2018 Kia Sportage Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 164 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

41/100

High Reported Activity — 2018 Kia Sportage

The 2018 Kia Sportage 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

164

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

12 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Kia Sportage (3)

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

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service…

NHTSA #18V907000

🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Control Unit/Module

An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in…

NHTSA #21V137000

🔧 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 Sportage

Based on 164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine

Electrical System

Power Train

Unknown Or Other

Steering

Service Brakes

Engine And Engine Cooling

Structure

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Kia Sportage — Complaints by Year

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

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

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2012, 2013, 2017 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2019, 2021, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Kia Sportage

Is the 2018 Kia Sportage reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Kia Sportage has 3 recall campaigns and 164 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 Sportage have?

The 2018 Kia Sportage 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 Sportage?

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

Is the 2018 Kia Sportage safe to buy?

The 2018 Kia Sportage 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 Sportage should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia Sportage are: 2019, 2021, 2022. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2012, 2013, 2017.

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.