Complaint volume
245 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Kia Sorento Complaints
245 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Kia Sorento, grouped by component category.
245 Total complaints
11 Crash reports
10 Fire reports
9 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, exterior lighting, steering. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 11 crash reports, 10 fire reports, 9 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 58 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 50,150 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, exterior lighting, steering?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Kia Sorento?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Kia Sorento
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Kia Sorento complaints?
11 Crash
10 Fire
9 Injury
0 Fatality
15 Towed
5 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Kia Sorento complaint categories?
ENGINE 70
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 24
STEERING 22
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10
AIR BAGS 8
TRAILER HITCHES 7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 5
STRUCTURE 5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4
245 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | STEERING | 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 THE POWER STEERING TURNS ON. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE DUE TO OVER CORRECTION. THE VEHICLE IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO CONTROL AND UNPREDICTABLE. OCCURS AT HIGH SPEEDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Mar 2019 | ENGINE | 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 DIFFICULY TO USE SINCE I HAVE TO REMOVE MY PROSTHETIC LEG TO DRIVE IT. I NEED A VEHICLE FITTED TO ACCOMODATE MY DISABILITY AND DONT KNOW WHEN OR IF I'LL BE GETTING MINE BACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,950 |
| Feb 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 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 DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA, 5655 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982, 1-(772) 465-8589) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE IF THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2019 | STEERING,ENGINE | 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 TESTS AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER COMES ON. IN DECEMBER, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND NOW LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE SHAKING LIKE MY CAR IS GOING TO STALL IS STILL HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. RECENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED STICKING. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES ME OVER ADJUST TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. YOU CAN FEEL THE STICKING AS YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING, WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREETS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Feb 2019 | STEERING | 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 MOST DANGEROUS WHILE THE ROADS ARE EITHER SNOW OR ICE COVERED AND SLIPPERY. HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Feb 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 HAD FOUR LARGE TUBS WITH LIDS AND EACH OF THE 4 KIDS WOULD GET A TUB TO HOLD THEIR SUITCASES. THESE TUBS WERE CONNECTED TO THE CARGO CARRIER WITH BUNGIE CORDS. WE HAD PLANNED TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN LAS VEGAS AND AFTER A 5-HOUR DRIVE, WE ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL & WE NOTICED THAT THE TUB ON THE BOTTOM STARBOARD SIDE HAD BEEN BURNED SIGNIFICANTLY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WE LEARNED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS PART OF THE BUMPER SYSTEM AND THAT IT HAD HEATED THE ONE TUB AND THE CARGO CARRIER TO SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES AS TO CAUSE A FIRE INSIDE THE TUB. IT HAD MELTED THE TUB TO THE CARGO CARRIER AND BURNED A BIG HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE TUB. THE SUITCASE INSIDE THE TUB HAD A HUGE BLACK HOLE IN THE SIDE AND ALL OF ITS CONTENTS WERE BURNED OR SCORCHED. SINCE THE FIRE WAS NO LONGER BURNING, WE DECIDED TO NOT CALL THE LAS VEGAS FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THE THREAT WAS OVER. THE NEXT DAY, BEFORE WE LEFT LAS VEGAS, WE WENT TO HOME DEPOT AND FOUND SOME MATERIALS AND CRAFTED AN ALUMINUM SHIELD TO BLOCK THE EXHAUST FROM HITTING THE CARGO CARRIER. THEN WE WERE ABLE TO REACH OUR DESTINATION IN SEAL BEACH CA. WHEN WE TOOK THE CARGO CARRIER OFF THE CAR, WE SAW THAT SEVERAL OF THE BUNGIE CORDS HAD BEEN MELTED RIGHT TO THE CARGO CARRIER. THROUGH OUR ASSESSMENT, WE DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGES DONE TO THE CARGO CARRIER, THE BUNGIE CORDS, THE TUB, THE SUITCASE AND ALL OF ITS (MOSTLY BRAND NEW) CONTENTS TO BE ABOUT $1547.15. THIS DID NOT COUNT THE COST TO BUILD A DEFLECTOR SO WE COULD CONTINUE OUR TRIP. IT IN NO WAY COUNTS THE DISCOMFORT AND TRAUMA MY FAMILY SUFFERED FROM THIS EVENT. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Feb 2019 | STEERING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED VOYLES KIA OF CHAMBLEE (LOCATED AT 5647 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341, (770) 234-7800) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2019 | SERVICE BRAKES | 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 BECAUSE OF FALSE ADVERTISING... WILL BE HAPPY TO SUPPLY STICKER FROM AUTO | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Dec 2018 | STEERING | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2018 | STEERING | 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 DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Dec 2018 | STEERING | WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAS NOT BEEN NOTICED WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IT IS RANDOM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN NOTICED 4 TIMES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Nov 2018 | STRUCTURE,ENGINE | I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY ABOUT THREE MILES FROM HOME GOING 50 MPH. I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HWY. AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED MY DOOR AND OPENED THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I DID, FLAMES AND SMOKE BEGAN TO SHOOT OUT FROM THE HOOD AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE WHOLE CAR WAS CONSUMED WITH FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED A VEHICLE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS BOTH RESPONDED WITHIN MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, I NOTED ALL THE DOORS AND THE HATCH HAD LOCKED AT SOME POINT DURING THE FIRE. I CONTACTED CUMBERLAND KIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO NOTIFY THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | 10,000 |
| Nov 2018 | AIR BAGS | 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 WINDOW, SUSTAINED CONCUSSION. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 15,000 |
| Oct 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | GOT 2018 KIA SORRENTO 9 THOUSAND MILES IT STALL 6 TIMES LAST WEEK TOOK IT TO KIA THAY SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THIS SATURDAY IT STALL 2 MORE TIMES THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE BIG RIG HAD TO BRAKE FAST NOW IM TAKEING IT IN TUES SO NOW THAY CAN HAVE IT FOR A LONGTIME SO THAY CAN GIVE IT BACK BECAUSE THE CODE WILL NOT DO NOTHING IF IT DONT STALL ON THEM SO WHAT SHOULD I DO I OWE THE BACK I PAY ON MY CAR EVERY MONTH I DONT WANT ANYONE GETTING HURT OR SUE BECAUSE I CANT DRIVE IT AND BEING SCARD OF IT | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2018 | TIRES,WHEELS | ( 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Jun 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 KIA SORENTO. UPON ACTIVATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED A LACK OF VISIBILITY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2018 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 4 WHEEL DRIVE. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 8,433 |
| Mar 2018 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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 ROAD CONDITIONS, AND WE WERE APPROXIMATELY 16 FEET FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF US WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A BOMB BLAST SOUND COMING FROM ABOVE US. WE CAREFULLY FELT THE SUNROOF SHIELD AND DETERMINED THE SUNROOF EXPLODED INTO MANY PIECES. NOTHING FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE FELL ON THE SUNROOF TO CAUSE IT TO SHATTER. WE HAVE NOT USED THE SUNROOF SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2017. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ASKED US TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY. IF WE HAD THE SUNROOF SHIELD OPEN, WE WOULD HAVE SUFFERED NUMEROUS INJURIES. WE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE ONLINE AND FOUND A NUMEROUS CASES OF KIA SORENTO'S SUNROOFS EXPLODING. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA FOR A DEFECT IN THE SUNROOFS THAT CAUSES THE SUNROOFS TO SHATTER WITHOUT WARNING. THIS ISSUE IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO KIA DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND OTHER DRIVERS. PLEASE FORMALLY INVESTIGATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 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 CREEK KIA IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 650. | Crash: No Fire: No | 650 |
| Dec 2017 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 INTERVENTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A CRASH DOES NOT WORK AND CAN NOT BE RELIED ON TO AVOID ANY TYPE OF CRASH AT ANY SPEED AND I HOPE THE SAFETY BOARD WILL MAKE KIA TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM POST HAST. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SHOP AND THEY ASSURE ME ALL IS WORKING AND IT WILL STOP THE AUTO FROM HAVING A CRASH OR AT THE LEAST MINIMIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH AND ALSO GIVE YOU A WARNING 1 TO 2 SECONDS BEFORE THE CRASH WHICH IS TOTALLY ABSURD AND ALSO FALSE ADVERTISING.PLEASE LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLVE . KIA NEEDS TO MAKE THIS WORK AS ADVERTISED OR QUIT PUTTING THIS ON VEHICLES AND THEN FALSELY ADVERTISING IT HAS AEB WILL YOU PLEASE TEST THIS AND HELP..... | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |