2018 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine trouble: knocking noises, oil consumption, stalling or a sudden loss of power, frequently followed by a dealer diagnosis of engine replacement or rod bearing failure. A distinct group of complaints concerns steering that feels notchy or sticks at highway speeds, and another concerns headlights switching off on their own. Reported mileages vary widely, from a few thousand miles for the steering complaints to well past 100,000 for the engine complaints.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, oil consumption and power loss

   • 91 complaints (36%)
   • median 81,136 mi at 5.6 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe a knocking or ticking sound from the engine, sometimes with shaking, a flashing check engine light and a loss of motive power while driving. Several owners say they had to add oil repeatedly before the vehicle was inspected, and a number report that the dealer diagnosed a loss of compression in one cylinder or a failed rod bearing and recommended engine replacement. Some say the engine failed again after an initial repair, and others describe follow-up trouble with the knock sensor after a software update. A few complaints mention smoke or fire from oil leaking under the hood. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, though some owners noticed noises within the first few thousand miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing oil changes and any oil consumption test, and listen for a knock or tick at start-up and under light acceleration. A used-car inspection that includes a compression check is worthwhile, and ask whether the ECM software campaigns for the 2.4L engine have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After the software update, my Kia had issues with the knock sensor. So, will this vehicle has issues for the rest of the engines life? I am hoping to drive this car for more than 100,000 miles. Is this just a coincidence that the sensor was bad right after the update? The car went into limp mode after a loud clunk. Glad I was close to home!”

   NHTSA complaint #11241946, filed 2019-08, 19,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11191983, filed 2019-03, 10,950 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering sticks or feels notchy at highway speed

   • 18 complaints (7%)
   • median 22,100 mi at 1.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe the steering feeling sticky or notchy when making small corrections at highway speeds, as though the wheel resists briefly and then moves suddenly, which leads to repeated over-correction. Some report a brief loss of steering assist or a seized wheel, and one describes the steering wheel shaking and swaying at around 40 mph with a dealer diagnosis of steering column replacement. Complaints describe dealers telling owners the problem could not be duplicated or that diagnosis would cost money. Typically reported under about 30,000 miles, and most often at highway speeds rather than in town.

   Recall 18V656000

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at highway speed and make small left and right corrections to feel for stickiness or a notch. Ask whether the steering column or MDPS components have been replaced, and check whether the vehicle was included in the steering column weld recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 the part was going to be replaced but when I took my car in for the sec issue I was told they only did a soft wear update but its also calling for another software update”

   NHTSA complaint #11296732, filed 2020-01, 61,000 miles

   “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 into this seriously. They want me spending hundreds of dollars to get it diagnosed. But how will it be diagnosed when it only happens when it is windy? Please help me with this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323128, filed 2020-05, 49,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in a collision

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Several complaints describe frontal or side impacts where the air bags did not deploy, including collisions with a deer, a guardrail and another vehicle at moderate speed. Owners describe damage described as extensive, and some report injuries from contact with the steering wheel or interior. None of the complaints include a dealer explanation of why the bags did not fire. Reported from about 15,000 to 105,000 miles, in varied collision conditions.

   Recall 17V784000

   What to check: Ask whether the side curtain air bag recall for this model year was completed, and confirm the air bag warning light comes on at start-up and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, I did suffer significant whip-lash type injuries, and injured my knee when it hit the dash board.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375594, filed 2020-11, 49,000 miles

   “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 damage to the vehicle. There is no reason we can find that the air bags did not deploy. We bought this vehicle because of the safety rating but now I am concerned that we have issues with our air bags. Will they protect us if this should ever happen again?”

   NHTSA complaint #11397573, filed 2021-02, 68,702 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights turn off while driving

   • 31 complaints (12%)
   • median 43,450 mi at 2.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the headlights shutting off without warning while the vehicle is moving, in both city and highway driving and at night as well as day, with the switch left in the auto position. Owners say cycling the switch to off and back restores the lights, and some report the same behavior repeatedly in a single trip. Several note that dealers could not reproduce the fault, while others say replacing the multi-function switch stalk resolved it. Usually reported between about 30,000 and 60,000 miles.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the multi-function switch has been replaced under the related service campaign or warranty extension, and check the campaign status by VIN. During a test drive, try the headlight switch in auto and manual positions.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 the third time this has occurred since we bought the vehicle in august of 2019.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341934, filed 2020-07, 43,450 miles

   “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 happed while driving in parking lots as well as major highways. In order for the lights to come back on, I have to use turn the knob to off then back on. When the lights turn off at night I can not see anything around me nor can anyone else see me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11337949, filed 2020-07, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Panoramic sunroof shattering

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the front panel of the panoramic sunroof breaking suddenly while driving at highway speed, with a loud bang and glass breaking outward, without anything visibly striking the roof. Some report the vehicle was repaired at a dealer under warranty; others describe the repair being arranged after contacting the regional office. Reported from about 5,000 to 65,000 miles, mostly at highway speeds.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass and frame for cracks, chips or prior replacement, and ask whether any sunroof repair has been performed. Note that glass coverage is handled separately from most extended warranties.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11079133, filed 2018-03, 5,000 miles

   “Sunroof spontaneously shattered when driving on the highway at 63 MPH. There was no road 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 it bubbled upwards. It is the front panel of a panoramic sunroof, and the fabric was open and the sunroof was vented open at the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365478, filed 2020-10, 51,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on engine noise, oil consumption and steering feel is worth the cost on this model year, along with a check for open campaigns and recalls by VIN. Service records showing regular oil changes and any engine or steering work are the most useful paperwork to ask for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.