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P2138 on KIA SORENTO

Severity
Medium
NHTSA Reports
3
Most Affected
2008

What P2138 Means on Your KIA SORENTO

Real KIA SORENTO Owner Reports (Source: NHTSA Complaints Database)

"Exiting a strip center to cross 2 lanes of traffic and make a left to merge into traffic, i accelerated in a safe gap only to find my vehicle had almost no acceleration. i was nearly in a side impact collision if not for the excellent awareness and reaction of the others on the road."

— 2008 KIA SORENTO owner • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM • Filed 06/01/2015

"Two days ago the check engine light illuminated (and stayed on) with intermittent electronic stability control off light illuminated; vehicle acceleration became sluggish and sometimes unresponsive."

— 2008 KIA SORENTO owner • ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE • Filed 09/25/2013

"While driving, the check engine and esc lights illuminated. vehicle had sudden loss of acceleration and would not go beyond 40mph. speed decreased below 40mph on hills. vehicle continued to have problems even after restarting. a check of the odb-ii codes gave p2138, p2127 and p2106."

— 2008 KIA SORENTO owner • POWER TRAIN • Filed 08/22/2012

Data from NHTSA Vehicle Complaints Database. All reports are filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Common Causes of P2138 on KIA SORENTO

33.3%
33.3%
33.3%

Percentages based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

Complaint Trend by Year

2008
3

What To Do Next

  1. 1
    Check for recalls on YOUR VIN

    Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. Free repairs if your vehicle is covered.

  2. 2
    Get a proper diagnosis

    A code alone doesn't tell you the exact failed part. A diagnostic at a shop ($50-$150) pinpoints the root cause before you spend money on parts.

  3. 3
    Compare repair quotes

    Get 2-3 quotes. Dealer vs independent shop prices often differ 30-50% for the same repair.

P2138 on Other Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation) and the SAE J2012 OBD-II standard. Code definitions follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 standard. Owner reports are filed directly with NHTSA by vehicle owners. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace professional automotive diagnosis. Always consult a qualified mechanic for vehicle repair decisions.

Last updated: March 2026