Your vehicle report
2018 Kia Sorento
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 255
- Received Dec 2017 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Headlights dim or fail at night36 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine burns excessive oil between changes24 complaints · 9.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine stalls and loses power while driving20 complaints · 7.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #22V703000Park outsideKia 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.
- Recall #18V656000Kia 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Headlights dim or fail at nightFirst signal: Oct 2020
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Apr 2023
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Dec 2022
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 12 crashes, 11 fires, 11 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed
- Power steering cuts out while driving
- Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 21 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 41 |
| 2024 | 49 |
| 2025 | 41 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 28 |
| Total | 255 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 36 | 14% | 4.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.7% |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 24 | 9.4% | 10.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.1% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 20 | 7.8% | 10.2× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Dec 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.6% |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 14 | 5.5% | – | NHTSA recall #18V656000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 13 | 5.1% | 2.2× | NHTSA recall #22V703000 |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 9 | 3.5% | 2.9× | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 7 | 2.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 7 | 2.8% | – | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 6 | 2.4% | 7.6× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2024 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 6 | 2.4% | 3.1× | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 6 | 2.4% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 4 | 1.6% | 2.3× | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 3 | 1.2% | – | NHTSA recall #18V656000 |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 3 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #22V703000September 19, 202270,887 vehicles affected
Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
trailer hitches
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.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #18V656000September 21, 201897 vehicles affected
steering: column; steering: electric power assist system
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.
If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #17V784000December 8, 20172,014 vehicles affected
air bags: side/window
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2018 Kia Sorento.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN