2018 Kia Sportage problems and complaints
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sportage. The most-reported areas: Engine (91), Electrical System (30), Unknown Or Other (20).
Key takeaways
- 165 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 7 involve a crash, 12 a fire, 5 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 91 | 55% |
| Electrical System | 30 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 | 12% |
| Power Train | 18 | 11% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 | 7% |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 7% |
| Steering | 9 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 4% |
| Structure | 6 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 | 3% |
| Hydraulic | 5 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2018 Kia Sportage
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Sportage SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Kia Sportage SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-21
I have spent two months trying to get my keys re-programmed to the system and the dealership informed me that the system has been "bypassed" somehow with no solution. This is after my account had been taken over and at one point the vehicle was being remotely controlled. I am out $500.00 for keys that cant work and thi...
Engine - filed 2026-09-19
The vehicle suffered a primary connecting rod bearing failure covered under the Theta II class action warranty campaign. A brand-new warranty engine long-block was installed by an authorized dealership. Immediately upon vehicle pickup, the brand-new engine began exhibiting an un-metered acceleration defect. While stati...
Electrical System,engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-10
Shortly after driving away, before reaching a highway on-ramp, I noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. I turned around and returned to the location. By the time I arrived, the vehicle was emitting black smoke, and shortly after, it was fully engulfed in fire before I could retrieve a fire extinguisher. Vehicle has a d...
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More for the 2018 Kia Sportage
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.