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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2018 Kia Sorento is associated with 252 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 72 reports (29% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 7 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.3l 6-cyl, 2.4l 4-cyl, and 2l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 19 to 24 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 252 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (72 / 29%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 12 crash / 11 fire / 10 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 19–24 MPG across 7 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Sorento FE AWD 3.3L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 18 MPG 25 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
Sorento FWD 2.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 21 MPG 28 MPG 24 MPG — $2,550 / yr
Sorento FWD 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 20 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Sorento AWD 2.4L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 21 MPG 25 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Sorento AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 19 MPG 25 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Sorento FWD 3.3L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 18 MPG 25 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
Sorento AWD 3.3L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 17 MPG 23 MPG 19 MPG — $3,250 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD 15.8%
SUV AWD 15%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Kia Sorento models.
View complete 2018 Kia Sorento crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Summary of 252 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
252
Crash Reports
12
Fire Reports
11
Complaints w/ Injury
10
Total Injuries
11

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Engine 72 complaints
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 24 complaints
Steering 22 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10 complaints
Air Bags 8 complaints (6 crashes)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2018 Kia Sorento problems & component breakdown (59 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #22V703000 Active Recall
Affected Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Defect 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.

Free 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.
NHTSA Campaign #18V656000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Defect 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.

Free 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.
NHTSA Campaign #17V784000 Active Recall
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Defect 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.

Free 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.
View all 2018 Kia Sorento recalls & campaign history (3 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2018 Kia Sorento

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2018 Kia Sorento

How many safety recalls does the 2018 Kia Sorento have?

The 2018 Kia Sorento is associated with 3 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 3 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA records list 252 consumer defect complaints for the 2018 Kia Sorento. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 72 filings (29% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2018 Kia Sorento defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2018 Kia Sorento earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2018 Kia Sorento get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2018 Kia Sorento range from 19 to 24 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.