2018 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Kia SORENTO has 332 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving on a state hwy about three miles from home going 50 mph. i was the sole occupant in the vehicle when i began to smell smoke. i was able to pull off the hwy. and turn the vehicle off. i opened my door and opened the hood from the inside. when i did, flames and smoke began to shoot ou. ⚠️ 16 fire reports filed.

16 fire reports 14 crash reports 13 injuries

332

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

108 complaints

33%

• I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY ABOUT THREE MILES FROM HOME GOING 50 MPH. I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HWY. AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED MY DOOR AND OPENED THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I DID, FLAMES AND SMOKE BEGAN TO SHOOT OU
• OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY KIA HAS STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I TOOK MY KIA INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY RAN SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPL
• ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN RESTATRED, WENT INTO LIMP MODE. NOW ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AND NO ENGINES ARE AVAILABLE. MY CAR HAS A MOBILITY DEVICE INSTALLED TO ACCOMODATE MY MISSING RIGHT LEG AND ANY RENTAL VEHICLE IS DIFFICULY TO USE SINCE I HAVE TO REMOVE MY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports

“I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY ABOUT THREE MILES FROM HOME GOING 50 MPH. I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HWY. AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED MY DOOR AND OPENED THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I DID, FLAMES AND SMOKE BEGAN TO SHOOT OU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

45 complaints

14%

• 2018 KIA SORENTO SXL THE AEB ( AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING ) DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED OR EXPECTED..THIS FEATURE IS ADVERTISED AS AEB AND ALSO ON THE ELECTRONIC DASH AS AEB BUT ACCORDING TO THE VERY DEFINITION OF AUTONOMOUS MEANING WITHOUT HUMAN INTERVENTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A CRASH
• I WAS BACKING UP WHEN MY CAR JUST ACCELERATED LIKE CRAZY AND RAN OVER A HUGE BRICK MAILBOX. IT WAS LIKE MY CAR WAS POSSESS, IT BECAME A CRAZY 4 WHEEL DRIVE.
• GOT 2018 KIA SORRENTO 9 THOUSAND MILES IT STALL 6 TIMES LAST WEEK TOOK IT TO KIA THAY SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THIS SATURDAY IT STALL 2 MORE TIMES THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE BIG RIG HAD TO BRAKE FAST NOW IM TAKEING IT IN TUES SO NOW THAY CAN HAVE IT FOR A LONGTIME SO THAY CAN GIVE IT BACK BECAUSE T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“2018 KIA SORENTO SXL THE AEB ( AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING ) DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED OR EXPECTED..THIS FEATURE IS ADVERTISED AS AEB AND ALSO ON THE ELECTRONIC DASH AS AEB BUT ACCORDING TO THE VERY DEFINITION OF AUTONOMOUS MEANING WITHOUT HUMAN INTERVENTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A CRASH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

41 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 KIA SORENTO. UPON ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED A LACK OF VISIBILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY ON THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA, 5655 US-1, FORT PIE
• CAR HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION, FIRST NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AS LIGHTS WERE IN AUTO SETTING AND THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THE LIGHT SETTING CHANGE AND THE LIGHTS OUTSIDE CHANGING AS WELL WITH NOTHING BEING TOUCHED. LIGHTS HAVE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ABOUT 5 TIMES WHEN DRIVING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 KIA SORENTO. UPON ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED A LACK OF VISIBILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY ON THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA, 5655 US-1, FORT PIE
• IN JANUARY 2019 A RECALL WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL SENT THE CAR INTO LIMP MODE BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS BAD. MY C
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SON CALLED HER AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, UPON EX

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY ON THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA, 5655 US-1, FORT PIE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

26 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAS NOT BEEN NOTICED WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IT IS RANDOM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN NOTICED 4 TIMES.
• STICKING STEERING THEN GIVES WHEN CONSTANT PRESSURE APPLIED MAKING A SIGNIFICANT SUDDEN STEERING MOVEMENT. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING. SEEMS MORE ON RIGHT THAN LEFT. STARTED NOTICING IT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. HAVE NOT CHANGED ANYTHING. HAPPENS WHEN EVER DRIVING.
• STEERING IS STICKING BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT, CAN FEEL IT WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEED AND HIGHER SPEED ON ANY ROAD CITY OR HIGHWAY, TOOK TO DEALER THEY DID A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STILL DOING THE SAME THING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAS NOT BEEN NOTICED WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IT IS RANDOM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN NOTICED 4 TIMES.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 332 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY ABOUT THREE MILES FROM HOME GOING 50 MPH. I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HWY. AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED MY DOOR AND OPENED THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I DID, FLAMES AND SMOKE BEGAN TO SHOOT OU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2018 KIA SORENTO SXL THE AEB ( AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING ) DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED OR EXPECTED..THIS FEATURE IS ADVERTISED AS AEB AND ALSO ON THE ELECTRONIC DASH AS AEB BUT ACCORDING TO THE VERY DEFINITION OF AUTONOMOUS MEANING WITHOUT HUMAN INTERVENTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A CRASH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 KIA SORENTO. UPON ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED A LACK OF VISIBILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY ON THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA, 5655 US-1, FORT PIE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)