2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid

COMPONENT: Shift-by-wire transmission selector / hybrid control system. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. WHAT HAPPENED: Intermittently, after starting the vehicle, it will not engage Drive or Reverse. The selector input is accepted but the vehicle remains in Park/Neutral and does not move. The only way to clear it is to shut the vehicle off and restart it, sometimes up to 10 times, or by waiting a few hours, before a gear will engage. This has occurred repeatedly since purchase in November 2025. Vehicle currently has approximately 2,800 miles. SAFETY RISK: The vehicle can become unable to move without warning. If this occurs after a stop in traffic, at an intersection, or on a railroad crossing, the vehicle would be stranded in the roadway. It also prevents moving the vehicle quickly in an emergency. DEALER CONFIRMATION: Reported to a Kia dealership ion 09/02/2026. Dealer attempted to reproduce by starting the vehicle 10 times and reported it worked each time. No diagnostic trouble codes or module data were documented. Problem not confirmed by dealer. I have found other owners of the same model year and powertrain reporting the identical symptom online. OTHER INSPECTION: Not inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance. A case has been opened with Kia consumer affairs requesting a field technician inspection. WARNING LAMPS: None. No warning lights, messages, or chimes before or during the failure. UNKNOWN cause.

When I start the car and use the dial to shift into drive or reverse gear quickly, it fails and locks up. I have to turn the car off and/or open the door before restarting the car and wait a few seconds until the "Ready" message appears on the instrument panel. Then, it did not fail to shift into gears so far. However, this is a major safety hazard if I need to quickly move the car to avoid an imminent danger. I can understand the car may not be ready to shift into the gear within a couple of seconds of starting, but it should accept the shift command when it's ready and not lock up, forcing the driver to take additional time to restart. At times, it made me panic.