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
254 reports, newest first.
Engine, Mar 13, 2023
My car is using 5 quarts per oil every 250-500 miles. Which means my car can blow up with me in it. I took it to the dealer and even though there is a tsb on this and it is a known issue they are telling me kia will not cover it I have to replace it out of my own pocket. When this occurs no oil lights or engine lights come on.
Seat belts, Mar 9, 2023
Driver's side seat belt locked up and was unable to be pulled out and secured. No warning lights to indicate issue.
Engine, Feb 27, 2023
Catastrophic engine failure with no signal or warning from the car after being well maintained for 5 years. This occurred while driving 60 mph on a desolate stretch of VT highway while on a trip from our home in NJ. Engine died with no warning and we coasted to a dangerous narrow shoulder of RT 9 and were almost killed by a truck. We also had no cell reception to even call for help. The engine then started to smoke and burn and I was forced to put my two children out on a snowy embankment for 30 minutes risking hypothermia. We bought this 2018 Sorento new and only discovered the vast extent of Kia’s engine defect after this experience on 2/22/23. I am in complete awe and shock that your agency has allowed them to continue putting people in grave danger. I want to understand how Kia is not applying a more exhaustive effort to notify customers and rectify a deadly product defect that they are well aware of. I would like to direct your agency to a very active Facebook page called “Engine Failure - Kia” that contains a plethora of stories just like ours. This company does not care about the safety of families, nor do they have any interest in making this right. In an effort to reduce the expense of their deadly mistake, they choose to victimize their customers again by declining valid claims for an engine replacement if all service documentation is not available. They are fully aware of their responsibility and choose to act like corporate criminals. It is up to agencies like the NHTSA to address this behavior and prevent further injury and death.
Engine, Feb 23, 2023
2018 Kia Sorrento died suddenly on the highway. We heard a loud rattling noise, then a pop followed by the engine stopping with some smoke coming out under the hood.
Exterior lighting, Feb 21, 2023
The headlights turn off randomly when in Auto mode. There are a lot of other people reporting the same issue. https://sorentoforums.com/threads/lights-shutting-off-in-auto-mode.16/
Engine, Jan 19, 2023
My vehicle had 4 recalls on it and caused engine to blow. The dealer I purchased car from would not fix recalls, so had it towed to a Kia dealer, my car has been there since dec long story short recalls fixed but they won't replace engine, nor will dealer I purchased it from. So they're saying over $8000 that I would be responsible for
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 16, 2023
The cruise control has been fixed once. It was not fixed. Same problem still happening. Sometimes it works, more than not it does not. Sometimes you can’t shut it off. They also have not come up with a fix for the new hitch recall problem that results in fires.
Trailer hitches, Jan 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that the vehicle has yet to be repaired. They are also seeking reimbursement for the vehicle because it is unsafe to drive.
Firerelated, Dec 29, 2022, fire
The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number regarding the Trailer Hitches however, the contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied in a parked position, he noticed that the rear end of the vehicle inadvertently caught fire. The contact then stated that the fire started to spread igniting the whole vehicle. As a result, the side of the contact house caught fire. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. The fire department was notified, and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The origin of the fire had yet to be determined. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Other or unspecified, Dec 23, 2022
My 2018 Snow White Pearl Kia Sorento is experiencing paint failure on the hood and rear hatch. The manufacturer notified me that they identified this as a problem with 2011-2014 models and, at this time, are not offering a remedy for a 2018 model.
Electrical system, Dec 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the battery was draining faster than usual. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle overnight with the battery fully charged, the contact became aware that the battery had lost 15-20 % charge by the next morning. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's friend, an electrical engineer, diagnosed that the battery was losing 1 or 2 AMPS of power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and no issues were found. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) which he associated with the failure; however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the dealer informed him that the battery needed to be replaced. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,631. The consumer stated Trailer hitch fuse was removed but the high rate of discharge continued.
Exterior lighting, Nov 29, 2022
While driving at night with headlights set to "auto" the car will (without moving the physical switch) change the headlights to "off" for approximately 2 seconds, after which it will change them back to "auto". This causes a momentary loss of vision to the driver. The drivers display shows the change from "auto" to "off" as though the switch had been turned. I am unaware if this also happens in lighted conditions, as It is only noticable when you are driving in the dark. It appears as though this has happened to multiple drivers of different vehicles
Steering, Nov 23, 2022
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 was notified of the failure. The contact stated that he inquired if the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V656000 (Steering) and was informed that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. The contact stated that the dealership was able to fix the issue.
Wheels, Nov 12, 2022
I have new brakes put on as well as had my tires balanced and rotated and a wheel alignment. However, my 2018 Kia Sorento SX V6 AWD shakes when I apply pressure to the brakes when I am on the highway. If I get to a certain speed and apply brakes to slow down while approaching traffic, my car shakes terribly. I thought that rotating, getting new brakes and an alignment would help but it did not. This is my second Kia Sorento, and I had the same exact issue with the previous one.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 3, 2022
Fuel expired much quicker than should be, and burned on to the dip stick before oil was due to be changed. Then the engine failed while driving, causing my vehicle to lose power on a left turn on a 55 mph road, nearly causing my children and I to be hit by another vehicle. I could not accelerate, but still had power to steer and brake. After having the gas pedal fully extended, I resumed power to 30 mph (this was described as engine knock sensor decreased power). We are hearing that 14 million Kia vehicles are experiencing this. There are 46 cars ahead of mine to be repaired for the failed engine and oil problem at that dealership as of today. They are not offering loaner vehicles.
Steering, Oct 22, 2022
The engine failed which required a replacement. Upon being released from the Kia dealer, the steering wheel failed and the car began shaking at 70 MPH. The Service Director claimed the vehicle was running as Kia likes.
Steering, Oct 19, 2022
As One is driving at 50-60 mph the steering wheel sticks and requires force to correct the direction the vehicle is going. This is very concerning because the abrupt motion is extremely dangerous.
Exterior lighting, Oct 9, 2022
Headlights and daytime running lights turn on and off at random
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 6, 2022
10/5/2022 Driving down Texas Interstate 20 last night, just east of Willow Park, Texas the headlights turned off. I switched the lights from the auto position to the On and the lights turned back on. Wife informed me this has happened to her previously as well. Driving down the road at 70 MPH and everything goes dark is a bit frighting. From my search, this has become a common issue with our KIA model. The issue happens randomly so difficult to pinpoint the issue.
Engine, Sep 30, 2022
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 local dealer and other unknown dealers of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
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.
Power train, Engine, Sep 16, 2022
SHORTLY AFTER FUEL OIL AND FILTER CHANGE AT ~75,000 MILES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR ENGINE STOPPED. OIL PUMP FAILED AND CRACKED THROUGH HOUSING. MAJOR DAMAGE. REPAIR SHOP INDICATES ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 10, 2022
Just recently starting to smell fuel when I’m driving and when I turn the car off and when I try to start the car it cranks a little and then I’ll stop then try it again and it will start up fine
Exterior lighting, Aug 31, 2022
While vehicle is set to AUTO on the headlights, they will randomly shut off while driving.