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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2018 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE WAS NOT LOCATED. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2018 | ENGINE | KNOCKING ON THE ENGINE UPON STARTING. NO LONGER RUNNING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF NOISE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 72,350 |
| Sep 2018 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I PICKED UP A BRAND NEW KIA SPORTAGE SX TURBO AWD WITH 34 MILES ON IT TODAY. IT WAS DRIVING KIND OF HESITANTLY, SEEMING LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. ABOUT 30 MILES LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AS I HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. THEY ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I TOOK MY CAR TO SUMMIT PLACE KIA IN AUBURN HILLS WHERE THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS BASED ON A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT READING WAS AN IMPROPER FUEL/AIR MIXTURE IN CYLINDER 2. I AM NOT SURE WHAT PROTOCOL WILL BE FOLLOWED FROM THIS POINT OR WHAT ACTIONS WILL BE NEEDED TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH KIA'S GDI TURBO ENGINES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 69 |
| Aug 2018 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | HIGH PITCHED WHIRRING SOUND LASTING 10 TO 15 SECONDS WHEN CAR IS PARKED A DAY OR MORE AFTER DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES WE HAVE HEARD IT. VEHICLE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE STARTER MOTOR RUNNING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Jul 2018 | SERVICE BRAKES | 2018 KIA SPORTAGE 4D 4X4 WHILE IN 'PARK' ROLLED DOWN HOME DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE ROLLED INTO STREET, WHILE WIFE HOLDING ONE YEAR OLD SON DODGED VEHICLE TO AVOID GETTING CRUSHED. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 900 |
| May 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | REAR TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSED LIGHTS ARE NOT INTEGRATED WITH BACK BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY ARE TOO LOW AND PLACED UNDER THE BUMPER AND ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO CARS BEHIND. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS AND HAVE HAD A FEW VERY CLOSE INCIDENTS ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY IN TRAFFIC. CARS DO NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN I INDICATE AND I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE MOTORISTS HAVE TOLD ME I HAD FAILED TO SIGNAL AND MANY INSTANCES OF MOTORISTS HONKING. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CHANGING LANES AND MERGING. REVERSE LIGHTS CANNOT BE SEEN. VERY THIN, NOT INTEGRATED WITH OTHER BACK LIGHTS AND PLACED TOO LOW DOWN. THEY LOOK LIKE REFLECTORS AND ON A WHITE CAR CANNOT BE SEEN. I PURCHASED TWO SPORTAGES. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES ONE AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. I OWNED A SORENTO AND FORTE WHICH I TRADED IN TO GET AWD VEHICLES WHICH I THOUGHT WERE SAFER FOR COLORADO DRIVING. SPORTAGE IS THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. KIA WON'T INTEGRATE THE TURN SIGNAL WITH THE BRAKES. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30 |