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Kia · NHTSA safety record

2018 Kia Sportage

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

162

Complaints

7

Crashes

11

Fires

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Kia Sportage have filed 162 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2018 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 89 of them (55%). The typical failure was reported at 18,400 miles, the median across the 51 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 30 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 17 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (3)

TRAILER HITCHES

22V703000 · September 19, 2022

Park outside until repaired

The defect
Kia 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 original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
The risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The 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 harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 70,887 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

21V137000 · March 4, 2021

Park outside until repaired

The defect
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
The risk
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The 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 the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.

Kia Motors America · up to 379,931 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

18V907000 · December 19, 2018

The defect
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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 at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Kia Motors America · up to 71,653 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

AQ23002

Still open audit query · opened November 17, 2023

the hydraulic brakes

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 162.

ENGINE 89 55%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19 12%
POWER TRAIN 18 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 6%
STEERING 9 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 4%
STRUCTURE 6 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 33.

2018 2025 2026
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

TRAILER HITCHES

2 injured · fire · towed · 186,000 miles

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to approximately 45 MPH, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact and her daughter who was inside the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle safely. The contact stated that the fire had started under the hood of the vehicle and totally engulfed the entire vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Fire Department report was filed. The contact and

NHTSA complaint 11660415, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · fire · towed · 55,000 miles

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed black smoke billowing from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power, prompting him and his wife to evacuate the vehicle in the middle of the roadway. While attempting to retrieve important belongings from the vehicle, the contact stated that he heard what sounded to be an explosion within the engine compartment, causing him to fall backward and sprain his ankle. Moments later the front end of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and needed

NHTSA complaint 11626883, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed · 33,000 miles

ALL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES RESULTING IN HEADING CRASH

NHTSA complaint 11255041. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash

I was in a collision and sandwiched in between cars severe front and back damage. No Air bags!

NHTSA complaint 11569614. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Purchased my Kia on the XXX then on the XXX, My engine light came on and my car went into Safety Mode . I at once took it to Auto Zone and their test came back with P1326 Knock signal range / performance. I then looked it up and found that a recall was put out quite a while back called an [XXX] # took my car to Kia Dealership in [XXX]. They said I could bring it in that was on the XXX and if an appointment came open they would check but they did not have an opening til the 14th which was today and I was told it would be next week . Could someone please send me updated information concerning the 2018 Kia Sportage and the Knock Sensor [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION

NHTSA complaint 11757330, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
2018 Kia Sportage (78,051 miles). Vehicle is part of the Kia Engine Class Action Settlement due to severe internal engine defects. The engine suffers from catastrophic oil consumption, running almost completely dry three times in less than six months with no external leaks, meaning it is internally burning motor oil at a dangerous rate.This known engine defect caused severe consequential damage to the exhaust and emissions systems. On Aug 12, 2026, a Kia dealer technician diagnosed active code P0420. The technician's video inspection stated both the catalytic converter and O2 sensors are completely "out of specification." This double failure is a direct result of the engine defect blowing

NHTSA complaint 11756810, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

64,813 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power with the accelerator pedal depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,813.

NHTSA complaint 11754939. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The engine consumes excessive oil due to the known Theta II piston oil control ring defect that the manufacturer documents in its own Technical Service Bulletin ENG222, covering this engine family across model years 2011 to 2024. The vehicle loses over one quart of oil per 1,000 miles with no external leak and no oil pressure warning. The manufacturer's authorized dealer completed the entire TSB ENG222 diagnostic protocol, which is itself a controlled test designed to isolate cause. The engine was sealed, and after 1,080 miles it was 1.5 quarts low. The dealer then performed the TSB's combustion chamber cleaning. After that repair, over 1,149 miles, the engine was 1.4 quarts low. The

NHTSA complaint 11751070, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

100,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Check Engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, which resulted in spark plug fouling, and the vehicle exhibited an audible engine noise consistent with a potential engine failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the spark plugs were serviced. The contact also reported multiple visits to the mechanic for oil additions. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA complaint 11742806. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I received a voluntary emissions update letter from kia, and although it was voluntary, the letter said failure to update could be considered lack of maintenance. The update was performed on XXX at Dorsch Ford/Kia in [XXX]. The vehicle ran poorly from that day forward. I gave it a couple of weeks to insure that the system could learn my driving habits. I then went to the Dorsch service department to report my issues. The service writer {Andy} said he hadn't heard of any issues with the update. I had him log in my issues to have a record that I complained. I returned several more times and talked to other service writers who told me that if they would check the vehicle and found nothing that

NHTSA complaint 11741993, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Kia Sportage

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 25 1 —
2025 49 1 —
2024 66 3 —
2023 185 6 —
2022 45 1 —
2021 49 2 —
2020 159 2 —
2019 69 2 —
2017 398 4 —
2016 130 2 —
2015 146 2 —
2014 122 3 —
2013 380 3 —
2012 392 5 —
2011 181 6 —
2010 20 2 1

Other 2018 Kia models

Sorento 248 Optima 230 Soul 213 Forte 134 Stinger 67 Niro 56 Sedona 48 RIO 28

Every Kia on this site — 176 vehicles, 208 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst