2018 Kia Sportage Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Kia Sportage most often describe engine problems: knocking or stalling that ends in an engine replacement, and in many cases oil disappearing between changes with no warning. Electrical issues are the second most common theme, mostly headlights or dash lights that flicker and go out, and in some cases the vehicle will not start. Many engine complaints appear below 20,000 miles, while oil-consumption and replacement reports tend to cluster at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, stalling or failure leading to replacement

   • 47 complaints (28%)
   • median 17,273 mi at 2.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe a knock or rattle from the engine bay, sometimes followed by the vehicle entering limp mode, stalling, or losing power at highway speed. Several were told the noise was normal, and others had the vehicle towed repeatedly before a dealer concluded the engine needed replacement. A number of complaints note that the engine software update had already been applied when the failure occurred. Reports range from a few thousand miles to over 100,000, with several failures noted under 20,000 miles.

   Recall 18V9070003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing oil changes and whether the vehicle has had an engine replacement or the knock-sensor detection and ECM software updates. Have a mechanic listen for bottom-end knock and pull stored fault codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this car in may of 2020 with 44k on the odometer. Three days later I was on a 3400 mile road trip on the highway when I started hearing knocking from the engine bay. I took it in and had them listen. They told me it was completely normal. The knock went away for about 400 miles then came back. I took it in to 4 different dealerships. I got told there had been a recall on the motor but that it had been fixed already. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11372948, filed 2020-11, 44,000 miles

   “I had a total engine failure on I-75 with my 2018 Kia Sportage with just over 18,000 miles. My insurance carrier (usaa) person I spoke with said I was the third person she has spoken with in the last week that had the same make & model number that the engine failed. She said one person was told by her dealer it could be six months before they can get her an engine. I am in naples florida and deal with airport Kia in naples, fl.”

   NHTSA complaint #11191137, filed 2019-03, 18,400 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption with no warning light

   • 33 complaints (20%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the oil level dropping quickly between changes, sometimes a quart or more in about a thousand miles, with no visible leak and no low-oil warning until the engine is already low. Owners report adding oil frequently, spark plug fouling, and in some cases a damaged cylinder or seized engine. Dealers are described as running an oil consumption test or asking for maintenance receipts. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often after a recent oil change.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick level and condition, ask whether an oil consumption test has been done, and keep every oil change receipt — several complaints note the dealer asked for them.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The oil was leaking somewhere not on the motor not under the car not blowing black smoke. I kept adding oil to it. No oil light. I was told not to park between 2 houses or in my garage it could catch on fire. I took it in several times and they did all kinds of stuff motor wash knock sensor was replaced wiring harness was corroded was slipping out of gear and other issues. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11738238, filed 2026-05

   “My car engine failed due to extreme oil consumption. It ran out of oil completely after 2K miles from my last synthetic oil change and damaged my 3rd cylinder. I have maintained the car perfectly and done all recommended repairs. My car only has 66K miles and already needs a new engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11474758, filed 2022-07
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Sudden loss of power or unintended revving while driving

   • 22 complaints (13%)
   • median 36,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine revving on its own while road speed stays the same, or the vehicle acting as if in neutral during a turn or at highway speed. Some owners report unintended acceleration at speed, and others a stall that dropped the vehicle to a limited speed. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate the concern, with no repair made. Reported from about 15,000 up to around 117,000 miles, at various speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, watch the tachometer for unexplained rises at steady speed and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced to the specified type and quantity.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For the past 6 months or so, I've been experiencing an unknown issue. I'll be driving along, steadily and all of a sudden my engine and RPM gauge will rev up and then go back to normal. My speed doesn't change, no lights go on, just the rev-ing sound and the gauge goes up. It's very alarming to me. I've checked with Kia and they're aware of the issue but state that there is currently no recall or alert as to what exactly the problem is or how to solve it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11190511, filed 2019-03, 35,000 miles

   “For the past year or so, I've been experiencing an unknown issue. I'll be driving along, steadily and all of a sudden my engine and RPM gauge will rev up and then go back to normal. My speed doesn't change, no lights go on, just the rev-ing sound and the gauge goes up. It's very alarming to me. I've checked with Kia and they're aware of the issue but state that there is currently no recall or alert as to what exactly the problem is or how to solve it. Dealer said they had never had any other complaints about this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11307749, filed 2020-02, 15,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Under-hood smoke or fire

   • 23 complaints (14%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Some owners describe smoke or flames from the engine compartment while driving or just after stopping, in a few cases after a loss of power. Complaints reference open recalls for the hydraulic control unit and the tow hitch harness, and some owners say parts were unavailable or the recall repair had not been completed. Fires reported in these complaints resulted in total losses. Reported from about 60,000 to 186,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   Recall 21V137000Recall 22V703000

   What to check: Check with a dealer whether recalls 21V137000 and 22V703000 have been completed on the vehicle, and look for signs of melting or scorching around the hydraulic control unit and any tow hitch wiring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “According to Kia which they posted at their website, electrical circuit within hecu may experience excessive current, thereby increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.took the car to dealer, had no parts, as of 4/12/21 no Kia dealer has this part. Called Kia, they supposedly going to ship parts end of april. They have no concern about public safety, despite I told them I can rent a car but you have to pay for it, that declined. Question is, why they haven't informed public and send the hecu parts to their dealers sooner? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407735, filed 2021-04

   “1. Component or System Malfunction & Availability Component/System Failed: An unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer Reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for Inspection: No. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety Risk Assessment The vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my 21-year-old son, Brennan Font, when the incident occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11740223, filed 2026-05
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Headlights and dash lights flicker or go out

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 23,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe headlights, the navigation screen or the instrument cluster flickering and occasionally going dark while driving at night, sometimes with an AFLS message on the display. Complaints mention repeated repairs including bulbs, the turn signal switch, headlamp assemblies and fuses without a lasting fix. Some report the vehicle would not move or start with the lights on. Mostly reported under 20,000 miles, often during night driving.

   Recall 21V1370001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test every lighting function at night, including low beams, dash illumination and the camera display, and ask whether any lighting repairs or software updates have already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 2018 Kia Sportage ex brand new 6-8-18. Less than 100 miles on the car and the dashboard instrument lights went dark while driving on the highway in the dark. I brought it back to dealer, they had to order a new gauge dimmer cluster because the original failed. Several weeks later the brakes began violently shaking the car when braking on the highway. Again, I brought it back to the dealer and they resurfaced the brake rotors due to warping. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11173712, filed 2019-02, 5,080 miles

   “Initially, I attempted to crank the vehicle by pressing the starter button. I heard a click and noticed quick flashing lights from the dash, then nothing happened except clicks, noises and minimal light as if the battery was down. There was nothing on inside the car to cause battery failure. The brake was hard to press down to restart the vehicle. Therefore, I opted to jump-start the car and it immediately powered up. All of the lights on the dashboard flashed on a few times then the letters afls appeared on the dashboard. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11416596, filed 2021-05, 39,500 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on engine noise, oil level and stored fault codes is worth the cost on this model year, and confirming that open recalls have been completed is a simple first step. Service records showing regular oil changes are especially useful, since oil consumption and engine replacement are the most common themes in owner complaints.

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.