2018 Kia Sorento Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2018 Kia Sorento, and owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2018 Kia Sorento
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Trailer hitches Park outside
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…
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.…
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Electric power assist system (steering) and column (steering)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2018 Kia Sorento vehicles. The cowl crossbar that connects to the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) steering column may be improperly welded, allowing the steering column to separate.
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 for this recall is SC167.
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Air bags: side/window
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2018 Kia Sorento vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.
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 customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Kia Sorento have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 51,289 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 49 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My 2018 Sorento is consuming oil excessively. I’m having to add oil between changes, and I’m now experiencing reduced acceleration under load. I have been told by a few different parties that this has”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 6, 2026 · Engine
“Complete engine failure inspected by Westgate Kia Service Dept, Wake Forest, NC Service manager confirmed that known issue and recall in effect for 2018 Kia Sorrento same issue but because manufacture”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Kia Sorento (Sorento AWD, Sorento FE AWD, Sorento FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–21 / 23–28 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/2.4/3.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
Compare Kia Sorento model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sorento model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Kia Sorento | 1 | 305 |
| 2004 Kia Sorento | 0 | 220 |
| 2005 Kia Sorento | 0 | 307 |
| 2006 Kia Sorento | 1 | 242 |
| 2007 Kia Sorento | 4 | 154 |
| 2008 Kia Sorento | 3 | 217 |
| 2009 Kia Sorento | 2 | 55 |
| 2010 Kia Sorento | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 7 | 1,519 |
| 2012 Kia Sorento | 5 | 880 |
| 2013 Kia Sorento | 5 | 981 |
| 2014 Kia Sorento | 6 | 988 |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 3 | 751 |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 8 | 1,254 |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 4 | 804 |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 3 | 255 |
| 2019 Kia Sorento | 2 | 428 |
| 2020 Kia Sorento | 1 | 136 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento | 4 | 250 |
| 2022 Kia Sorento | 6 | 190 |
| 2023 Kia Sorento | 3 | 122 |
| 2024 Kia Sorento | 2 | 42 |
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 3 | 75 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 2 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2018 Kia Sorento
How do I know if my 2018 Kia Sorento has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2018 Kia Sorento; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V784000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.