Reliable Auto DB

2018 Kia Sorento reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Kia Sorento holds 254 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 16 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Sorento years here — under the median of the other years, which is 27. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Trailer hitch, Electric power steering, and Side and window.

2012 Kia Sorento
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

254

Per year

16

Recalls

3

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (106 of 254), then Exterior lighting (41) and Electrical system (30). Those filings include 12 that report a crash, 11 that report a fire, 10 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Sorento has 804 complaints, 40 per year, and the 2019 has 426 complaints, 28 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Kia Sorento. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall trailer hitch 2022-09-19 · NHTSA campaign 22V703000
Summary 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.
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 Electric power steering 2018-09-21 · NHTSA campaign 18V656000
Summary 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.
Recall air bags, side and window 2017-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 17V784000
Summary 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 number for this recall is SC159.

Complaints by component (254 total)

Engine
106
Exterior lighting
41
Electrical system
30
Steering
26
Fuel and propulsion system
13
Air bags
10
Powertrain
9
Structure
9
Forward collision avoidance
8
Service brakes
8
Speed control
8
Engine and engine cooling
7
Trailer hitch
7
Visibility and wipers
5
Lane departure
4
Seat belts
3
Visibility
2
Wheels
2
Back-over prevention
1
Fire-related
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Show 15 more Show less
Crash-flagged

12

Fire-flagged

11

Injury reports

10

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

12017112018162019212020122021352022412023492024412025272026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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 manufactures parts are only…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-18
  • "Vehicle: 2018 Kia Sorento VIN: [XXX] Kia Corporate Case #: XXX My 2018 Kia Sorento experienced a catastrophic engine failure (“holes in the block”) while under warranty. The vehicle lost power, emitted heavy smoke, and…"
    Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "The High Pressure Fuel Pump failed while driving on highway. I took it to the Kia dealership and they told me of the issue. There were no prior warnings of issues Kia recalled all 2019-2020 kia sorentos with this same…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-27
  • "The abs module has failed. Yes vehicle is available for inspections if wanted and would be appreciated. Had it scanned by dealership and it’s too expensive to fix. Lights on are abs. Traction control. Auto hold.…"
    Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-08-26
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Kia Sorento SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Sorento all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 19 25 22 MPG $2950
Sorento all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $3400
Sorento all-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 21 25 22 MPG $2950
Sorento FE all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 18 25 21 MPG $3100
Sorento front-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $2700
Sorento front-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 18 25 20 MPG $3250
Sorento front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (UM), 2012–2020
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-20 or 0W-20 (2.4L and 3.3L V6 per manual) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R17 to 235/55R19 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Safety recall 17V-224 covers certain 2012-2014 Sorentos (among Optima and Sportage): machining errors during engine manufacturing may cause premature bearing wear that can seize the engine; dealers inspect and replace the engine as needed. That campaign does not list 2015-2020 model years. For later GDI/T-GDI years, Kia ran a Knock Sensor Detection System product-improvement campaign (not a safety recall) on certain 2015-2018 Sorentos with 2.4L GDI and 2016-2018 with 2.0L turbo GDI to add ECU software that detects early connecting-rod bearing wear. Safety recall 18V-907 covers certain 2012-2017 Sorentos that previously received an engine replacement under 17V-224, warranty, or the KSDS campaign: the high-pressure fuel pipe may have been damaged or mis-torqued during that replacement and can leak; dealers inspect and replace the pipe. Safety recall 16V-480 covers certain 2016 Sorentos whose rear-suspension cross-member welds may be improper; dealers inspect and replace the cross-member as needed.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Kia Sorento Next year 2019 Kia Sorento See every Kia Sorento model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Kia Sorento reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Kia Sorento holds 254 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 16 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Sorento years here — under the median of the other years, which is 27. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Trailer hitch, Electric power steering, and Side and window.

What are common problems with a 2018 Kia Sorento?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (106 of 254), then Exterior lighting (41) and Electrical system (30). Those filings include 12 that report a crash, 11 that report a fire, 10 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2018 Kia Sorento more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Sorento has 804 complaints, 40 per year, and the 2019 has 426 complaints, 28 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Kia Sorento been recalled?

The 2018 Kia Sorento has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Owners have filed 254 complaints about the 2018 Kia Sorento with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Kia Sorento get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Kia Sorento is 21.6 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia Sorento take?

UM (2012-2020): 5W-20 or 0W-20 for 2.4L and 3.3L V6. MQ4 (2021+): 0W-20 for 2.5L and turbo/hybrid where equipped (about 5 qt with filter).

Does safety recall 22V-202 cover a 2022 Kia Sorento?

Yes for certain 2022 Sorentos: the turbocharger oil supply pipe may crack and leak oil near hot components; dealers replace that pipe.

What generation is a 2020 Kia Sorento?

UM generation (2012-2020). The MQ4 redesign starts in 2021.