2018 Kia Sorento reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2018 Kia Sorento — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 332
- 262 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 101 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 16 injuries · 3 deaths · 18 fires
What owners report fails — 2018 Kia Sorento
- ENGINE 101
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 38
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 37
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28
- STEERING 26
3 recalls on record for the 2018 Kia Sorento
- NHTSA 22V703000 · 2023 · TRAILER HITCHES A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 18V656000 · 2018 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 17V784000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehic
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Kia Sorento
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2018 Kia Sorento units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Kia Sorento reliable?
NHTSA has 332 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Kia Sorento and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (101 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Kia Sorento units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Sorento?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (101), exterior lighting (38), unknown or other (37), electrical system (28). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2018 Kia Sorento?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.