Hey there, I had a similar issue with my 1999 Kia Sephia a while back. Just to give you an idea, I'm not a pro mechanic but I'd say I have some experience with cars, mostly from my old teaching me stuff. My go-to shop checked my car and found that my transmission oil level was dangerously low. I ended up paying around 365 Euro for the whole deal. Mostly for labor, new transmission fluid, and a flush and fill service. If you're having similar issues, check your transmission fluid level first. It may be as simple as that. What's the mileage on your Sportage, and when was the last time you had the transmission fluid checked or changed? I could give you a more precise help with a bit more info on your ride. Peace!

Hey! Thanks for getting back so quickly! My Sportage has already been on the road for about 167263 KM now. Hmm, as far as changing the transmission fluid, I honestly can't remember when that was. It's definitely some years back. Maybe that's the whole issue. I'll check out the fluid level tomorrow. If that turns out to be the problem, it's going to be so much easier a fix! I'll keep you updated. Thanks again for the help! Best!

Hey again, No problem, glad to help. Honestly, it sounds like it could be a transmission fluid issue for sure given the mileage and the last time you changed it. Removing the old fluid, cleaning the system, and refilling it with new fluid might just do the trick. It's definitely the first thing I'd look into before diving deeper. I remember my old Sephia started acting up around the 200k km mark, and replacing the fluid was what gave it a new lease on life. It also improved the gear-shifting experience a lot. You know the drill though – if the problem persists after you've tried this, then it could well be a sensor issue or something bigger. Best take it to a professional then. Good luck, and I hope you get everything sorted with minimum hassle. Peace and keep us posted!

Hi again, Appreciate your super helpful advice and you sharing your experience! Checking and replacing the transmission fluid seems like a worthwhile first step. If it helps in improving the gear shifting, that would be a huge relief! Yeah, if this doesn't work I'll for sure take it to my local mechanic to see if it's the sensor glitching, or god forbid, something bigger. Will keep you updated once it's sorted. Thanks a bunch again! Catch you later!