KnownCarProblems2018 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (59% of complaints, typically around 28,500 miles). It is 9th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2018 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
96 complaints · 59%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
For the past 6 months or so, I've been experiencing an unknown issue. I'll be driving along, steadily and all of a sudden my engine and RPM gauge will rev up and then go back to normal. My speed doesn't change, no lights go on, just the rev-ing sound and the gauge goes up. It's very alarming to me. I've checked with…
I had a total engine failure on I-75 with my 2018 Kia Sportage with just over 18,000 miles. My insurance carrier (usaa) person I spoke with said I was the third person she has spoken with in the last week that had the same make & model number that the engine failed. She said one person was told by her dealer it could…
Electrical
29 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
Vehicle suddenly decelerated to 20 MPH on one way highway in a passing zone. Problem then diagnosed as engine failure. 5 weeks later, with vehicle still out of service, diagnosed instead as wiring harness problem. Wiring harness replaced. Brand new car, 11 months old , 5,925 miles, serviced with first oil change 5…
High pitched whirring sound lasting 10 to 15 seconds when car is parked a day or more after driving. Has happened 4 times we have heard it. Vehicle has 1200 miles on it. Occurs intermittently. It sounds to me like starter motor running.
Other or unspecified
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles.
Addendum to the complaint dated january through senator marco rubio office. I received a letter from NHTSA dot that the investigation is open as to the "software upgrade", should be labeled recall and into the "theta engine", see attached. As I write this, my disabled husband is in a tow truck with the driver because…
Driving my Kia Sportage (gt line) at about 30-40 miles/hour, descending red hills (jamaica) and without warning the car went dead, all the light comes on the dash and the speed cut drastically. It was scary and I can only imagine if it was on the highway. Afraid to drive it.
Transmission
18 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine revved loudly, and the RPM was fluctuating. The contact also stated that after shifting into reverse(r), the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact shifted back into park(p) to restart the vehicle. No…
For the past 6 months or so, I've been experiencing an unknown issue. I'll be driving along, steadily and all of a sudden my engine and RPM gauge will rev up and then go back to normal. My speed doesn't change, no lights go on, just the rev-ing sound and the gauge goes up. It's very alarming to me. I've checked with…
Brakes
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact noticed a strong odor of gasoline in the interior of the vehicle. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle but was unable to determine…
I purchased my 2018 Kia Sportage ex brand new 6-8-18. Less than 100 miles on the car and the dashboard instrument lights went dark while driving on the highway in the dark. I brought it back to dealer, they had to order a new gauge dimmer cluster because the original failed. Several weeks later the brakes began…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 7%Addendum to complaint on Kia motors,Kia america, citrus Kia , their sell of first a brand new 2015 Kia soul,now recalled 5 yrs later after we begged for help. We are 2 disabled person s who were duped by Kia and citrus, traded in going into further debt after getting no where with NHTSA, Kia etc. Kia motors traded and…
Steering
9 complaints · 6%All of the lights on my dashboard come on and when this happens it's generally night time. I can't drive my car with the headlights on because if I cut them on my car won't move and my rear view camera will not work. The first time this happened it was 05/18/2019. I was driving in the evening hours to pick my son up…
While driving the wheel blocks for a while and can't control the car. Brought to the dealers and claims nothing wrong. Now happens very often and the car is not drivable. Wrote 3 times to costumer service , no answer. Should a fatal accident must occurring to take action? This happens while turning.
Speed control
8 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle independently accelerated with the tachometer elevated to 5,000 rpmâs. The contact shifted into neutral(n) to correct the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined 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 Sportage 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.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (epb) will also receive a hecu software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on april 30, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc206.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 sportage and cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began january 17, 2019. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc172.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 optima, 2012-2017 sorento and 2011-2018 sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17v-224, warranty, or the knock sensor detection system (ksds) product improvement campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
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
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Questions about the 2018 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (96 complaints, typically around 28,500 miles); electrical (29 complaints, typically around 9,500 miles); other or unspecified (19 complaints, typically around 9,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Sportage 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 Sportage?
- It is 9th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints, with 164 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.