10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,378 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Kia Sorento:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #36

Jun 012025

Sorento

  • miles
Sunroof was working properly, no issues. I parked car with sunroof open and when i restarted car it started closing extremely slow. Technicians have tried resetting but no luck. This is a safety issue that has been repeatitive on KIA Suvs since 2012 or 2014. Techs cannot reset sunroof and last KIA I owned was 2014 had same issue plus drainage hole issues. A panoramic sunroof malfunction can be a safety issue for a few reasons: 1. Emergency situations: In the event of an accident or emergency, it may be necessary to quickly evacuate the vehicle. A stuck panoramic sunroof could prevent passengers from being able to exit through the opening, potentially putting their safety at risk. 2. Ventilation and air circulation: On hot days, being unable to open the sunroof can lead to uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions inside the vehicle due to poor ventilation. This can increase the risk of heat exhaustion or dehydration for passengers. 3. Excessive heat build-up: A closed sunroof can also lead to excessive heat build-up inside the vehicle, which can be particularly dangerous for children, elderly individuals, or pets who may be more sensitive to high temperatures. 4. Visibility issues: A sunroof that is stuck closed can also affect visibility for the driver, especially when driving in bright sunlight or in adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain or fog. Overall, a malfunctioning panoramic sunroof can impact the overall safety and comfort of passengers and drivers, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all vehicle components are in proper working condition. KIA refuses to address the issue and needs to take accountability for this ongoing issue that each model has continued to have.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #35

Oct 072025

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving from richlands coming home and my vechial kept trying to die on me like i didnt have any gas and then i had to suddenly pull off the side of the road without any power and i sat their and even try to restart the vechial and it wouldn't start back then a woman come out of nowhere in an ambulance and i was trying to tell her that it was alright and she was trying to tell me that the vechial was on fire underneath the vechial and i didnt see that it was a fire at all i though i was overheating so i was sitting in the vechial waiting on it to cool down thank god i was not hurt really bad if this would have happened somewere else i know i would be dead i already have smoke in my lungs from breathing in all that smoke i though was just steam but i still dont know what in my engine caught on fire but i do know it started from either in the engine or under it somewhere then everything caught fire and it was all melted the whole thing is completely gone even the tag melted i have never seen that kind of fire before ever and i have own alot of vechicle and they usally break down but this was the first time one caught on fire and thus happens to kia alot even the day this happened the fire dept told me they just put another kia out just the week before how is it that kia are keeping these vechicle on the road it is awful and im trying to do something about it but noone will help me and i dont know what i need yo do to make kia pay for this i only had this vechial almost 6 months and it didnt have alot of miles on it 100000 thats not alot but the kia everything i have read have flew apart after the warranty has expired so its great for them i say they are happy and they have had a few recalls on this vechial and know about the fire but have something stupid like a tow hitch its saying my vechial has that recall but i didnt see a tow hitch anywere but it still caught fire so i would love for someone to take these vechial off the road they are not safe not what kia

- Grundy, VA, USA

problem #34

Aug 182025

Sorento

  • miles
The Vehicle emits a strong fuel odor: seems to be around the rear of vehicle & front engine compartment of vehicle. Seems the fuel system, both low & high pressure fuel pumps and their pipes channels are leaking to emit a strong fuel odor. Extreme high volatile combustion & fire risk! Remedy: the fuel system including both low & high pressure fuel pumps & their pipes channels need replaced with strong, better engineered components! A newer vehicle like this should not be having fuel system failures.

- Payson, UT, USA

problem #33

Aug 222025

Sorento

  • miles
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine misfired due to a broken valve in one of the cylinders. This failure occurred approximately two months after completing the scheduled 100,000-mile service at a Kia dealership. The affected parts (valve, cylinder components) should still be available for inspection by Kia or a third party. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk" The vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled in the middle of the highway while driving at normal speed. This created a dangerous situation where I could have been struck by oncoming traffic while trying to safely exit the roadway. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The issue was confirmed by a repair shop, which diagnosed the cause as a misfire due to a broken valve. I have service documentation of the diagnosis available. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance representatives, but it was inspected by the servicing dealership and/or an independent mechanic who confirmed the valve failure. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" Prior to the complete failure, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began running roughly (misfiring). These symptoms appeared very shortly before the breakdown, giving me no meaningful time to react before the engine stalled.

- Manchester , NH, USA

problem #32

Jun 022025

Sorento

  • miles
The car is not able to shift out of park unless the shift interlock release button is depressed. This issue has occurred intermittently in the last year but has been consistent in the past few weeks of the submission of the complaint.

- Lemon Grove, CA, USA

problem #31

Mar 062025

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving my daughter to school and heard 2 popping noises under the car. The car started smoking as I was driving. I pulled into the parking lot and the car wouldn-??t stop. I pressed the break multiple times before it eventually stopped. The car was completely smoking from the hood and then caught fire as I got me and my children out of it. The fire department came and successfully put the fire out after about 30 minutes of continuous flames. It was a total loss

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #30

Oct 082024

Sorento

  • miles
Trunk latch won-??t latch, Looked into it and other 2018 Kia sorentos gave the same problem. I called to check for a recall as I bought the car less then a year ago and was told nothing. This is a problem I barely used it and it won-??t close now. Just pops back open and will start alerting me that it-??s open and won-??t latch. Meaning the car will keep beeping that it-??s open and then will eventually drain the battery due to the alert going off the whole time (it won-??t relatch) it took 8 hours for it to latch to close. This is the Manuel trunk.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #29

Dec 242024

Sorento

  • miles
I am experiencing a serious issue with my 2018 Kia Sorento AWD related to the AWD coupling. During normal driving, the vehicle does not perform as expected, and the AWD system feels compromised, making the car unsafe and unreliable. While the vehicle doesn-??t stall, it struggles to function properly, which is a major concern. I took the vehicle to the dealership, where they diagnosed the problem as a malfunctioning AWD coupling. However, they informed me that this issue is not covered under warranty or any recall program. This response is both frustrating and concerning, especially since AWD functionality is a critical part of the Sorento-??s design and intended use. After researching, I found that many Kia Sorento owners have reported similar problems with the AWD coupling, indicating that this may be a widespread issue across multiple model years. If this is a known defect, it is troubling that Kia has not offered a recall or extended warranty to address the problem. Customers should not be left to bear the financial burden of repairing what seems to be a common and significant defect. I am requesting further clarification and assistance. I need to understand why this issue is not covered, particularly if it affects other Sorento vehicles as well. If this is a systemic problem, Kia should take responsibility to resolve it fairly and promptly. The AWD system is essential for safe driving, and as a loyal customer, I expect Kia to stand behind its product and ensure my safety and satisfaction.

- Northampton , PA, USA

problem #28

Jul 012023

Sorento

  • miles
I have a pearl white 2018 Kia Sorento, and the paint is peeling off the hood. This is a factory defect, and I need to get it fixed before the rest of the paint comes off the car.

- Merrillville, IN, USA

problem #27

Oct 012024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving my 2018 Kia Sorento up a hill going about 40 mph. It suddenly lost power and I had to pull over. No lights showed up on the dash warning me anything was wrong. I was draining oil like crazy and it was all over the engine. I had it towed to a mechanic and then the dealership. A bolt from inside the engine blew and tore a hold in the valve and head gasket. That-??s all I know now. I had purchased my vehicle pre owned certified, and Kia is not honoring the warranty even with extended warranties. This happened at 87,000 miles. I have seen other reports of Kia Sorentos having issues with their engines. Please help.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #26

Sep 102024

Sorento

  • miles
Car won't start system doesn't recognize key. And when I use the other key ams drive the car doesn't recognize the key and keeps showing No key I'm vehicle

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #25

Aug 292024

Sorento

  • miles
Trunk latch stopped working.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #24

Aug 132024

Sorento

  • miles
Trunk open signal not turning off and trunk won-??T close. Dealer said its the trunk latch that needs to be replaced.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #23

Jun 242024

Sorento

  • miles
On multiple occasions our headlights will turn on by themselves without the car being on: for example while we are sleeping in the middle of the night we get a call from our neighbor that our car lights are on. Also while driving at night they will turn off by themselves. On all occasions the light are in AUTO mode, meaning the lights should turn on/off themselves when necessary but only when the key is in the car and the car is

- Olney, MD, USA

problem #22

Mar 022024

Sorento

  • miles
My vehicle is consuming a lot of oil. At my previous oil change I mentioned this to the dealer as I had to put in 5 quarts of oil. The oil canister light came on which I believed was just warning me to my upcoming oil change but my dipstick indicated otherwise when I checked. The light would only come on when I made turns in the road. It did not stay on consistently. As I was driving my engine sounded bad and I was worried something more was wrong which is why I checked the oil. When I brought it in for the oil change, the service advisor said they would check for leaks which was not located. I asked them to set my oil change for 3k miles instead of the 5k miles they have been setting it as I was worried about engine damage. The oil canister light came on recently once again (still only when I take turns on the road) with still 1100 miles left in the current oil change and when I checked there was no oil in the engine reflected on the dipstick. I gradually added oil and had to add 5 quarts of oil once again. I set up an appointment for further investigation but I fear that by the time they run their tests my vehicle will surpass any warranty. I-??m currently at 77700 miles. This much oil consumption is not normal and I shouldn-??t have to keep a constant stock of oil available to fill up every 2k miles. I understand a little bit of oil but having to add 5 quarts of oil at a given time is way too much.

- Leominster, MA, USA

problem #21

Apr 022024

Sorento

  • miles
Vehicle seems to be stalling when you stop and then try to pull out. It takes minutes to accelerate after stopping.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #20

Dec 102023

Sorento

  • miles
The exterior paint of the vehicle is peeling off to the point where the metal of the car is visible. The vehicle has the Special White Pearl SWP paint code, and it is peeling off in different areas all across the vehicle. Also, the dash has cracked, in both the driver and passenger's side. The use of those foil accordions to protect the dash has been in use since purchased back in 2018, but it still cracked.

- Carolina, PR, USA

problem #19

Nov 102023

Sorento

  • miles
I had the anti-theft update installed in August which was supposed to prevent the car from being stolen by lengthening the alarm and making it so the car would not start without the key. My car was still stolen in November.

- San Lorenzo, CA, USA

problem #18

Oct 042023

Sorento

  • miles
My vehicle gets stuck in park and I have to use the release button to put my car in gear

- Staffors, VA, USA

problem #17

Aug 302023

Sorento

  • miles
I recently found out via social media that my 2018 Kia Sorento is under recall. I have received zero communication from Kia corporate in regards to next steps to fix my current recall. To make matters worse, my husband just blew at right at 100,000 and Kia refused to offer us any financial assistance since it was -??no longer under warranty.-?? My husband and I spent $5347 out of pocket and an additional $500 on rental cars while our car was being serviced. Again, Kia received to take any blame and refused us any financial assistance. In May of 2022, my husband-??s 2013 Kia Optima-??s engine blew and we were out of a vehicle for 12 weeks. Kia refused to supply us a rental so we had to borrow family member-??s cars while our car was being serviced. Kia did financially assist us with the 2013 Kia Optima-??s engine because it was under warranty. Kia has no clue how to create a dependable, working engine and doesn-??t have any decency to take initiative of their faulty engines. My husband and I are now in extreme car debt with my 2018 Kia Sorento, owing $8400 and we just spent an additional $5347 on a brand new engine. As of yesterday, 10.3.2023, my car battery was fried and needed to be replaced. This costs my husband and I an additional $200. I-??m reaching out because I firmly believe Kia owes us financial assistance and I demand for Kia to be held accountable of their corrupt customer service.

- Dora, AL, USA

Read the next 16 complaints »