REDLINE ALLEYKia Sorento UM buying guide
2015 to 2020. A UM Sorento suits a family that wants a roomy 7 seater for towing and checks the gearbox and recall record.
Big jobs
- Transmission surging. Surging when accelerating after a long period of slow driving is reported, put down to sensor issues with no sure fix.
- Transmission shudder. Shudder and reluctance to upshift at low speed are reported, and changing the fluid every 50,000 km is suggested.
Workshop jobs
- Electrical and electronic faults. Electrical and electronic failures affect recent versions.
- Underbody damage on AWD models. Underbody damage on AWD versions can cause mechanical problems and rust where the structure has been scraped.
- 3.3 V6 oil consumption. The 3.3 V6 in some overseas models uses about 1 to 2 litres of oil between services.
Small jobs
- Gear selector recall. A recall covered a gear selector fault that could let the car roll away.
Questions for the seller
- Is it the 3.5 V6 petrol or 2.2 diesel, and 2WD or AWD?
- Has the gear selector recall been done?
- When was the transmission fluid last changed?
- Does it surge or shudder in slow traffic?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-04. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.