Complaint volume
156 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 Sportage Complaints
156 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Kia Sportage, grouped by component category.
156 Total complaints
7 Crash reports
11 Fire reports
4 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, electrical system, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 7 crash reports, 11 fire reports, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 49 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 41,544 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, electrical system, unknown or other?
- 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 Sportage?
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 Sportage
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Kia Sportage complaints?
7 Crash
11 Fire
4 Injury
0 Fatality
12 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Kia Sportage complaint categories?
ENGINE 54
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5
POWER TRAIN 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 4
SEATS 4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 4
STRUCTURE 4
VISIBILITY/WIPER 4
156 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | My 2018 Kia Sportage (VIN: [XXX] ) triggered a check engine light and entered limp mode. Diagnostic scan revealed DTC code P1326, which is associated with the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) and often linked to engine bearing failure in many affected Kia models. This happened at approximately 120,000 miles while driving under normal conditions. The car now runs in reduced power mode, making it unsafe for highway use or commuting. I contacted my local dealership, who confirmed no recall or campaign was active, despite this being a widely known and reported safety defect in Kia’s 2.4L GDI engines. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate this issue further, as many Kia and Hyundai vehicles with this engine have experienced sudden failures due to this defect. Kia should extend warranty support or issue a recall to prevent dangerous engine shutdowns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | Excessive oil consumption and the engine is part of a "silent" recall. I would like my engine to be replaced before it blows up and causes serious injury or death. I do regular oil changes and I can't keep adding oil daily. If they knew about this issue why wasn't there a mass recall to get this fixed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Paint peeling off side mirrors and rear spoiler | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | I was riding on the highway at about 65 mph and then the check engine light came on, the car slowed down and lost power. Now when I take off I have to barely mash the gas to pick up speed, if I mash the gas pedal hard it barely moves and it loses speed and power going up a hill. I took the car to two different part store and had a reader hooked up and it said the power powertrain control module needs a reprogramming. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My oil drain pan has a crack in it valvoline gave me a paper for me to fill this out, I was here at valoline on 6/8 and then on 6/10 my brother inlae told me my car was leaking oil so I had to bring it back today 6/11 to find out why and that's what I was told it has to do with having a crack on the oil drain pan | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE | My check engine light has been on for some time . It will go off for a day and a half and then come back on . I was told by one garage that it was the catalytic converter. I have 99,339 miles on . It was tuned up and the light had gone off until the next day . Runs good and body is in great shape . I’m disappointed with this since it’s not covered ! And my lights are not working , the garage said it was a bad connection . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | I had an oil change done because my engine oil level was showing low on the dipstick. I had just had an oil change about 2 months prior so it was not due but I thought that maybe there was an oil leak . On the way to my mechanic shop the check engine light came on so I had them to check it out. There were no visible oil leaks and they said they oil was extremely low. They did the full oil change and told me to bring it back 200 miles later to see if there was any oil lost. 200 miles later the car was down an entire quart of oil. My mechanic suggested I call Kia to advise them of the engine oil consumption issue. His words. I called Kia and was advised to bring it into the dealership for a diagnostic and consumption test. I am bringing it tomorrow morning but I don't know what will happen after that. I see the recall for other models with this same issue but not for my model. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | TRAILER HITCHES | The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to approximately 45 MPH, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact and her daughter who was inside the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle safely. The contact stated that the fire had started under the hood of the vehicle and totally engulfed the entire vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Fire Department report was filed. The contact and her daughter sustained smoke inhalation and sought medical assistance. The vehicle was towed and was deemed a total loss. The contact inquired about possible recalls on the vehicle and was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the vehicle had not been repaired under the recall because the contact was unaware of the recall. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 186,000 |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | I just found out by the jiffy lube manager where I go for my oil changes. That my Kia is involved in the oil consumption leak. I purchased it used and still making payments on the car. I have tried working this out with Kia and the dealership with no support or assistance in this matter, So frustrating when they know it’s an on going problem with their vehicles and the oil consumption leak. Really need help with this. I had two warranty on the car and the oil consumption leak is excluded from both. How convenient. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle jerked and briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an abnormal burning odor was coming from under the hood and entered the vehicle through the A/C vents. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The thermostat and the electric switch on the driver’s side window were replaced. The contact stated that while driving uphill or going downhill, the RPM fluctuated, and the engine revved abnormally. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon having the vehicle serviced by an independent mobile mechanic, the contact was informed that the engine oil level was extremely low after a recent oil change. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to provide a specific diagnostic result for the failure; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 105,000 |
| Mar 2025 | ENGINE | I am writing regarding the KIA recall #SC336. About 6 months ago I noticed my 2018 KIA Sportage w 139,000 started using a lil oil. Then 3 days ago it starting cutting out & ck engine light came on. I called mechanic & took it into his shop. He put a coder reader on it and it said, misfire on #2. He did a compression test and there was 0 pressure on #2 cylinder. He then took a camera and went down and there is a hole in #2 piston. He recommends a new engine. He had me call the KIA Customer Care # however, they basically told me the deadline for class action suit expired and I had no remedy with them. My car was not acting up at the end of said deadline so, why would I have filed a claim?! I seen this info on recall #SC336 as to oil consumption & no compression in '20-'23 Souls and Seltos. I have also seen several mechanics forums speaking about my year of Sportage with compression issues. I am a poor lady on disability and still owe $11,000 on this car w no extended warranty coverage. Is there anything I can do in order to get KIA to include my vehicle in an engine recall ? I have now obtained a loan for the $4,800 rebuilt engine I just purchased from Auto Zone! Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Driver power window regulator stopped working. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety is at risk because it can hinder my ability to exit the car in an emergency. In addition, it is exposing the car's interior and possibly interior electrical parts to the weather elements, and potentially leaving me vulnerable to theft or intrusion. The problem was intermittent at first, and I reported it to the dealer, but at that time of service, they were unable to reproduce the failure. The service department told me this is a fairly common problem with my model of car. The component has not been inspected by Kia, the police, insurance representatives, or others. The symptoms were intermittent at first prior to the total failure. The full failure happened at 101,500 miles, which is past the 100,000 mile warranty expiration. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | SEATS | Drivers seat reclines but gets sick in that position. You can toggle the control but sometimes it goes back into more of recline, and getting harder to get back up. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | SEATS | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the driver's seat was inoperable. The contact stated that the driver's seat latch failed to function properly while attempting to adjust and move the seat forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 61,000 |
| Jan 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Engine failure due to oil composition leaking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I lost power and was sandwiched between semis and as I was going over one of the mountains, I went from 70 mph which was the speed limit at the time down to 45 to 50 I mean I couldn’t keep the speed. It was sudden with no warning and also had this happen on previous occasions which was reported to KIA. It caused road rage from drivers and also almost multiple accidents over time. I thought at one point I was going over the side of the mountain that didn't have guard rails due to sudden slow down and no where to go and semi behind me. Ended up with a new Waste Gate. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sudden strong hot fire smell out of nowhere. Immediately looked at my C to H gauge. It was not on C yet not all the way on H. I immediately looked for smoke/fire from vehicles in front of me as I have seen semis and diesel trucks appear or actually on fire while traveling. No more than Iook I up and look back down at the gauge which was now over halfway now closer to H, smell was stronger and smoke seen seeping through my instrument dashboard and honestly I was having a brief moment where it didn't seem real (between military trauma and fear of burning up in a vehicle). I was right at a stoplight so very quickly smoke started to engulf my engine hood coming out of all sides and I felt it was about to explode as quick as the smell and clouds appeared. I took an immediate left turn and quickly pulled into the parking lot near and immediately got out and called 911. Someone seen it up in smoke and told me he thought it smelled like a fire. I informed him 911 was coming. Two fire engines showed up along with EMS & police along with about 3 non fire engine volunteers. As I turned the vehicle off immediately prior to 911, the smoke started to subside outside of the vehicle. A firefighter in charge informed it was a fire risk/hazard, do not turn on and to contact KIA right way to report...have towed. I have been informed there was huge amounts of oil loss at one time, engine leak concern involving an oil feed tube. I was informed by dealership that so much oil spilling out that a fire could have started if it did not. Firefighters showed sprayed oil to the back of the vehicle under hood that should not ever be there and recommended to not drive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ENGINE | first time I had an issue was in August 2023, my check engine light came on, the car was losing power and sputtering. when I would start the car, it would literally sound like a truck. come to find out, the 3rd cylinder was misfiring due to the piston rings being worn and possibly the coils being faulty and an engine replacement was needed. after going back and forth with the dealer (they had my car for almost a month) the engine was finally replaced. fast forward to last week, it started happening again. same cylinder, same issue. now my car is back in the shop waiting for a new engine (#2). my thing is this....did they use a rebuilt engine, or maybe just fixed the old one and call it new. either way, there is no reason I should need a new engine this close to having it repaired. and judging by the complaints I have been reading, the engines on all 2018 Sportages need to be recalled. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed black smoke billowing from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power, prompting him and his wife to evacuate the vehicle in the middle of the roadway. While attempting to retrieve important belongings from the vehicle, the contact stated that he heard what sounded to be an explosion within the engine compartment, causing him to fall backward and sprain his ankle. Moments later the front end of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and needed a total loss by the contact insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The contact later transported himself to an appointment with his primary care physician after experiencing physiological symptoms consistent with a cardiovascular event and was treated for angina. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the manufacturer intended to inspect the vehicle but stated that the inspection had yet to take place. The failure mileage was 55,000. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 55,000 |
| Oct 2024 | ENGINE | Connecting rod bearing failure on 2018 Kia Sportage two months after having been to the Kia dealership for a knock sensor software update. (sensor update completed on 7/26/24 at Palm Springs Kia, RO# 6160694/1, engine failure occurred 9/23/24.) Upon doing research, I discovered that connecting rod bearing failure has been a recurrent issue over the years with Kia engines. I believe that my engine is also victim to this defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Wiring harness that goes to the battery and alternator had melted plastic, fried battery and alternator | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | ENGINE | Code P0303. Took car to dealer for diagnosis, dealer recommended long engine block replacement due to bad pistons. Kia will not replace. Car has 68K miles on it. Called Kia and they will not even do a goodwill replacement. There is a history of engine failures on my same year and model car but not for this exact reason. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering. Additionally, the contact became aware that the engine oil level was low, and the dipstick was dry. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the piston rings and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was also diagnosed and determined that the piston rings and engine needing to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 107,000 |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | At just over 120,000 miles the engine issues begain, # 4 cylinder misfiring, No compression # 4 cyl, would no longer Idel. The Dealer claimed the corrective action was to replace the engine. Are cars no longer expected to last past 100,000miles any more? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |