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2018 Kia SportageProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 166 owner complaints about the 2018 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-703 the manufacturer reports only 29% of affected cars repaired.

2018 Kia Sportage
49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Sportage median · #13 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 29%Owner complaints16624 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage18kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2018 Kia Sportage has problems

166 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine9210
Electrical system316
Power train180
Fuel/propulsion system113
Steering93
Vehicle speed control80
Service brakes63
Exterior lighting60
Structure60
10 other systems272

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2018 Kia Sportage recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

29%repaired · 2026 Q1

Trailer hitches

Park outside

Recall 22V-703 · Sep 19, 2022 · 70,887 vehicles · 20,450 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

76%repaired · 2023 Q1

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Park outside

Recall 21V-137 · Mar 4, 2021 · 379,931 vehicles · 289,722 repaired

Risk. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

62%repaired · 2020 Q2

Engine

Recall 18V-907 · Dec 19, 2018 · 71,653 vehicles · 44,721 repaired

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

18kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 25 engine complaints. 92% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 31% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
14under 30k miles23under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2018 vs. every other Sportage year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportage median. How we score

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2018 Kia Sportage safety ratings

2018 Kia Sportage SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2018 Kia Sportage frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2018 Kia Sportage side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2018 Kia Sportage side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (14.7% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2018 Kia Sportage, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresAQ23002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Sportage owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

On October 25, 2026, at approximately 6:16 PM, while driving east on I-78 in Newark, New Jersey, my 2018 Kia Sportage caught fire in the engine compartment. There was no crash. Everyone in the vehicle got out safely and there were no injuries. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire department and…
Complaint 11776878 · Nov 9, 2026
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…
Complaint 11765480 · Sep 19, 2026
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…
Complaint 11763274 · Sep 10, 2026

Own a 2018 Sportage?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.