TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR (WTY031) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch knob on 2016-2018MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced at Kia Georgia from October 27, 2014 through March 7, 2018, which may exhibit an intermittent headlamp flickering. The vehicle’s warranty for this issue will be extended from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, sta
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Kia Sorento electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Kia Sorento have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 36,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Sorento | 133 |
| 2015 Sorento | 52 |
| 2016 Sorento | 83 |
| 2017 Sorento | 81 |
| 2018 Sorento (this page) | 28 |
| 2019 Sorento | 62 |
| 2020 Sorento | 19 |
| 2022 Sorento | 19 |
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 28 electrical complaints filed for the 2018 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines listed in the table below. Kia has become aware that certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific conditions. These calibrations
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC340) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations in certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 10, 2015, through December 7, 2021, certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from August 28, 2015, through June 23, 2020, and certain 2016-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014, through November 4, 2020, equipped with 2.4L Theta GDI engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC340) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations in certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 10, 2015, through December 7, 2021, certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from August 28, 2015, through June 23, 2020, and certain 2016-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014, through November 4, 2020, equipped with 2.4L Theta GDI engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SC340_POC: PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 Sorento report a sprawling electrical mess. Headlights are the biggest complaint: they cut off randomly while driving (day and night), flicker on and off in auto mode, or turn off when the turn signal is used. Some owners have replaced the same light component multiple times with no permanent fix. Parking lights and auto-light features also malfunction, staying on after the engine shuts off and draining the battery.
Limp mode is a serious issue. Multiple owners report the vehicle abruptly loses power or drops from 70 mph to 50 mph while on the highway—genuinely dangerous when trucks are following. Kia's diagnostics have finger-pointed at the wiring harness, knock sensors, and the engine computer itself, with one owner's car sitting in the shop for six weeks waiting for a new computer to be programmed.
Two owners report vehicle fires. One was at highway speed with flames spreading rapidly; another occurred while traveling and visible sparks preceded the blaze.
Other failures include sunroof mechanisms that stop responding to reset commands, speedometer jumping erratically because all four wheel-speed sensors failed simultaneously, door locks that won't engage while driving, battery drain at 1–2 amps with no warning light, and ignition cylinders sticking right after a dealer-performed recall service. One owner reports an anti-theft update did nothing to stop the car from being stolen.
Most owners say their dealer either cannot reproduce the problem or finds no cause, leaving them paying diagnostic fees trip after trip. Warranty coverage on recalls has limits, and dealers sometimes refuse repair without being able to replicate the fault in the shop.
Same Kia Sorento electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof closes extremely slowly or fails to respond to reset commands
Sunroof mechanism becomes sluggish after being left open and the vehicle is restarted. Technician reset attempts fail. Owner reports this as a recurring issue across multiple Kia model years.
When: After parking with sunroof open and restarting the vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: sunroof closes at very slow speed; sunroof does not respond to reset attempts
Vehicle enters limp mode causing sudden loss of power and speed reduction while driving
Vehicle abruptly loses power or enters limp mode during highway driving at speed, creating dangerous situations with following traffic. Issue persists after multiple repair attempts including wiring harness replacement, knock sensor replacement, and engine diagnostics.
When: Occurs during highway driving at highway speeds; reported at 70 mph on multiple occasions
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of engine power; vehicle speed drops from 70 mph to 50 mph within seconds; limp mode engagement
Codes mentioned: P0328 - Knock sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement attempted; knock sensor replaced; vehicle computer replacement pending (6+ weeks in shop)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall Campaign noted in January 2019; Kia diagnostic testing eventually determined wiring harness was cause (after 4 months of diagnostics)
Engine failure and wiring harness fire hazard
Engine stalls and burns wiring harness at speed, causing burnt harness and creating electrical fire hazard. Brake lights failed to illuminate due to burnt harness during incident. Multiple shops confirmed issue but manufacturer refused to take responsibility.
When: Occurred while exiting highway and arriving at red light; no prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: violent shaking during normal driving; engine stall in traffic; wiring harness burnt; brake lights inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Burnt wiring harness confirmed by multiple shops; vehicle available for inspection
Battery drains 15-20% overnight with no warning light
Battery loses significant charge when vehicle is parked overnight with no illuminated warning lights. Electrical engineer diagnosed 1-2 amp parasitic draw. Persists after battery replacement and trailer hitch fuse removal.
When: At approximately 15,631 miles; battery fully charged overnight loses 15-20% by morning
Symptoms owners cite: rapid battery discharge overnight; no warning lamp illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced; issue persisted; trailer hitch fuse removed but discharge continued
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer found no issues on initial diagnosis; NHTSA Campaign 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) noted but parts unavailable
Vehicle fire while driving
Vehicle suddenly stalls and loses all power during highway driving, then smoking begins. Flames visible from under vehicle. Fire rapidly engulfed entire vehicle after hood opened. Vehicle totaled. Fire department report filed. No injuries reported.
When: While driving at approximately 60 mph; mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: sudden stall and loss of all power; smoking under vehicle; flames from under vehicle; fire spread rapidly
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; towed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed no liability; Kia opened investigation case
Headlights turn off intermittently while driving
Headlights and/or all front lights shut off for 2-3 seconds randomly while driving in various conditions (day/night, city/highway). Occurs multiple times per trip or can go days without happening. Lights return when switch is cycled. Issue affects both auto and manual modes. Some owners report dealer refuses warranty repair without reproducing issue.
When: Intermittent, can occur multiple times in single trip or not for several days; more dangerous at night
Symptoms owners cite: headlights cut off randomly for 2-3 seconds; all front lights shut off simultaneously; lights return when switch cycled; occurs in auto mode and manual mode
Repairs/costs cited: Light stalk switch replacement reported as successful by other owners; dealer charged $150 diagnostic fee per visit
Ignition system malfunction following recall service
Ignition key became difficult to turn and vehicle intermittently fails to start immediately after recall-related service (Campaign CS2312 – ignition cylinder protector installation). Multiple electrical components fail intermittently including infotainment screen, air conditioning, and windshield wipers.
When: Immediately after January 9, 2026 recall service; prior to this service vehicle had no ignition or electrical issues
Symptoms owners cite: difficult to turn ignition key; intermittent starting failures; infotainment screen shuts off intermittently; air conditioning stops intermittently; windshield wipers not operating at times; ignition key cylinder sticking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspection confirmed ignition key cylinder is sticking; vehicle available for inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall Campaign CS2312 (ignition cylinder protector installation)
Engine knock sensor and check engine light recurring failures
Engine light illuminates with knock sensor diagnostic code. Kia replaced knock sensor under warranty but issue returns within 12 months with same code. Knock sensor appears to have been a recalled part. Vehicle previously failed oil consumption test and required engine replacement.
When: Oil issue initially diagnosed; repeated check engine light occurrence within 12 months of knock sensor replacement
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light illumination; knock sensor code recurring
Codes mentioned: Knock sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: Knock sensor replaced by Kia within warranty; engine replacement performed previously; owner paid for initial engine replacement when Kia refused due to failed consumption test
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Knock sensor replaced by Kia but refused to replace again despite being recalled part and replaced less than 12 months prior
Headlights turn off at night and parking lights stay on when exiting vehicle
Headlights set to auto mode turn off while driving at night when they should remain on. Parking lights (front and back) occasionally do not turn off after engine shutdown when set to auto mode, causing battery drain. Parking lights have activated on their own when vehicle was unoccupied.
When: Intermittent; parking lights have come on while vehicle was parked and unoccupied
Symptoms owners cite: auto headlights turn off at night while driving; require manual reactivation; parking lights fail to turn off after engine shutdown; parking lights activate on their own when unoccupied
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not find problem and did nothing to resolve
Driver's side door latch malfunction with failed lock engagement
Door latch indicator shows malfunction on instrument panel. Doors fail to lock while vehicle is being driven. Manual lock engagement does not clear warning light or 'door ajar' message on instrument panel.
When: At approximately 61,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: door latch malfunction warning on instrument panel; doors fail to lock while driving; door ajar message remains illuminated despite manual lock; warning light remains illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed nor repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VIN not under recall per dealer
Auto headlight switch causes random light activation draining battery
When using auto headlight switch, all lights turn on randomly and periodically, staying on until manually turned off or battery drains. Owner has disabled auto headlight function to prevent the issue.
When: Intermittent; occurs with auto headlight switch enabled
Symptoms owners cite: all lights turn on randomly and stay on; lights remain on until manually switched off; potential battery drain
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has stopped using auto headlight switch to prevent issue
Headlight flashing on and off repeatedly while driving
Headlights flash off and on randomly and repeatedly while driving. Occurs in auto mode, DRL mode, and full on position. Clicking noise heard in dash when flashing occurs. Issue is reported as widespread among 2018 Sorento owners.
When: Occurs randomly while driving in various headlight modes
Symptoms owners cite: headlights flash off and on 1-2 times repeatedly; flashing continues intermittently for varying durations; clicking noise heard in dash during flashing
Repairs/costs cited: Recall applied but Kia states it only covers to 150,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall available but limited to 150,000 mile coverage
Heater vent control failure and headlamp illumination failure
Heater vent control functions fail to work properly. Headlamps fail to illuminate during driving, with driver informed by passerby on roadway that lights were not on.
When: Mileage not available; issue occurred while driving and using heater
Symptoms owners cite: vent control does not function properly; headlamps fail to illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Contact attempted to schedule appointment but awaiting response
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified
Wheel speed sensors all fail causing speedometer malfunction
Speedometer jumps erratically from 0 to 20 mph while vehicle is in park. While driving, speedometer jumps from actual speed to significantly higher reading (25 mph to 55 mph). All four wheel speed sensors diagnosed as failed. Issue reported as common for this model and year.
When: First occurrence in park; second occurrence while driving at 25 mph
Symptoms owners cite: speedometer jumps from 0 to 20 mph while parked; speedometer jumps from 25 mph to 55 mph while driving; all four wheel speed sensors failed
Repairs/costs cited: All four wheel speed sensors confirmed failed; shop noted this is common with 2018 Sorento
Passenger side headlight repeatedly fails requiring constant replacement
Passenger side headlight goes out constantly and has been reinstalled 8 times by dealership and owner. Causes repeated trips to shop, expensive replacement costs, and potential traffic tickets. Dealership unable to provide permanent solution. Occurs over several months.
When: Intermittent failure over several months
Symptoms owners cite: passenger side headlight goes out constantly; light fails repeatedly despite replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced multiple times; owner replaced multiple times; no permanent solution found
Headlights turn off while driving at highway speed
Headlights turn off abruptly while driving on interstate at 70 mph. Lights only return when switched from auto position to on position. Reported as common issue by other Kia owners online. Occurs randomly making diagnosis difficult.
When: Random occurrence during highway driving at 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: headlights turn off while driving; lights remain off until manually switched on
Repairs/costs cited: Issue occurs randomly, difficult to pinpoint
Vehicle fire with visible flames and sparks
Sparks visible in rear view mirrors while driving. Fire visible from under vehicle after pulling over. Vehicle engulfed in flames very rapidly, with fire spreading quickly even when occupants attempted to extinguish it. Fire appeared to have accelerant-like behavior. Roads were dry, no rain, no apparent cause.
When: While traveling on I-65 South in Kentucky; no adverse conditions
Symptoms owners cite: sparks visible in mirrors; fire under vehicle; rapid fire spread; entire vehicle engulfed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle fire; occupants safely evacuated
Electrical components malfunction with flashing switch indicators
Dashboard indicators malfunction showing flashers switching on, headlights switching from auto to off to running lights. Door locks lock and unlock involuntarily. Service was able to duplicate problem initially but follow-up service scheduled later unable to reproduce.
When: Service on 3-23-20 duplicated issue; on 9-25-20 experienced involuntary locking/unlocking of door locks and headlight switching
Symptoms owners cite: dashboard indicator shows flasher switching on; headlights switching modes involuntarily; door locks locking and unlocking on their own
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer warned that if unable to reproduce issue may not be able to repair
Engine hesitation and limp mode engagement
Vehicle hesitates to accelerate on numerous occasions requiring hard pressure on accelerator. Engine light illuminates and vehicle enters limp mode in October 2020. Issue persists across multiple dealer visits with no fix available.
When: Hesitation occurs on numerous occasions; limp mode activated October 2020
Symptoms owners cite: engine hesitation requiring hard throttle pressure; check engine light illumination; limp mode engagement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have no fix; owner reports taking vehicle in for third time within a year
Key recognition and starting system failure
Vehicle fails to start with system not recognizing the key. When using alternate key, vehicle does not recognize key and displays 'No key in vehicle' message repeatedly.
When: Intermittent starting failures
Symptoms owners cite: system does not recognize key; vehicle does not start; no key in vehicle message displayed
Power seat malfunction
Power seats do not operate. Noted along with right headlight stopping work intermittently.
When: Intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: power seats inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Right headlight also requires opening headlight casing and manipulating cables to restore function
Turn signal malfunction with reversed flashing order
When signaling a left turn, the right signal flashes before the left signal flashes, indicating a turn signal control malfunction.
When: When operating left turn signal
Symptoms owners cite: right turn signal flashes before left turn signal when left turn is signaled
Headlight turns off when using turn signal
Headlights turn off when signaling a left turn and remain off until headlight switch is cycled off and back on. Has occurred more than a dozen times, creating dangerous driving conditions.
When: Occurs when signaling left turn; happens more than a dozen times
Symptoms owners cite: headlights turn off when using blinker; lights remain off until switch cycled
Brake light intermittent failure requiring repeated replacement
Rear brake light has been replaced 3 times and continues to work intermittently. Lights also turn on unexpectedly while driving at night and remain on after vehicle is parked and turned off.
When: Intermittent over multiple replacement cycles
Symptoms owners cite: rear brake light works intermittently; lights come on while driving at night; lights remain on after engine shut off
Repairs/costs cited: Brake light replaced 3 times
Anti-theft update ineffective with vehicle stolen
Anti-theft update installed in August was intended to prevent vehicle theft by lengthening alarm and preventing start without key. Vehicle was stolen in November despite the update.
When: Vehicle stolen November after August anti-theft update
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle stolen despite anti-theft update
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Anti-theft update Campaign performed
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
When signaling a left turn, my right signal flashes before flashing the left signal.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the battery was draining faster than usual. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle overnight with the battery fully charged, the contact became aware that the battery had lost 15-20 % charge by the next morning. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's friend, an electrical engineer, diagnosed that the battery was…
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.
Had electrical trouble with your 2018 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2018 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 26,000 and 61,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,000; a quarter make it past 61,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.