MajorCommonTransmission

Kia Sportage: SL Generation 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Slip and Shudder

SL Generation 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Slip and Shudder is a common transmission fault on the Kia Sportage on the 2010–2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $850 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 28 documented faults on the Kia Sportage.

Vehicle: Kia Sportage
Years: 2010–2015
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

This page covers the Kia Sportage as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Kia Sportage faults28 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Torque converter or Mechatronic / valve body or Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The A6MF1/A6LF1 6-speed hydraulic automatic transmission fitted to SL Sportage models is known to develop torque-converter clutch shudder and inter-gear slip as solenoid valves wear and the internal transmission fluid degrades. The failure is accelerated when the factory transmission fluid is not changed at or before 60,000 km. Symptoms begin as a low-speed shudder at light throttle in 3rd–4th gear and progress to harsh, flared upshifts and delayed engagement from rest. A fluid-and-filter service with solenoid cleaning resolves early cases; advanced wear requires valve body or full unit replacement.

What you would notice

Cyclical shudder felt through the floor at 60–80 km/h under light throttle in 3rd or 4th gear
Flared or hunting upshifts — engine revs rise between gears without clean handoff
Delayed or harsh engagement when selecting Drive from a cold start
Transmission warning light with TCM code P0740 or P0741 (torque converter clutch performance)

How to check it

Where to look. Transmission tunnel, bolted to rear of engine block

Test drive at highway speed at light throttle in 3rd and 4th gear — feel for a cyclical shudder.
Check transmission fluid condition (dark brown or smelling burnt is a warning).
Scan for TCM fault codes including P0740 (torque converter clutch) and P0731–P0736 (gear ratio errors).
Confirm fluid change history.

Parts involved: Torque converter, Mechatronic / valve body, Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$850 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the transmission fluid ever been changed, and at what mileage?”
“Has the vehicle experienced any shudder or hunting between gears at highway speed?”
“Has the transmission warning light appeared, or has the vehicle been scanned for TCM fault codes?”

Now check the Kia Sportage you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Kia Sportage buyer questions

Is sl generation 6-speed automatic transmission slip and shudder serious on a Kia Sportage?

We rate it major and common on the Kia Sportage. The A6MF1/A6LF1 6-speed hydraulic automatic transmission fitted to SL Sportage models is known to develop torque-converter clutch shudder and inter-gear slip as solenoid valves wear and the internal transmission fluid degrades. The failure is accelerated when the factory transmission fluid is not changed at or before 60,000 km. Symptoms begin as a low-speed shudder at light throttle in 3rd–4th gear and progress to harsh, flared upshifts and delayed engagement from rest. A fluid-and-filter service with solenoid cleaning resolves early cases; advanced wear requires valve body or full unit replacement.

How much does it cost to fix on a Kia Sportage?

$850 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Kia Sportage years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2015 Kia Sportage. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Test drive at highway speed at light throttle in 3rd and 4th gear — feel for a cyclical shudder. Check transmission fluid condition (dark brown or smelling burnt is a warning). Scan for TCM fault codes including P0740 (torque converter clutch) and P0731–P0736 (gear ratio errors). Confirm fluid change history. Look here: Transmission tunnel, bolted to rear of engine block