2018 KIA SORENTO

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    engine internal

    6 stranded, 35 unsafe

    41
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=20, median 73,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "CURRENTLY, THERE IS AN ENGINE RECALL ON THE 2015-2018 KIA SORENTO, WHICH RESULTS IN PREMATURE ROD WEARING AND POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRES. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE, BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT, THE ENGINE NOISES (TAPPING/KNOCKING) WERE NOTICED BY A FAMILY…"~7,000 mi, complaint #1681463
    • "ON 8-23-19 AT APPROX. O805HRS I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND PARKED MY KIA SORENTO. I HAD DRIVEN THE KIA SORENTO FROM MY RESIDENCE TO VANCOUVER, WA AND DURING THIS TRAVEL PERIOD THE KIA SORENTO FUNCTIONED AS USUAL WITH NO INDICATION OF MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL…"~13,139 mi, complaint #1597598
    • "The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal ticking noise detected. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light flashing. The vehicle was take…"~57,000 mi, complaint #1830937
    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost all power while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact also stated that white smoke began to emit from underneath the hood of the vehi…"~81,000 mi, complaint #1985857
    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact stated that while slowing for a traffic sign or stop lights, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnor…"~178,000 mi, complaint #2146490
  2. #2

    lighting exterior

    31 unsafe, 6 annoyance

    37
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2018 KIA SORENTO RANDOMLY TURN OFF. IT'S HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. IT HAPPENS BOTH DAY AND NIGHT. THE LIGHTS ARE SET TO AUTO. ALTHOUGH THE EVEN APPEARS TO BE RANDOM, IT IS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND HAS HAPPE…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1674999
    • "HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. SERVICE ON 3-23-20 AND COULD DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ON 9-25-20 DRIVING AND DASH BOARD INDICATOR SWITCHING FROM FLASHERS ON, HEADLIGHTS GOING FROM AUTO SET, TO OFF, TO RUNNING LIGHTS, AND DOOR LOCKS LO…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1698440
    • "7/23/20 20:30, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A CITY STREET, JUST BEGAN DRIVING FROM STOPPING AT A LIGHT, AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, MY WIFE ROTATED THE LIGHTS SWITCH TO OFF THEN BACK TO AUTO AND THEY CAME BACK ON. THIS IS…"~43,450 mi, complaint #1680357
    • "2018 KIA SORRENTO - LIGHTS HAVE SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING IN VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS (INTERSTATE/CITY STREET/ETC.). CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP (TWICE YESTERDAY AND FOUR TIMES LAST WEEK ALL WITHIN ONE TR…"~58,000 mi, complaint #1703838
    • "THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT JUST STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO OPEN THE HEAD LIGHT CASING AND PLAY WITH THE CABLES TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. ALSO THE POWER SEATS DON'T WORK."~67,059 mi, complaint #1721030
  3. #3

    engine oil consumption

    25 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    26
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that oil needing to be added the engine every two weeks. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The…"~81,136 mi, complaint #1913222
  4. #4

    engine stall or no start

    7 stranded, 15 unsafe

    22
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 18,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME I HAD TOO WORK IN RODEO CALIFORNIA HALF THE WAY EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT I HAD MY 3 CHILDREN WITH ME MY CAR DIDN'T GAVE ME ANY WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.,NO WHITE SMOKE , I WAS PASSING THE DODGER STADIUM WHEN SUDDENLY MY 2018 SORE…"~2,214 mi, complaint #1597411
    • "ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN RESTATRED, WENT INTO LIMP MODE. NOW ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AND NO ENGINES ARE AVAILABLE. MY CAR HAS A MOBILITY DEVICE INSTALLED TO ACCOMODATE MY MISSING RIGHT LEG AND ANY RENTAL VEHICLE IS DIF…"~10,950 mi, complaint #1552431
    • "OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY KIA HAS STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I TOOK MY KIA INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY RAN SOME DIAGNOSTIC T…"~18,000 mi, complaint #1540888
    • "DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR MADE A TICKING NOISE AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF"~72,000 mi, complaint #1724655
    • "2018 Kia Sorrento died suddenly on the highway. We heard a loud rattling noise, then a pop followed by the engine stopping with some smoke coming out under the hood."~101,300 mi, complaint #1875681
  5. #5

    steering electric assist

    14 unsafe

    14
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "STICKING STEERING THEN GIVES WHEN CONSTANT PRESSURE APPLIED MAKING A SIGNIFICANT SUDDEN STEERING MOVEMENT. HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING. SEEMS MORE ON RIGHT THAN LEFT. STARTED NOTICING IT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. HAVE NOT CHANGED ANYTHING. HAPPENS WHEN EVER DRIVI…"~4,000 mi, complaint #1523592
    • "THE PROBLEM IS A STICKY FEELING IN THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN MAKING VERY SMALL CORRECTIONS FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS TURNED OFF. GENTLE PRESSURE DOES NOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL. AS MORE AND MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED, IT FEELS LIKE TH…"~16,000 mi, complaint #1564419
    • "STEERING HAS A "NOTCHY" OR "STICKY" FEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN STEERING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT."~22,100 mi, complaint #1654595
    • "WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS. WHILE YOU KEEP TURNING A LITTLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT IT WILL SUDDENLY BREAK LOOSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION YOU WERE TURNING THE WHEEL AT THE TIME. IT IS…"~25,000 mi, complaint #1540931
    • "WHEN DRIVING 40+ MPH, WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING, THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY, NOTCHY OR JERKY, CALL IT WHAT EVER YOU PLEASE. WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST STEERING SLIGHTLY TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION, MY STEERING BECOMES JERKY AND DANGEROUS. KIA REFUSES TO LOOK I…"~49,000 mi, complaint #1661231
  6. #6

    airbag system

    9 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, HIT DEER. FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR SWERVED ONTO MEDIAN AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRASHED INTO GUARDRAIL. SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UNCLEAR WHY SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AND SHATTERED W…"~15,000 mi, complaint #1514323
    • "The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle had abruptly attempted to merge into the opposite traveling lane and caused the front end bumper to crash into the Front Driver-side door of the o…"~18,000 mi, complaint #2179666
    • "I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE IMPACT TOTALED THE OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED $7,500 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED,…"~49,000 mi, complaint #1707789
    • "MY SON WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45-55 MPH WHEN HE OVERCORRECTED AND MADE FULL IMPACT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH A SOLID SNOW BANK IN THE MIDDLE MEDIAN. THE RADIATOR WAS SLAMMED BACKWARDS, THE FRONT END WAS DEMOLISHED WITH AROUND $12,000 IN DAMAG…"~68,702 mi, complaint #1728921
    • "FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER ON INTERSTATE 81 NORTHBOUND IN PA., CRUISE CONTROL SET AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT TIME OF IMPACT OR AFTER COLLISION CHEST IMPACTED STEERING WHEEL AND ARM PAIN FROM HOLDING STEERING WHEEL."~104,000 mi, complaint #1698976
  7. #7

    other

    7 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "I WAS TRAVELING TO FLORIDA AND SAW SPARKS IN THE MIRRORS IN THE BACK. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND WENT TO THE BACK AND SAW FIRE, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE EVERYBODY GOT OUT, WE TRIED TO PUT IT OUT BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS AN ACCELERRENT OR SOMETHING CAUSE IT WAS E…"~36,000 mi, complaint #1712043
  8. #8

    paint and clearcoat

    2 unsafe, 4 annoyance

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My 2018 Snow White Pearl Kia Sorento is experiencing paint failure on the hood and rear hatch. The manufacturer notified me that they identified this as a problem with 2011-2014 models and, at this time, are not offering a remedy for a 2018 model."complaint #1861156
    • "The Pearl white paint is peeling off and has been for awhile. It’s getting worse."complaint #1913015
    • "The exterior paint of the vehicle is peeling off to the point where the metal of the car is visible. The vehicle has the Special White Pearl SWP paint code, and it is peeling off in different areas all across the vehicle. Also, the dash has cracked, in both th…"complaint #1970930
    • "I have a pearl white 2018 Kia Sorento, and the paint is peeling off the hood. This is a factory defect, and I need to get it fixed before the rest of the paint comes off the car."complaint #2039250
    • "2018 Kia Sorento. Snow White Pearl paint started delaminating at about 45,000 miles. Now it has 51,000 miles and I have multiple spots where it is delaminating on the hood, front bumper, and fender. Also, where the paint is delaminating I am also starting to s…"complaint #2087639
  9. #9

    sunroof

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE OF KIA SORENTO'S SUNROOFS EXPLODING. WE WERE DRIVING OUR COMPANY LEASED 2018 KIA SORENTO HEADING WESTBOUND ON I-90 GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH TO DUE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DURING SUNNY WEATHER, WITH OPTIMAL ROA…"~5,000 mi, complaint #1454407
    • "SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65 MPH. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING STRIKE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PANORAMIC SUNROOF. FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE FRONT SECTION WHICH OPENS AND CLOSES."~34,000 mi, complaint #1708228
    • "SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT [REDACTED ADDRESS] DEBRIS THAT CAUSED THIS - IN LOOKING AT THE REMAINING ATTACHED GLASS, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BROKEN UPWARDS, NOT AS IF SOMETHING BROKE IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT FROM THE INSIDE, LIKE…"~51,000 mi, complaint #1701089
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED UPWARDS AND OUTWARDS. THERE WAS NO…"~65,000 mi, complaint #1678356
  10. #10

    wiring harness

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "IN JANUARY 2019 A RECALL WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL SENT THE CAR INTO LIM…"~7,500 mi, complaint #1614724
  11. #11

    steering column

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally and swaying back and forth. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to…"~24,000 mi, complaint #1855431
    • "STEERING FELT STICKING WHILE DRIVELING ON THE HIGHWAY TOOK IT IN BEEN TOLD IT'S THE STEERING COLUMN.. THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH MY STEERING 6MTHS APART. LAST TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AN WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY AN TH…"~61,000 mi, complaint #1633907
  12. #12

    adas collision warning

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "2018 KIA SORENTO SXL THE AEB ( AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING ) DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED OR EXPECTED..THIS FEATURE IS ADVERTISED AS AEB AND ALSO ON THE ELECTRONIC DASH AS AEB BUT ACCORDING TO THE VERY DEFINITION OF AUTONOMOUS MEANING WITHOUT HUMAN INTERVENT…"~510 mi, complaint #1433839
    • "AEB AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING ///WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND WAS NEVER INTENDED TO DO SO BUT IS ADVERTISED AS STANDARD FEATURES AND SHOULD BE NOTED IN THE SAFETY RATING OF THE AUTO,,ALSO I BELIEVE KIA SHOULD BE MADE TO REMOVE THIS FROM THEIR FEATURES BECA…"~3,500 mi, complaint #1533084
    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while approaching a stop, the brake pedal was depressed, and the driver noticed that the check Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) System and Check Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) warning lights w…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1998616
  13. #13

    brake hydraulics

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My breaks would not push down for me to stop and I collided into the car in front of me causing a serious accident. It is being investigated for malfunctioning breaks. "complaint #1793365
    • "I have new brakes put on as well as had my tires balanced and rotated and a wheel alignment. However, my 2018 Kia Sorento SX V6 AWD shakes when I apply pressure to the brakes when I am on the highway. If I get to a certain speed and apply brakes to slow down w…"complaint #1853397
    • "I have replaced my rotors and my brakes soon as I got the car I’ve had the car for a month now I was in a major accident. Someone walked in front of my car. My emergency brake system did not work my rotors and my brakes, have been scrubbing ever since I got th…"complaint #2215143
    • "My wife and I were Driving when I tried to stop and the brakes failed. Within seconds the vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment. I had to slam the transmission into park cause the doors would not open. When my wife tried to escape out the passenger sid…"complaint #2222535
  14. #14

    fuel tank and lines

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THERE'S GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW DAYS. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER RESPONSIBLE CAR OWNER, I TAKE IT TO A SHOP; SINCE I NO LONGER TRUST MARK KIA'S (MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP) SERVICE DEPA…"~170,000 mi, complaint #1667195
  15. #15

    fuel pump

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The Vehicle emits a strong fuel odor: seems to be around the rear of vehicle & front engine compartment of vehicle. Seems the fuel system, both low & high pressure fuel pumps and their pipes channels are leaking to emit a strong fuel odor. Extreme high volatil…"complaint #2125584
    • "While on the road driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle started to "bog" and losing power and/or acceleration. Had to immediately drive off the road as there were several vehicles behind. As soon as driving off the road, the vehicle died down and would not start aga…"complaint #2180940
    • "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 issue. This component should not have fai…"complaint #2240123
  16. #16

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the rear driver's side seat lap belt harness anchor pin had detached while the contact's son was attempting to wear the seat belt, rendering the seat belt inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dea…"~76,000 mi, complaint #2120198
  17. #17

    trunk or liftgate

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY KIA SORENTO BACK HATCH (REAR DOOR) IS NOT OPENING, IT CLICKS WITH THE KEY FOB AND THE MANUAL HANDLE, BUT IT NEEDS A LIFT BY HAND TO BE ABLE TO OPEN, I DID A WEB SEARCH AN THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE."~60,000 mi, complaint #1717249
  18. #18

    engine head gasket

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I was driving my 2018 Kia Sorento up a hill going about 40 mph. It suddenly lost power and I had to pull over. No lights showed up on the dash warning me anything was wrong. I was draining oil like crazy and it was all over the engine. I had it towed to a mech…"complaint #2030219
    • "My car for the last 2 years has had multiple malfunctions with misfiring and replacement of head gaskets, pistons and more. Not to mention consistence oil concerns. On two occasions my family and I had to have the vehicle towed home over 200 miles because the…"complaint #2191107
  19. #19

    key fob and immobilizer

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I had the anti-theft update installed in August which was supposed to prevent the car from being stolen by lengthening the alarm and making it so the car would not start without the key. My car was still stolen in November. "complaint #1947604
    • "Car won't start system doesn't recognize key. And when I use the other key ams drive the car doesn't recognize the key and keeps showing No key I'm vehicle "complaint #2027670
  20. #20

    parking brake

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "2 Recent incidents: SUV was parked on a driveway with slight incline overnight in park and ended up at the bottom end of driveway in the morning. With car running on a friends driveway with an incline, I had car in the park mode and was going to depart car to…"complaint #1785139
    • "My vehicle gets stuck in park and I have to use the release button to put my car in gear"complaint #1933086
  21. #21

    transmission automatic

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I was driving home from work when vehicle downshifted while on the interstate. I continued to drive and tried to accelerate but again the vehicle downshifted. I was able to drive home by not going over 50 miles per hour."complaint #1972811
    • "The car is not able to shift out of park unless the shift interlock release button is depressed. This issue has occurred intermittently in the last year but has been consistent in the past few weeks of the submission of the complaint. "complaint #2102844
  22. #22

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "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. Autonomous braking. Thank you"complaint #2239837
  23. #23

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WHILE DRIVING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS TO BE FORCED TO GO. IT'S ALWAYS HESITATING TO GO AND I'M FORCED TO PRESS HARD ON THE GAS. IN OCTOBER 2020, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. I'M VERY SCARED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY KIDS. T…"~26,000 mi, complaint #1709036
  24. #24

    adas adaptive cruise

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE SMART CRUISE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMART CRUISE SYSTEM DID NOT DETECT THAT A VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF IT AND ACCELERATED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. STEVENS CR…"~650 mi, complaint #1447737
  25. #25

    alignment and pull

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "STEERING IS STICKING BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT, CAN FEEL IT WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEED AND HIGHER SPEED ON ANY ROAD CITY OR HIGHWAY, TOOK TO DEALER THEY DID A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STILL DOING THE SAME THING"complaint #1525588
  26. #26

    battery and charging

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the battery was draining faster than usual. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle overnight with the battery fully charged, the contact became aware that the battery had lost 15-20 % charge by…"~15,631 mi, complaint #1858160
  27. #27

    brake booster

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "To Whom It May Concern, I hope this message reaches someone who values the sanctity of human life. Today, while driving home, my husband experienced a terrifying incident: the brakes on our car completely failed. Thanks to my husband’s quick thinking and driv…"complaint #2014631
  28. #28

    brake pads and rotors

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while coming to a stop, there was a loud grinding sound coming from the brakes while the brake pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…"~63,750 mi, complaint #2036917
  29. #29

    climate control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSERBY ON THE ROADWAY. THE DE…"complaint #1543786
  30. #30

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "1. at night when i toggle hi beams the light black out and i have to jiggle the toggle 2. My HECU assembly is out, I have about 7 lights on my dash. "complaint #2161172
  31. #31

    cruise control conventional

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The cruise control has been fixed once. It was not fixed. Same problem still happening. Sometimes it works, more than not it does not. Sometimes you can’t shut it off. They also have not come up with a fix for the new hitch recall problem that results in fires…"complaint #1865950
  32. #32

    door latch and hinge

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH INDICATED A MALFUNCTION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THE CONTACT MANUALLY LOCKED THE D…"~61,000 mi, complaint #1709358
  33. #33

    engine turbo supercharger

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 79 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated, and he observed a burning oil odor emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road and inspected. The contact…"~100,000 mi, complaint #2000362
  34. #34

    exhaust system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "OUR CAR HAS A THIRD ROW WITH TWO SEATS IN THE BACK AND WE PUT 2 PEOPLE ON EACH ROW. WE HAD A STEEL TRAILER HITCH CARGO CARRIER HANGING ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. WE HAVE USED THIS DEVICE MANY TIMES WITH OUR OTHER 2007 KIA SORENTO WITH NO PROBLEMS OF ANY KIND. WE…"~15,500 mi, complaint #1538117
  35. #35

    fluid leak unspecified

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I had the car for just 2 years and it's giving me a lot of problems the car smells like gas it has a gas leak the breaks don't work and the electrical system don't work properly "complaint #2213192
  36. #36

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While driving, heard a LOUD noise like a large rock hit the top of my 2018 kia sorento SXL, which I just purchased four days ago with 44,441 miles on it~ when I stopped to inspect the panorama sunroof, front panel was shattered could see no impact point of a r…"complaint #1966109
  37. #37

    hv system fault reduced power

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My 2018 Kia Sorento keeps going into limp mode. It can’t be duplicated by any shop so I keep paying for diagnostic and not having anything repaired besides things that could “possibly be the problem” but aren’t covered by the warranty like a positive battery c…"complaint #1767879
  38. #38

    steering rack mechanical

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Within the last 1 1/2 years the car makes a popping noise in the steering and its not a tie rod or ball joint issue. Nobody can seem to figure out where its coming from."complaint #1818859
  39. #39

    throttle and pedal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I WAS BACKING UP WHEN MY CAR JUST ACCELERATED LIKE CRAZY AND RAN OVER A HUGE BRICK MAILBOX. IT WAS LIKE MY CAR WAS POSSESS, IT BECAME A CRAZY [REDACTED ADDRESS]."~8,433 mi, complaint #1467295
  40. #40

    tire failure

    1 stranded

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "( 2 ) HANKOOK DYNAPRO HP2 SIZE 235/65R17 104H ,BLEW TIRES ON PASSAGE SIDE FRONT & REAR .DRIVING ON I-95 IN PHILADELPHIA,PA SEPT.29TH 2018"~12,000 mi, complaint #1505019
  41. #41

    transfer case awd

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I am experiencing a serious issue with my 2018 Kia Sorento AWD related to the AWD coupling. During normal driving, the vehicle does not perform as expected, and the AWD system feels compromised, making the car unsafe and unreliable. While the vehicle doesn’t s…"complaint #2050693
  42. #42

    unintended acceleration

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My car went into Sudden Unintended Acceleration when I shifted from neutral to drive. I was in a gas station that was perpendicular to highway traffic. When I attempted to come out of the car wash tunnel to get my car dried off, the car accelerated out of cont…"complaint #1899374
  43. #43

    unknown

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "This is with regards to a major safety incident that could have been fatal for my wife and others on 2/2/2022. My wife parked her 2018 Kia Sorento on our driveway picked up her belongings and closed the door of the car. As she was about to enter the house it…"complaint #1803569

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for KIA SORENTO directly.