Why does my 2023+ Kia Sportage hesitate or shift jerky?

Short answer: Many 2023+ Sportage owners feel clunky shifts from a stop. If yours hesitates badly, feels stuck in one gear, or has a warning light, ask Kia to check your VIN for the transmission wiring harness service action.

Symptom: A clunky or jerky feel pulling away, hesitation, slow acceleration as if stuck in one gear, or a check-engine light with transmission codes.

What to check first

1. Note whether it hesitates from a stop, feels stuck in one gear, or has a check-engine light.
2. Ask the dealer to check your VIN for the transmission harness service action.
3. Ask them to scan for transmission codes and check for software updates.
4. Try it in different drive modes and tell the dealer what changes.

Likely causes

1. Transmission wiring harness (service action). Kia issued a service action for certain 2023 Sportages built in early-to-mid 2022. A harness problem can cause slow acceleration, a stuck gear (limp mode) and transmission codes.
2. Shift calibration / adaptation. Some jerkiness from stops is how the transmission is tuned. Software updates may help.
3. Low-speed shift feel. Owners say the feel varies with drive mode and throttle.

What it usually costs

Service actions and warranty repairs cost nothing. These are new vehicles under warranty.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Clunky shifts are usually safe. Slow acceleration stuck in one gear can be dangerous when merging. Get that fixed soon.

DIY or shop?

Not DIY. Harness inspection and software are dealer work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Related recalls: NHTSA lists these recalls touching this area of the Kia Sportage: 23V531000 (2023-2023 model years, power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:pump). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of this recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 61 keyword-matched complaints for Kia Sportage 2023–2025 (of 328 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-07; keywords: transmission, shift, jerk, harsh, hesitat, lurch, accelerat). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In anyone else's 23 Sportage acceleration feeling clunky?? on Reddit r/kia, a 2023 Sportage owner said acceleration felt clunky and asked if others felt it too.
• In 2023 Sportage transmission issues on Reddit r/kia, an early 2023 Sportage owner described transmission problems.
• In Has anyone experienced this with the 2023 Kia Sportage trans on Reddit r/kia, another 2023 owner asked others about a specific transmission behavior.
• In 23 Sportage SX FWD Transmission question on Reddit r/kia, a 2023 SX FWD owner asked a transmission question about how it shifts.

Quick tip

Ask the dealer by name for the harness service action check. It's a quick VIN lookup.

Vehicle focus: Kia Sportage fifth generation (2023–2025) with the 2.5L and 8-speed automatic. Hybrid models use a different 6-speed.

Safety / mechanic note

Loss of power while merging is dangerous. Verify with a mechanic.