2018 Kia Sorento: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
248
Complaints
3
Recalls
12
Crash reports
11
Fire reports
11
Injuries
97.6
Severity index
Severity index 97.6 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Kia Sorento ranks 24 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 80% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 102 | 41.1% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 41 | 16.5% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 37 | 14.9% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 29 | 11.7% |
| STEERING | 26 | 10.5% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 12 | 4.8% |
| AIR BAGS | 10 | 4.0% |
| STRUCTURE | 9 | 3.6% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 102 of 248 complaints (41.1%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 21 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 41 |
| 2024 | 49 |
| 2025 | 41 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 21 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.9x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V656000 | 21/09/2018 | 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. |
| 17V784000 | 08/12/2017 | 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. |
| 22V703000 | 19/09/2022 | 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 d |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.