[Pankaj Kumar Goyal]

I have recently purchased Kia Seltos GTX+ 1.4T 7DCT as of Sep'22 and have done under 200 KM only. Facing Transmission Overheating Warning and Transmission Failure in Bumper to Bumper Slow Moving Traffic. The Dealer says I shall not use Automatic Transmission, but Switch to Manual Transmission in Slow Bumper to Bumper Traffic. The Automatic Transmission is the Most required in Slow moving Bumper to Bumper Traffic only and Switching to Manual Transmission at this time is really not acceptable from such a High-end and Reputed International Brand. Any Solution to it....Please help....Thanks!

 

[Speedtek22]

If you constantly drive in stop and go, bumper to bumper, traffic...the DCT equipped model was probably not the best choice...

 

[Pankaj Kumar Goyal]

I have another DCT Vehicle with no issues in similar traffic situation. I asked these specific questions from the sales manager before purchase, but, his answer was as usual...no issues. Kia must resolve these issues if they want to sustain in this highly sensitive and competitive market. Only branding will not serve in long term, they must understand and resolve.

 

[Speedtek22]

I have another DCT Vehicle with no issues in similar traffic situation. I asked these specific questions from the sales manager before purchase, but, his answer was as usual...no issues. Kia must resolve these issues if they want to sustain in this highly sensitive and competitive market. Only branding will not serve in long term, they must understand and resolve.

Wet or dry clutch though?
What's the other vehicle?

 

[Pankaj Kumar Goyal]

Dry Clutch
Vento

 

[Speedtek22]

I figured it was probably a VW and I actually thought most (if not all) were wet clutch, but it appears the Vento does use a dry clutch.
They are two totally different designs and manufacture plus the Kia 7-spd dry DCT is known for overheating in heavy stop and go use. TFL took one off-roading and just about burned it out...lol

Repeatedly inching forward without fully engaging the clutch in these rigs will rapidly build up heat, especially in an already hot environment. You can help avoid this issue a bit by allowing leading traffic to pull away a bit before moving forward, to ensure you fully engage the clutch pack. (not just feather it out...which is hard on any clutch). That juddering you feel as you're moving forward slowly is the clutch slipping and not fully engaging...when you are able to give it some throttle and make the clutch pack engage, you aren't creating near as much friction.

 

[Pankaj Kumar Goyal]

In local traffic conditions, it is not possible to pull back and then cover. Seems, Kia DCT has not been designed properly and have basic design issues. If VW can design, Kia can also if they want to remain in business. Ignoring is not the right solution for any brand.

 

[Speedtek22]

I don't really think they're ignoring, but a resolution would require a complete redesign which no company is going to do for a small overall percentage of complaints...especially when it's not a defect so much as a design shortfall. Probably why they are going to a regular automatic on the '24 MY (from what I hear).

There have been quite a few complaints about how the transmission operates, but it really was more transmission than the price point/target audience was up for in my opinion. In normal driving I love it myself, but if I was going to be in heavy gridlock, I would have definitely opted for the CVT version in this particular case.

 

[NumbNuts]

I have another DCT Vehicle with no issues in similar traffic situation. I asked these specific questions from the sales manager before purchase, but, his answer was as usual...no issues. Kia must resolve these issues if they want to sustain in this highly sensitive and competitive market. Only branding will not serve in long term, they must understand and resolve.

I believe the new 2024 model transmission DCT has been refined. No more "jerky" movements from 1st to 2nd gear. I've seen this on a YouTube current review. I have a 2021 SX Turbo with the DCT and I'm quite used to it. I've been in a lot of stop and go traffic and never had any problems. Next time I'm in that situation I'll keep an eye on the Transmission temp gauge.

 

[peter47]

Interested in this thread, because in my Oct 2019 SX equivalent, (GT-Line here in Oz), I am sometimes caught in stop-start traffic on the M1 freeway, which we unfortunately have to travel on if we leave Bribie Island, either because of the traffic density - or more often because of roadworks, as it's forever being widened - the story everywhere these days I think.

In these situations I just love the smart/adaptive cruise, which I just give its head, and leave it to creep with the traffic. If it stops completely for longer than a second or two, a light tap on the accelerator sets it going again. I must confess I have never considered that this might overheat the tranny, and have never had that warning pop up. But in future, in these conditions, I'll select the tranny temp read-out and see what is happening. Maybe by letting the car chose what to do, it may be minimising the overheat issue by itself..? Thoughts anyone..?

 

[Speedtek22]

Interested in this thread, because in my Oct 2019 SX equivalent, (GT-Line here in Oz), I am sometimes caught in stop-start traffic on the M1 freeway, which we unfortunately have to travel on if we leave Bribie Island, either because of the traffic density - or more often because of roadworks, as it's forever being widened - the story everywhere these days I think.

In these situations I just love the smart/adaptive cruise, which I just give its head, and leave it to creep with the traffic. If it stops completely for longer than a second or two, a light tap on the accelerator sets it going again. I must confess I have never considered that this might overheat the tranny, and have never had that warning pop up. But in future, in these conditions, I'll select the tranny temp read-out and see what is happening. Maybe by letting the car chose what to do, it may be minimising the overheat issue by itself..? Thoughts anyone..?

I actually had a chance to do just this a few weeks ago on my way to a meeting at work...got stuck in heavy traffic (there was an accident on the main route and we had to take a long detour) and was using the adaptive cruise. I did bring up the transmission temp display and kept an eye on it and it was creeping up a couple notches above normal. It never got to a level that was anymore than about halfway to the overheat mark in 20 minutes of the stop and go, but mind you it was also -20C outside that day as well...
It did get warmer, but the outside ambient probably kept it down more than it otherwise might have been.

 

[NumbNuts]

fyi: I meant the 2024 Seltos, I corrected it.

 

[Speedtek22]

fyi: I meant the 2024 Seltos, I corrected it.

I thought the 2024 went to a conventional automatic?
Edit: Will be here in Canada at least, pretty sure you guys will get the same:

Kia's refreshed 2024 Seltos gets panoramic-screen option

The turbo engine gains 20 horsepower and new eight-speed automatic transmission

driving.ca

 

[NumbNuts]

I thought the 2024 went to a conventional automatic?
Edit: Will be here in Canada at least, pretty sure you guys will get the same:

Kia's refreshed 2024 Seltos gets panoramic-screen option

The turbo engine gains 20 horsepower and new eight-speed automatic transmission

driving.ca

thanks for the link. Maybe I'll trade in my SX for the 2024 SX??