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Recall Campaigns
3
Federal recall campaigns
Urgent Safety Directives
1
Do Not Drive / Park Outside
Affected Subsystems
4
Air Bags & Restraints, Other / Miscellaneous
Authorized Remedy
100% Free
Mandated dealer repair by law
Federal Safety Campaign Analysis

Executive Recall Findings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists 3 official safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Sorento in AutoUtility's current federal dataset. The primary affected vehicle systems include Air Bags & Restraints, Other / Miscellaneous, Steering System. NHTSA records include 1 campaign carrying an official Park Outside safety advisory.

VIN Specificity Notice: Safety recall campaigns apply to specific production date ranges and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or with an authorized dealer to verify whether a safety repair is open.
Campaign Status & Legal Rights
  • • Federal Authority: Recalls administered under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301.
  • • Free Dealer Remedy: Under federal law, safety defect repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers.
  • • High-Priority Warnings: 1 campaign(s) include urgent Do Not Drive or Park Outside instructions.
  • • Latest Campaign Filing: Recorded on September 19, 2022.
Federal Directives

Official NHTSA Recall Campaigns (3)

Complete safety campaign filings including defect descriptions, safety hazards, and free dealer remedies

⚠️ PARK OUTSIDE ADVISORY — Park outside and away from structures until remedy is completed.
NHTSA Campaign #22V703000 TRAILER HITCHES
Filed: September 19, 2022

What is defective?

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.

Safety Risk / Consequence

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

Authorized Free Dealer 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.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Campaign #18V656000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Filed: September 21, 2018

What is defective?

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.

Safety Risk / Consequence

If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer 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.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA Campaign #17V784000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Filed: December 8, 2017

What is defective?

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.

Safety Risk / 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.

Authorized Free Dealer 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.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Subsystem Scope

Vehicle Systems Involved in Recalls for 2018 Kia Sorento

Distribution of official safety recall campaigns across automotive subsystem domains

01 1 CAMPAIGN

Air Bags & Restraints

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Air Bags & Restraints subsystem.

13 Consumer Complaints →
02 1 CAMPAIGN

Other / Miscellaneous

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Other / Miscellaneous subsystem.

28 Consumer Complaints →
03 1 CAMPAIGN

Steering System

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Steering System subsystem.

26 Consumer Complaints →
04 1 CAMPAIGN

Visibility, Wipers & Glass

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Visibility, Wipers & Glass subsystem.

7 Consumer Complaints →
Fleet History

Recall History for Kia Sorento

Official safety recall campaign volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Recalls NHTSA Complaints Detailed Report
2015 Kia Sorento 3 747 View 2015 Recalls →
2016 Kia Sorento 8 1245 View 2016 Recalls →
2017 Kia Sorento 4 798 View 2017 Recalls →
2018 Kia Sorento Current Page 3 252 Current
2019 Kia Sorento 2 422 View 2019 Recalls →
2020 Kia Sorento 1 132 View 2020 Recalls →
2021 Kia Sorento 5 26 View 2021 Recalls →
2022 Kia Sorento 9 218 View 2022 Recalls →
2023 Kia Sorento 4 154 View 2023 Recalls →
2024 Kia Sorento 2 45 View 2024 Recalls →
2025 Kia Sorento 4 119 View 2025 Recalls →
2026 Kia Sorento 2 0 View 2026 Recalls →
Consumer Checklist

VIN-Specific Recall Verification

How to confirm whether an individual vehicle requires an authorized safety repair

Safety recall campaigns apply to specific vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and manufacturing date ranges. To verify if your individual vehicle has an uncompleted safety recall:

  • Locate your 17-character VIN on the driver's side door jamb or dashboard.
  • Enter the VIN into the official NHTSA recall lookup at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
  • Contact any franchised Kia dealership to schedule a free remedy appointment.
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 711)
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2018 Kia Sorento

Explore owner problem reports and crash safety ratings for this model year

← 2018 Kia Sorento Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2018 Kia Sorento Owner Complaints (252) →

NHTSA defect complaints breakdown across all vehicle subsystems and recurring symptoms.

2018 Kia Sorento Safety & Crash Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover ratings.

2018 Kia Sorento MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Safety Recalls & Federal Directives for the 2018 Kia Sorento

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

How many safety recalls are on file for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

The 2018 Kia Sorento is associated with 3 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns, affecting systems including Air Bags & Restraints, Other / Miscellaneous, Steering System.

A recall campaign listing indicates that a safety defect or noncompliance standard was determined for specific production runs of this vehicle model year.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

Are there urgent 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' warnings for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Yes. Federal recall records for the 2018 Kia Sorento include 1 campaign with high-priority safety directives including a Park Outside advisory.

Urgent directives are issued when an unreasonable risk of severe injury or fire exists prior to authorized dealer repair.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database

Are recall repairs free for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

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.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) requires manufacturers and franchised dealers to provide authorized safety recall repairs at no cost to the vehicle owner. Because campaigns apply to specific production runs and option packages, vehicle owners must verify their 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm individual applicability.

Source: National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301)

Does a recall campaign apply to every 2018 Kia Sorento?

Not necessarily. Model-year recall campaigns typically apply to specific vehicle production date ranges, assembly plants, or optional equipment packages.

AutoUtility's model-year records describe campaign scope; owners must check their individual 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm if an open recall applies to their specific vehicle.

Source: NHTSA VIN Lookup Service
Official US Government Data Provenance

Recall records published on this page are retrieved directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Recalls Database under 49 U.S.C. 30118.

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