2018 Kia Sorento Problems

248 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Engine · verdict AVOID 37/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Engine102
Exterior Lighting41
Unknown Or Other37
Electrical System29
Steering26
Fuel/Propulsion System12

In the owners’ words

“My wife and I were Driving when I tried to stop and the brakes failed. Within seconds the vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment. I had to slam the transmission into park cause the doors would not open. When my wife tried to escape out the passenger side the flames came into the cabin towards her. I then opened my door and then had to help my wife escape out the driver's side door. Within minutes the car was e”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Kia Sorento owner
“I have replaced my rotors and my brakes soon as I got the car I’ve had the car for a month now I was in a major accident. Someone walked in front of my car. My emergency brake system did not work my rotors and my brakes, have been scrubbing ever since I got the car. And I don’t know how to fix the situation. The brakes are still going out and sound very horrible. I can’t keep replacing them because I don’t think they”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Kia Sorento owner
“I had the car for just 2 years and it's giving me a lot of problems the car smells like gas it has a gas leak the breaks don't work and the electrical system don't work properly”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Kia Sorento owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
21/09/2018Steering:Electric Power Assist System SAFETYKia 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 t
08/12/2017Air Bags:Side/Window SAFETYKia 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.
19/09/2022Trailer 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 orig

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Kia Sorento reliable?

On the federal record it scores 37/100: 248 owner complaints (31 per year on the road) and 3 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Kia Sorento?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Engine, with 102 of 247 categorised reports.

Share this verdict

The 2018 Kia Sorento scored 37/100 on the federal record.

Full 2018 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Sorento yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking