etc.) I have reported it to the manufacturer and again no one has gotten back to me. It's been 2 weeks already. I have now hired me a lawyer and I am currently in the process of a lawsuit. Praying everything goes well 🙏
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Have been experiencing this issue since purchasing the car in March 2021. I've brought this to the service departments attention at the dealership and they take me as a joke and I've been having fluid leak issues and somehow had a blown head gasket. Service department manager said they "repaired" the issue and sent me on my way. Next thing I know my car is still leaking. Took it back and the manager said he refuses to service my car and help me and dismissed me. By the way the manufacturer has been of no help either. They know of all the issues and have not done anything to help resolve them. Had to take my car out to Moreno Valley (another city) and they told me I have a lose drain plug (which was suppose to be repaired along with the head gasket) and I am missing parts underneath my car along with alot of hardware (screws, clips, etc.) I have reported it to the manufacturer and again no one has gotten back to me. It's been 2 weeks already. I have now hired me a lawyer and I am currently in the process of a lawsuit. Praying everything goes well 🙏
That's such a ****ty move from them.. do you mind sharing your current mileage? I got my K5 GT-Line FWD March 2021 as well and it just hit 1200 miles, so far no issue with power train and I did not notice any leak yet.
Currently in the lemon process for parts on order to replace my AC thats leaking all over the passenger floor. Been in the shop since june 14th with parts still being on back order or non existent .
Has anyone else had random fluctuations with transmission shifts. I have been noticing this a lot in Sport and Smart mode. The other day while in traffic, I was about to accelerate because the traffic lifted, and the car just held at the same low gear (Sport Mode)…To the point that it was over revving to the high 5k to 6k RPMS. It would not shift to the next gear. I had to let go of the throttle and change the drive mode for it to function properly. I have noticed this behavior on numerous occasion. All in various driving situations. Has anyone else experienced this? I am wondering if Kia will release a TSB for possible Transmission reprogramming.
I have been having intermittent shifting problems in sport mode. At times rpms are too high in different gears and have to take my foot off of the accelerator to actually shift to the next gear up
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I have the 2022 GT line AWD and i have experienced sluggish acceleration and shift points seem off or sluggish as well. I have around 1500 miles on her now and it seems to have smoothed out. I think it just needs to be broke in. I drive in sport mode. I did change the drive mode for the powertrain under vehicle settings to Sport and that helped as well.
I have the 2022 GT line AWD and i have experienced sluggish acceleration and shift points seem off or sluggish as well. I have around 1500 miles on her now and it seems to have smoothed out. I think it just needs to be broke in. I drive in sport mode. I did change the drive mode for the powertrain under vehicle settings to Sport and that helped as well.
I have a 2021 gt with 5k I stopped using sport mode and keep it in smart mode it shifts fine just slower take off than in sport mode. next service will point it out to service manager to check it out.
I have a 2021 gt with 5k I stopped using sport mode and keep it in smart mode it shifts fine just slower take off than in sport mode. next service will point it out to service manager to check it out.
I tried smart mode when i got it didnt really notice a considerable difference between that and Normal. Averaging 34-36 on highway with sport so i left it.
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Mine did the same thing when trying to pull out on to freeway. Ran fine below about 50 mph but when I stepped on it it wouldn't go. I pulled over shut it off and restarted and it ran perfect had it in smart mode which I had been using for about 8 months. Read this forum that night tried switching to normal mode and ran fine on my way to work in the morning. When I went to get on freeway to come home same thing as the day before. Tried switching modes while i was driving this time did nothing. Pulled over shut off and restarted ran perfect. No recalls. Calling dealer to have it checked.
I'm having the same issues with my K5...not even 1500 miles on it ....no one is believing me, my husband thinks the car drives fine, but he only drives it once a week, if that .... dealership checked it out, with their computer, and nothing is coming back ...my 2017 Civic was faster and accelerated with no hesitation! I don't know what else to do...for a brand new 32k car, it should be driving smooth like butter ...since you posted about this, have you had any more issues?
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I'm having the same issues with my K5...not even 1500 miles on it ....no one is believing me, my husband thinks the car drives fine, but he only drives it once a week, if that .... dealership checked it out, with their computer, and nothing is coming back ...my 2017 Civic was faster and accelerated with no hesitation! I don't know what else to do...for a brand new 32k car, it should be driving smooth like butter ...since you posted about this, have you had any more issues?
Yes. My car has sent 6 out of the last 8 weeks at dealership. They couldn't get it to anything so they had me drive it with mechanic who had computer hooked up to it but it ran fine. I asked them if there was something they could plug in and let me drive it that would record any problems. They got a "flight recorder" from kia and plugged it into my car it had a button I had to push when the problem started then it would record a clip for them to download. Got the car to act up but the recording didn't show much. My check engine light after about the 6th week and when they checked it there was a bad temp probe in the engine control system which sets your air and gas mixture. I just got the car back to give it a few test rides. I paid close attention to when mine would act up. It was always within 10 minutes or so of a cold startup (like if it sat over night or after getting off work) . I would be going around 35 mph get off the gas for a second or two and then back on gas and always on some type of up grade on the road. If I didn't have any hills to pull out onto or could increase speed without getting off the gas first it ran perfect. Also if I could drive for 15 or 20 or so without that on off back on the gas (think freeway entry with clover leaf) it would run perfect like something had to warm up first. I've checking posts to see if anyone had any updates but nobody had. I should know in a day or two if the temp prob was the problem. To me it has to be some minor problem or just restarting the car wouldn't clear the problem. Hope this helps little.
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Hello. Just curious, anyone else experiencing transmission issues with their K5? I ask because I run the car complaint website mycarvoice.com, and starting to receive email complaints regarding this subject. At this point it may seem a bit premature, but these requests have all come in around the same time. So I wanted to see if anyone else is having this issue? Sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread.
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