2018 Kia Sorento Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 4%of 255 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 48,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the body and structure of the 2018 Kia Sorento, 4% of the 255 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 48,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was traveling to florida and saw sparks in the mirrors in the back. I quickly pulled over and went to the back and saw fire, the car was on fire everybody got out, we tried to put it out but it seemed like there was an accelerrent or something cause it was engulfed with fire very fast once we stopped the whole car was burning.+we were on 65 south in kentucky just driving ,no rain roads were dry.”
NHTSA complaint #11378575, filed 2020-12, 36,000 miles“My Kia Sorento back hatch (rear door) is not opening, it clicks with the key fob and the manual handle, but it needs a lift by hand to be able to open, I did a web search an there are several complaints regarding this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11386286, filed 2021-01, 60,000 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“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11152866, filed 2018-11, 10,000 miles“While driving, heard a LOUD noise like a large rock hit the top of my 2018 kia sorento SXL, which I just purchased four days ago with 44,441 miles on it~ when I stopped to inspect the panorama sunroof, front panel was shattered could see no impact point of a rock or anything hitting it- researching online seems this happens a lot to Kia vehicles with a panorama sunroof. …”
NHTSA complaint #11571009, filed 2024-02Related service bulletins
- 11034003Jun 8, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 11028908Feb 19, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 11026825Dec 18, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a…
- 11026980Dec 17, 2025CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software…
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10154666Feb 4, 2019TSB: DRIVER?S DOOR MODULE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Driver?s Door Module (DDM) on some 2017-2018MY Sorento (UMa)…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 7 | 16% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 56 | 13% |
| 2018 | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 | 17 | 2% |
| 2016 | 111 | 9% |
| 2015 | 100 | 13% |
| 2014 | 160 | 16% |
| 2013 | 91 | 9% |
| 2012 | 35 | 4% |
| 2011 | 268 | 18% |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 9 | 6% |
| 2006 | 7 | 3% |
| 2005 | 14 | 5% |
| 2004 | 28 | 13% |
| 2003 | 12 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2018 Kia Sorento
107 complaintsOther or unknown
45 complaintsExterior lighting
41 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsSteering
26 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsForward collision avoidance
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology