2018 Kia Sportage reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2018 Kia Sportage — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 221
- 149 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 85 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 11 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 14 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,354
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
-44
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2016-2020
-66
median 288 complaints in 538 records
Top component share
38%
Engine: 85 complaints
What owners report fails — 2018 Kia Sportage
- ENGINE 85
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19
- POWER TRAIN 17
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10
3 recalls on record for the 2018 Kia Sportage
- NHTSA 22V703000 · 2023 · TRAILER HITCHES A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 21V137000 · 2021 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 18V907000 · 2019 · ENGINE A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Kia Sportage
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 Sportage 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 Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 221 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Kia Sportage and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (85 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Kia Sportage units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Sportage?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (85), electrical system (27), unknown or other (19), power train (17). 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 Sportage?
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.