Model year record

2018 Kia Sorento

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 443 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V703000

Trailer hitches

Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
70,887
Reported to NHTSA
2022-09-19
Owners notified
2023-07-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V656000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component
Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected
97
Reported to NHTSA
2018-09-21
Owners notified
2018-10-26

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V784000

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected
2,014
Reported to NHTSA
2017-12-08
Owners notified
2017-12-18

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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 number for this recall is SC159.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine14581,000 mi
Unknown or other4513,139 mi
Exterior lighting4443,450 mi
Electrical system3736,000 mi
Steering3022,100 mi
Fuel/propulsion system19170,000 mi
Air bags1249,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking1272,000 mi
Service brakes123,500 mi
Power train118,433 mi
Structure: body1136,000 mi
Vehicle speed control92,214 mi
Visibility/wiper85,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling7138,500 mi
Trailer hitches7
Forward collision avoidance: warnings6
Seat belts476,000 mi
Lane departure: assist3
Back over prevention: warnings2
Exterior lighting: headlights: bulbs2
Lane departure: warning2
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly265,000 mi
Wheels212,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery115,631 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger: hoses/plumbing1100,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights1
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch1
Firerelated1
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control1
Lane departure: sensing system: sonar/ultrasonic172,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch161,000 mi
Seats167,059 mi
Tires112,000 mi

The 2017 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2019 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.