2018 Kia Sorento reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Sorento from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 332
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 101 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 16 injuries · 3 deaths · 18 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#1,584
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+67
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2016-2020
+45
median 288 complaints in 538 records
Top component share
30%
Engine: 101 complaints
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
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. 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?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2018 Kia Sorento. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.