2018 Kia Sportage problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (62) · Power Train (13) · Electrical System (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sportage model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
51 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Trailer Hitches 2022-09-19 · campaign 22V703000 · 70,887 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
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.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2021-03-04 · campaign 21V137000 · 379,931 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Engine 2018-12-19 · campaign 18V907000 · 71,653 vehicles
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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (133)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-08 · CS2312_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Engine 2026-04-04 · SC340_TSB_R5 · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: theta ii 2.4l gdi emissions: ecm logic improvement (sc340 revision 5) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information to
Engine 2026-03-17 · SC340_OWNR_NQ5_105 · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (sc340 flight 105) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting a voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) for certain 2017-2022 my sportag
Engine 2026-03-06 · SC340_TSB_R4 · Emissions
technical service bulletin: voluntary emissions service campaign: theta ii 2.4l gdi emission secm logic improvement (sc340 rev 4) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin p
Structure:body 2026-02-19 · TSB_CS2312_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Engine 2025-12-19 · SC340_OWNR_QL103 · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (sc340 flight 103 / ql) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting a voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) for certain 2017-2022 my sp
Showing the 6 most recent of 133 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Unknown Or Other“i have spent two months trying to get my keys re-programmed to the system and the dealership informed me that the system has been "bypassed" somehow with no solution. this is after my account had been taken over and at one point the vehicle was being remotely controlled. i am out $500.00 for keys that cant work and this is a safety issue as i cant …”
2026-09-19 · Engine“the vehicle suffered a primary connecting rod bearing failure covered under the theta ii class action warranty campaign. a brand-new warranty engine long-block was installed by an authorized dealership. immediately upon vehicle pickup, the brand-new engine began exhibiting an un-metered acceleration defect. while stationary and idling in park (p), …”
2026-09-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“ shortly after driving away, before reaching a highway on-ramp, i noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. i turned around and returned to the location. by the time i arrived, the vehicle was emitting black smoke, and shortly after, it was fully engulfed in fire before i could retrieve a fire extinguisher. vehicle has a documented history of a known …”
2026-08-16 · 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 sai…”
2026-08-13 · 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 e…”
2026-08-05 · Engine · 64,813 mi“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 repai…”
2026-07-17 · 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 manufact…”
2026-06-08 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 100,000 mi“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 pot…”
2026-06-04 · Power Train“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 hab…”
2026-05-26 · Engine · 🔥 fire“1. component or system malfunction & availability component/system failed: an unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). odometer reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. available for inspection: no. the vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.