2018 Kia STINGER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Kia STINGER has 86 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle was in park with the engine not running. came out of big deal convenient store located on rte 9 chesterfield, nh to find smoke coming out of the engine compartment. called 911 and used a store fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames. waited for the fire dept to arrive, they put the en. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.
86
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
24 complaints- • VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. CAME OUT OF BIG DEAL CONVENIENT STORE LOCATED ON RTE 9 CHESTERFIELD, NH TO FIND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND USED A STORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT TO ARRIVE, THEY PUT THE EN
- • I PARKED MY 2018 KIA STINGER AT HOME AFTER DRIVING 40 MIN, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR DURING THIS TIME. AFTER ROUGHLY 5 MINUTES IN MY HOUSE, I BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. I LOOKED AROUND THE HOUSE FOR ANYTHING BURNING. I SEARCHED THE 1ST/2ND FLOOR, BUT NOTHING. I OPENED MY BAC
- • AN INJURY HAS NOT OCCURRED. THE DEALER DID NOT SEEK TO RESOLVE THE RECALL ISSUE. KIA MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN 2018 STINGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 20, 2017 THROUGH JUNE 8, 2018. THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WIRIN
“VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. CAME OUT OF BIG DEAL CONVENIENT STORE LOCATED ON RTE 9 CHESTERFIELD, NH TO FIND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND USED A STORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT TO ARRIVE, THEY PUT THE EN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
14 complaints- • WENT TO CAR WASH TO DEGREASE ENGINE IN THE EVENING. CAR WAS PARKED IN CAR WASH BAY NOT RUNNING. SPRAYED GUNK ENGINE DEGREASER ON MOTOR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN A FEW SECONDS UNEXPECTEDLY. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. QUICKLY PUT FIRE OUT WITH WATER AND FUEL LEAKS AFTER CAREFUL INSPECTION AND ELECTRICAL
- • The contact owns a 2018 Kia Stinger. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence where it was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the fuel pum
- • All of a sudden while driving on the road my vehicle lost total power in the middle of an intersection. I would pres the gas pedal and got no response the vehicle would not go. I had to turn car off and try starting it again then the vehicle got power. This keeps happening not everyday but it's happ
“WENT TO CAR WASH TO DEGREASE ENGINE IN THE EVENING. CAR WAS PARKED IN CAR WASH BAY NOT RUNNING. SPRAYED GUNK ENGINE DEGREASER ON MOTOR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN A FEW SECONDS UNEXPECTEDLY. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. QUICKLY PUT FIRE OUT WITH WATER AND FUEL LEAKS AFTER CAREFUL INSPECTION AND ELECTRICAL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
10 complaints- • VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. CAME OUT OF BIG DEAL CONVENIENT STORE LOCATED ON RTE 9 CHESTERFIELD, NH TO FIND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND USED A STORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT TO ARRIVE, THEY PUT THE EN
- • RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 18V-754 POSSIBLE WIRE HARNESS DAMAGE AND BROUGHT TO DEALER ON 1/2/19. THE INSPECTION FAILED AND DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER CAR. TOMORROW 2/2/18 WILL BE 2 MONTHS AND DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED A PART NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL AND CANNOT PERFORM WORK. WISCONSIN LEMON LAW CAN TAKE AFF
- • I PARKED MY 2018 KIA STINGER AT HOME AFTER DRIVING 40 MIN, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR DURING THIS TIME. AFTER ROUGHLY 5 MINUTES IN MY HOUSE, I BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. I LOOKED AROUND THE HOUSE FOR ANYTHING BURNING. I SEARCHED THE 1ST/2ND FLOOR, BUT NOTHING. I OPENED MY BAC
“VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. CAME OUT OF BIG DEAL CONVENIENT STORE LOCATED ON RTE 9 CHESTERFIELD, NH TO FIND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND USED A STORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT TO ARRIVE, THEY PUT THE EN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
9 complaints- • NEW CAR. AS SOON AS AROUND 4K MILES TO PRESENT 7K MILES, BRAKES ARE UNSAFE WITH SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION IN PEDAL WHEN BRAKING AT MODERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ANYTHING OVER 35-40MPH) UNDER ANY TYPE OF BRAKING. SUSPECTED FAULTY PADS WHICH ARE TOO SOFT LEAVING PAD RESIDUE ON ROTORS IMPACTING STOPPING POWE
- • VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN STOPPING AT ANY SPEED SHAKES VIOLENTLY, STARTED ABOUT 6000 MILES AND CONTINUES EVEN AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS
- • VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40MPH. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 10K MILES.
“NEW CAR. AS SOON AS AROUND 4K MILES TO PRESENT 7K MILES, BRAKES ARE UNSAFE WITH SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION IN PEDAL WHEN BRAKING AT MODERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ANYTHING OVER 35-40MPH) UNDER ANY TYPE OF BRAKING. SUSPECTED FAULTY PADS WHICH ARE TOO SOFT LEAVING PAD RESIDUE ON ROTORS IMPACTING STOPPING POWE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
LIGHTING
7 complaints- • HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED SIDE-2-SIDE. CURRENTLY BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS POINT OFF CENTER TO THE LEFT, BLINDING ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS ALSO A MASSACHUSETTS VEHICLE SAFETY VIOLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A REJECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DUE FOR INSPECTION.
- • CONDENSATION" INSIDE" THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONTINUALLY APPEARS AND HINDERS THE VEIW. ONCE AFTER WASHING THE VEHICLE AND SEVERAL TIMES AFTER A SHORT DRIVE THEN RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. WHERE AND WHEN IT OCCURS IS RANDOM AND OFTEN. AFTER THIS CYCLE CONTINUES THE INSIDE LENS LEAV
- • THE KIA DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED UPDATE/REPLACEMENT OF THE ECU. BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT MY CAR HAD AMBIANT LIGHTING FOR THE CABIN THAT CHANGED LIGHTS. AFTER THE ECU UPDATE/REPLACEMENT THE AMBIANT LIGHTING DOESN'T NOT WORK AND IT'S NO LONGER AN OPTION IN MY CARS SETTINGS.
“HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED SIDE-2-SIDE. CURRENTLY BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS POINT OFF CENTER TO THE LEFT, BLINDING ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS ALSO A MASSACHUSETTS VEHICLE SAFETY VIOLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A REJECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DUE FOR INSPECTION.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 86 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. CAME OUT OF BIG DEAL CONVENIENT STORE LOCATED ON RTE 9 CHESTERFIELD, NH TO FIND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND USED A STORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT TO ARRIVE, THEY PUT THE EN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: WENT TO CAR WASH TO DEGREASE ENGINE IN THE EVENING. CAR WAS PARKED IN CAR WASH BAY NOT RUNNING. SPRAYED GUNK ENGINE DEGREASER ON MOTOR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN A FEW SECONDS UNEXPECTEDLY. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. QUICKLY PUT FIRE OUT WITH WATER AND FUEL LEAKS AFTER CAREFUL INSPECTION AND ELECTRICAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. CAME OUT OF BIG DEAL CONVENIENT STORE LOCATED ON RTE 9 CHESTERFIELD, NH TO FIND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND USED A STORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT TO ARRIVE, THEY PUT THE EN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: NEW CAR. AS SOON AS AROUND 4K MILES TO PRESENT 7K MILES, BRAKES ARE UNSAFE WITH SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION IN PEDAL WHEN BRAKING AT MODERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ANYTHING OVER 35-40MPH) UNDER ANY TYPE OF BRAKING. SUSPECTED FAULTY PADS WHICH ARE TOO SOFT LEAVING PAD RESIDUE ON ROTORS IMPACTING STOPPING POWE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia STINGER — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 86
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 10
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Kia STINGER