2018 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 254 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 12 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 11 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Trailer hitchesPark outsideSep 19, 2022
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.
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.
Campaign 22V703000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemSep 21, 2018
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.
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.
Campaign 18V656000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowDec 8, 2017
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.
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.
Campaign 17V784000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
41 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Sep 22, 2022
Driving down a dark highway tonight and headlights just randomly went out completely. Had to switch them on and off several times to get them back on. Safety risk is obvious for myself and other cars on the road. Has not been inspected, just happened tonight. I have noticed my lights cutting on and off during the day randomly lately but I just assumed it was the auto mode picking up shady areas but it appears to all be related based on the thread I just read online and sounds like an issue with this year Sorento.
Exterior lighting, Sep 14, 2022
In the last month, I've started noticing issues with my headlights/icons. My lights are always set to auto in my 2018 kia sorento. First issue: when driving during the day, the dashboard will show the icon that appears when you turn on the lights manually. I'm assuming the lights actually come on as well, but it's daylight so I can't actually see if this is happening or not. Once when this happened, I was sitting at a red light with my turn signal on, and I was able to get a picture of the manual icon light showing and my switch was still in the auto position. This has happened about half a dozen times. 3 weeks ago I woke up to my lights being on, even though the switch was still set to auto. The back red lights were on and the front lights were on. I know the lights were out the night before and I double checked that the switch was as I left it in the auto position. Tonight 9/14 and last weekend, my lights turned off for a few seconds while driving at night. The lights had been on for a while and it was completely dark outside so there was no way they should've turned off. I was in an unlit area both times without any head on traffic, so it was extremely obvious that the lights went out and very dangerous not being able to see in front of me. It's also dangerous for any approaching traffic to not be able to see a vehicle at night until they get close enough to hit it. I've attached a picture of the auto setting when the icon light indicated it was set to manual during the day. I've also attached another picture of my vehicle the way I found it one morning when the lights were set to auto and they came on at some point in the middle of the night. I had to unlock the vehicle, and flip the light switch off, then back to auto, for them to go off. This instance my vehicle was not even on, and it was daylight outside.
Exterior lighting, Aug 31, 2022
While vehicle is set to AUTO on the headlights, they will randomly shut off while driving.
Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2022
Last year my headlights melted & had to be ordered & replace because the melted in their encasements. I have problems with headlights again & have reported it to my Kia dealership. I’ve been driving sometimes with one headlight or none or using my brights to drive at night. I currently have no headlights again & dealership has had to order parts for them again. It’s been more than two months already. It’s unsafe for me to drive at night with NO Headlights!!
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 31, 2022
The headlights will occasionally turn off at night while driving. We have to then turn them back on by touching the light switch. The are set on AUTO always and should not go out AT NIGHT, especially while driving. They should only go out when exiting the car after engine shut off. The parking lights (front and back) occasionally do not turn off when leaving the car, after engine shut off. They are also on auto and should go off so the battery does not drain. A few times they have even come on when we were not in the care and we discovered them on after a period of time when returning to the car. The dealer could NOT find a problem and did nothing to resolve it.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 17, 2022
Headlights , all front lights shut off while driving, repeatedly.
Exterior lighting, Dec 21, 2021
Having intermittent issues with the headlights turning of while driving at night. The headlights were set on "Auto". I have had this happen multiple times! Went to local dealer to report the problem & was told that they would have to drive it at night to replicate the issue. I asked if I would be charged for this & was told that if the technician could find anything that I would be charged for the technician's time. I found online that Kia had this same issue with 2015-2015 K900 vehicles & issued a recall to replace the multi-functional light switch. Losing headlight rumination can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash. Kia dealerships should replace this multi-function switch free of charge to the owners of Kia vehicles. There should be a recall issued for this issue because it is a huge safety issue.
Exterior lighting, Aug 3, 2021
Headlights completely turn off on their own at random times at night. Has happened twice when entering into a curve at night. I have to frantically turn the knob off and then back on to make them function again. Extremely dangerous! Took into Bulldog Kia Athens Ga. They "verified concern, found open short in multifunction switch" Kia will not cover the cost of repair. Total needed to repair $495.78
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seats, Jan 20, 2021
THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT JUST STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO OPEN THE HEAD LIGHT CASING AND PLAY WITH THE CABLES TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. ALSO THE POWER SEATS DON'T WORK.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2020
2018 KIA SORRENTO - LIGHTS HAVE SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING IN VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS (INTERSTATE/CITY STREET/ETC.). CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP (TWICE YESTERDAY AND FOUR TIMES LAST WEEK ALL WITHIN ONE TRIP). CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT IT HAPPENING WHICH IS FRUSTRATING AS DEALER "NEEDS TO SEE THE ISSUE TO FIX IT". OBSERVING IT IN BOTH NIGHT AND DAY. OBVIOUSLY MORE DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT. I HAVE VIDEOS FROM OTHERS THAT REPLACED THE LIGHT STALK SWITCH WITH SUCCESS. DEALER REFUSES TO DO THIS WHILE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE CONCERN. THEY RECOMMEND THAT I CONTINUE DRIVING AND BRING IT IN "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN". THEY CHARGE ME 150 DOLLARS EACH TIME I BRING IT IN TO TELL ME "THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE IT". I AM SEEING MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON FORUMS FOR THIS ISSUE. VIDEO FROM ANOTHER CUSTOMER (START AT 56 SECONDS): HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=TXG9CJ076HA
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 8, 2020
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 TOLD IF THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR.
Exterior lighting, Jul 28, 2020
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 IN AUGUST OF 2019.
Exterior lighting, Jul 7, 2020
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 ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON, I HAVE TO USE TURN THE KNOB TO OFF THEN BACK ON. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURN OFF AT NIGHT I CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING AROUND ME NOR CAN ANYONE ELSE SEE ME. I DID CONTACT KIA AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Dec 30, 2019
CAR HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION, FIRST NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AS LIGHTS WERE IN AUTO SETTING AND THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THE LIGHT SETTING CHANGE AND THE LIGHTS OUTSIDE CHANGING AS WELL WITH NOTHING BEING TOUCHED. LIGHTS HAVE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ABOUT 5 TIMES WHEN DRIVING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY ON THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA, 5655 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982, 1-(772) 465-8589) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE IF THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Jun 19, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 KIA SORENTO. UPON ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED A LACK OF VISIBILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR