We own a 2018 Kia Sportage. We never had any problems with it, UNTIL NOW. I Drove it to work one morning, and was on the way home and suddenly without warning, no lights, or indicators came on, and the car started to shake, and lost full throttle response in the MIDDLE OF…

12/29/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11499381.0

2018 Sportage · engine

CAR SHIFTS TO LOW MODE FROM 50-20MPH ON ITS OWN SLOW DECELERATION WHEN STOPPING SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN STATIONARY

12/15/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11289105.0

2018 Sportage · electrical Crash

THE ENTIRE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. ALL ELECTRIC WIRES CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CAR IT WAS PARK IN MY HOUSE .

12/13/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11288823.0

2018 Sportage · other

Defective exterior rear passenger door handle came off completely when opening door.

12/11/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11559605.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 18V907000 19/12/2018

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Common questions

Is the 2018 Kia Sportage reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Kia Sportage is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2018 Kia Sportage?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 61 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Kia Sportage has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Kia Sportage?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 153 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

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Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Kia. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.