2018 Kia Sorento: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2018 Kia Sorento
On the 2018 Kia Sorento, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 70,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other steering problem, reported by a median of 20,000 miles. Overall it scores 79 out of 100, severe risk for a 2018.
Severe risk for a 2018 — 58th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. 340 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2018 Kia Sorento
Owners have reported 56 named failure modes on the 2018 Kia Sorento, and the three most-reported carry 31% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other engine problem leads with 58 reports, about 15 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 31k to 85,000 miles.
Other lighting problem follows with 26 reports, median 35,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 20 reports, median 35,000 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (111), lighting (42) and electrical (27).
At what mileage it happens
92 of the reports on the 2018 Kia Sorento came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 47,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 52% by 50,000 miles, 87% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, which alone holds 17% of the dated reports.
43% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 56. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 17 mention a crash, 17 a fire, 11 an injury and 3 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.60, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other lighting problem at $120–$1,200, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and other steering problem at $350–$2,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
36% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 58 | 19 | 31k | 72k | 86k | 14.7 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 26 | 4 | — | 37k | — | 6.6 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 20 | 6 | — | 33k | — | 5.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 20 | 9 | 16k | 18k | 25k | 5.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 16 | 2 | — | 91k | — | 4.1 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 12 | 3 | — | 67k | — | 3.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 10 | 3 | — | 36k | — | 2.5 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 8 | 3 | — | 34k | — | 2.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 2.0 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 8 | 2 | — | 1k | — | 2.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.8 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 7 | 1 | — | 118k | — | 1.8 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.5 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 6 | 2 | — | 12k | — | 1.5 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 5 | 1 | — | 13k | — | 1.3 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 5 | 2 | — | 72k | — | 1.3 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 5 | 2 | — | 43k | — | 1.3 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 5 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 1.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 5 | 1 | — | 170k | — | 1.3 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 5 | 2 | — | 34k | — | 1.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 4 | 1 | — | 127k | — | 1.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 3 | 2 | — | 95k | — | 0.8 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 69k | — | 0.8 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 3 | 2 | — | 8k | — | 0.8 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 3 | 3 | — | 49k | — | 0.8 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $200–$900 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 3 | 1 | — | 104k | — | 0.8 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 10k | — | 0.5 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Intake carbon buildup | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $400–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 2 | 2 | — | 61k | — | 0.5 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 2 | 2 | — | 57k | — | 0.5 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 2 | 1 | — | 19k | — | 0.5 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 2 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 0.5 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| Turbocharger or supercharger failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.3 | $1,500–$4,500 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 60k | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 44k | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 23 | 6 | — | 8k | — | 5.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2018 Kia Sorento draws about 86 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 98th percentile of complaint rates among 2018 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 3,938 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2018 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2018 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2018 Kia Sorento, affecting an estimated 6,049 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover trailer hitches, steering:column and air bags:side/window. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
TRAILER HITCHES
70,887 vehicles 2022-09-19- 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.
- Consequence
- A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 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.
STEERING:COLUMN
97 vehicles 2018-09-21- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2,014 vehicles 2017-12-08- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2018 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2018 compares with the other years
Severe risk for a 2018 — 58th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 22 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2024 comes out best at 65 and 2016 worst at 80, with 2018 itself at 79.
If the model year is negotiable, 2024, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2007, 2023, 2008, 2014, 2003, 2019, 2013, 2012 and 2011 score lower than 2018 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2011–2018 generation specifically, 2015 is the strongest year at 70 and 2016 the weakest at 80.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2011-2018 generation, 2015 Kia Sorento scores best at 70 and 2016 Kia Sorento worst at 80.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other steering problem from about 16k and other engine problem from about 31k.
On a 2018 Kia Sorento with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other steering problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
340 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 340 reports, 92 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 27% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Sorento?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (58 reports, median 70,000 miles), other lighting problem (26 reports, median 35,000 miles) and other electrical problem (20 reports, median 35,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2018 Kia Sorento problems start?
Other steering problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 20,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 15,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 47,500 miles.
Is the 2018 Kia Sorento reliable?
It scores 79 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 58th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2018 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Kia Sorento is best?
Within the 2011–2018 generation, 2015 scores best at 70 out of 100 and 2016 worst at 80. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed