2018 Kia Sportage problems
The 2018 Kia Sportage has 232 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (41%) concerns engine. Next are electrical system (13%) and drivetrain & axles (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 232 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 17
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 20,000 miles 74 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 37 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 74 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 20,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 28,000 miles (30 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 17 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2018 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Kia Sportage with enough data (150 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to approximately 45 MPH, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact and her daughter who was inside the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle safely.
The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed black smoke billowing from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power, prompting him and his wife to evacuate the vehicle in the middle of the roadway. While attempting to retrieve important belongings from the vehicle, the contact stated that he heard what sounded to be an explosion within the engine compartment, causing him to fall backward and sprain his ankle.
Tl* the contact owned a 2018 kia sportage. The contact stated that while approaching a school zone and entering the school lot at about 5 MPH, there was grey smoke coming from under the hood. The contact exit his child from the vehicle and parked the vehicle to inspect it that was when the hood was opened. The contact discovered that the vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was contacted. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The fire department extinguished the flames.
I had my kia sportage oil changed, was told my A/C compressor hose at the compressor was leaking, crimp fit, factory defect is what he said
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.