2018 Kia Sorento Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 255 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

40/100

High Reported Activity — 2018 Kia Sorento

The 2018 Kia Sorento shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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NHTSA Recalls

3 recalls on record

255

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

11 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Kia Sorento (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Kia dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Steering: Electric Power Assist System

If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cowl crossbar, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number…

NHTSA #18V656000

🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window

If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia…

NHTSA #17V784000

🔧 Trailer Hitches

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch…

NHTSA #22V703000

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Most Common Problems — 2018 Kia Sorento

Based on 255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Exterior Lighting

Steering

Air Bags

Power Train

Trailer Hitches

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Kia Sorento — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Kia Sorento VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2018, 2020, 2021 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Kia Sorento

Is the 2018 Kia Sorento reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Kia Sorento has 3 recall campaigns and 255 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Sorento have?

The 2018 Kia Sorento has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Sorento?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Kia Sorento are: Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Exterior Lighting. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2018 Kia Sorento safe to buy?

The 2018 Kia Sorento has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Kia Sorento should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia Sorento are: 2018, 2020, 2021. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2016.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.