KnownCarProblems2018 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 255 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine (44% of complaints, typically around 78,500 miles). It is 11th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2018 Kia Sorento problems
Engine
112 complaints · 44%Half of these problems showed up before 78,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle remained parked in the parking lot. The contact notified…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost all power while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact also stated that white smoke began to emit from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact saw flames…
Lights
41 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
7/23/20 20:30, while driving straight down a city street, just began driving from stopping at a light, and the headlights turned off by themselves. After a few seconds, my wife rotated the lights switch to off then back to auto and they came back on. This is the third time this has occurred since we bought the vehicle…
The headlights on my 2018 Kia Sorento randomly turn off. It's happened at least 20 times in the past six months. It happens both day and night. The lights are set to auto. Although the even appears to be random, it is while the car is in motion and has happed while driving in parking lots as well as major highways. In…
Other or unspecified
37 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 13,000 miles.
On 8-23-19 at approx. O805hrs I arrived at my destination and parked my Kia Sorento. I had driven the Kia Sorento from my residence to vancouver, wa and during this travel period the Kia Sorento functioned as usual with no indication of mechanical, electrical or functionality of the vehicle. I parked the Kia and…
I was backing up when my car just accelerated like crazy and ran over a huge brick mailbox. It was like my car was possess, it became a crazy 4 wheel drive.
Electrical
30 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
Headlights turn off while driving on highway and city streets. Service on 3-23-20 and could duplicate problem. On 9-25-20 driving and dash board indicator switching from flashers on, headlights going from auto set, to off, to running lights, and door locks locking and unlocking. Scheduled service for 10-20-20, but was…
I was traveling to florida and saw sparks in the mirrors in the back. I quickly pulled over and went to the back and saw fire, the car was on fire everybody got out, we tried to put it out but it seemed like there was an accelerrent or something cause it was engulfed with fire very fast once we stopped the whole car…
Steering
26 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally and swaying back and forth. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
While driving down the road the steering wheel sticks. While you keep turning a little to keep the vehicle straight it will suddenly break loose, causing the vehicle to jerk left or right depending on the direction you were turning the wheel at the time. It is most dangerous while the roads are either snow or ice…
Fuel system
13 complaints · 5%There's gasoline leaking from the rear driver side from the bottom of the vehicle, this has been a problem for a few days. Just like any other responsible car owner, I take it to a shop; since I no longer trust mark Kia's (my local Kia dealership) service department since being scammed by them is a normal occurrence…
Air bags
10 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 35 MPH, when another vehicle intersected his lane on the right side. The driver attempted to prevent a crash by swerving but crashed into the guard rail on the far left side. The air bags did not deploy. The driver did not have…
I was driving approximately 35 miles per hour on a city street when another vehicle pulled out in front of me. The impact totaled the other vehicle and caused $7,500 in damage to my vehicle, and my air bags did not deploy. While I was not seriously injured, I did suffer significant whip-lash type injuries, and injured…
Transmission
9 complaints · 4%I was backing up when my car just accelerated like crazy and ran over a huge brick mailbox. It was like my car was possess, it became a crazy 4 wheel drive.
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal ticking noise detected. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Kia Sorento recalls
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 11, 2023. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc249.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 sorento, 2021-2022 sorento hybrid (hev), 2022-2023 sorento plug-in hybrid (phev), and 2017-2022 sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (pcb) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cowl crossbar, free of charge. The recall began october 26, 2018. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc167.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2018 kia sorento vehicles. The cowl crossbar that connects to the motor driven power steering (mdps) steering column may be improperly welded, allowing the steering column to separate.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2017. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc159.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2018 kia sorento vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Questions about the 2018 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (112 complaints, typically around 78,500 miles); lights (41 complaints, typically around 43,500 miles); other or unspecified (37 complaints, typically around 13,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Sorento have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 19, 2022 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 11th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 255 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.