2018 Kia Sorento problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2018 Kia Sorento include 1 fatality report, 12 crashes and 11 fires across 255 filings.

255
Complaints
3
Recalls
12
Crash reports
11
Fire reports
11
Injuries
85.3
Severity index

Severity index 85.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 85.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 19 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 84% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 107 complaints (42.0%)107 42%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 41 complaints (16.1%)41 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 37 complaints (14.5%)37 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 30 complaints (11.8%)30 12%SteeringSteering: 26 complaints (10.2%)26 10%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 13 complaints (5.1%)13 5%Air BagsAir Bags: 10 complaints (3.9%)10 4%StructureStructure: 9 complaints (3.5%)9 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE10742.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4116.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3714.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3011.8%
STEERING2610.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM135.1%
AIR BAGS103.9%
STRUCTURE93.5%

Complaints filed per year

024492017: 12018: 112019: 162020: 212021: 122022: 352023: 412024: 492025: 412026: 28 (partial year)1718192021222324492526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20171
201811
201916
202021
202112
202235
202341
202449
202541
2026 (year to date)28
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.9x those in 2020 to 2022 (131 against 68).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V65600021/09/2018STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMKia 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.
17V78400008/12/2017AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWKia 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.
22V70300019/09/2022TRAILER HITCHESKia 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 d

Other Kia Sorento model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-09. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.