Automatic transmission operation

The automatic transmission has 6 and 8 forward speeds and one reverse speed. The individual speeds are selected automatically, depending on the position of the shift lever.

NOTE

The first few shifts on a new vehicle, if the battery has been disconnected, may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and the shifting sequence will adjust after shifts are cycled a few times by the TCM (Transmission Control Module) or PCM (Powertrain Control Module).

For smooth operation, depress the brake pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to a forward or reverse gear.

WARNING

Automatic transmission

  • Always check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for objects and people, especially children, before shifting a vehicle into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).

  • Before leaving the driver's seat, always make sure the shift lever is in the P (Park) position; then set the parking brake fully and shut the engine off. Unexpected and sudden vehicle movement can occur if these precautions are not followed in the order identified.

  • Do not shift into N (Neutral) while driving. The engine brake may not work causing an accident.

  • Do not use the engine brake (shifting from a high gear to lower gear) rapidly on slippery roads.

    The vehicle may slip causing an accident.

  • When driving uphill or downhill, always shift to D (Drive) for driving forward or shift to R (Reverse) for driving backwards. Check the gear position indicated on the cluster before driving. Driving in the opposite direction of the selected gear can lead to a dangerous situation by shutting off the engine and affecting the braking performance.

NOTE

  • To avoid damage to your transmission, do not accelerate the engine in R (Reverse) or any forward gear position with the brakes on.

  • When stopped on an incline, do not hold the vehicle stationary with engine power. Use the service brake or the parking brake.

  • Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R (Reverse) when the engine is above idle speed.

LCD display for warning message

A warning message is displayed on the LCD in a warning condition.

Transmission overheated
OMQ4033146L

A: Transmission Hot! Park with engine on

  • When driving under severe conditions such as repeated sudden starts and sudden acceleration, the transmission may overheat, and a warning sound and a warning message appear on the instrument cluster due to the self-protection mode.

  • If this occurs, pull over to a safe location, stop the vehicle with the engine running, apply brakes and shift the gear to P (Park), and allow the transmission to cool.

  • If the warning message continues to appear, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Vehicle power limited
OBL7M053023

A: Vehicle Power limited due to high transmission temperature

  • If the transmission continues to drive overheating and reaches its maximum temperature, the above warning message appears. In this case, the vehicle limits transmission power by its self protection mode.

  • When such a situation occurs, normal driving is restricted until the transmission goes down to normal temperature, so after moving the vehicle to a safe place, shift the gear to P (Park) with the engine running and wait several minutes until the warning on the screen disappears.

  • If the warning message continues to appear, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer to prevent unexpected accidents.

Transmission cooled
OMQ4033148L

A: Trans cooled. Resume driving.

  • When the message "Trans cooled. Resume driving" appears you can continue to drive your vehicle.