TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Kia Stinger engine problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What stands out
Engine accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA 2.0L T-GDI ECM SOFTWARE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC279) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the software logic of the engine control module (ECM) with an improved version on 2018-2021MY Stinger (CK) vehicles equipped with a Theta 2.0L T-GDI ULEV engine manufactured from September 29, 2017 through January 20, 2021. The subject vehicles may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific conditions, which may cause the vehicle to release air pollutants which exceed Federal and California standards (such as NMOG (Non-Methane Organic Gas) and CO (Carbon Monoxide) during IUVP (In-Use Verification Pro
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign on certain 2018-2021 MY Kia Stinger vehicles equipped with 2.0L Turbo GDI engines manufactured from September 29, 2017 to January 20, 2021 to improve the emissions logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations. This condition may cause the vehicle to release air pollutants that exceed Federal and California standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign on certain 2018-2021 MY Kia Stinger vehicles equipped with 2.0L Turbo GDI engines manufactured from September 29, 2017 to January 20, 2021 to improve the emissions logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations. This condition may cause the vehicle to release air pollutants that exceed Federal and California standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Kia Stinger engine cluster shows a troubling pattern of failures across multiple systems. Turbocharger oil feed lines crack and leak—owners report burning smells, smoke under the hood, and fire risk—with failures documented at 83,000, 139,000 miles and beyond. Some owners faced $8,000+ repair bills and chose not to fix the problem due to cost. Cylinder #3 misfires are common, sometimes progressing to complete engine failure requiring full engine replacement; one owner got burnt spark plugs and "very little if any oil" in the engine with no warning lights before the problem surfaced.
The high-pressure fuel pump causes check engine lights, hesitation, sputtering, and black soot at the tailpipe. Oil pressure switches fail intermittently at idle, especially between 115,000 and 150,000 miles. One owner reported a timing chain pan leak at just 22,000 miles.
The bigger issue: NHTSA recall campaigns (24V169000, SC279, SC281) exist but parts sit on national backorder and Kia excluded some VINs despite matching symptoms. One owner reported Kia refused upfront loaner or towing authorization. Dealers have declined repairs citing oil-change gaps or refused to honor recalls due to "incomplete" codes, leaving owners in limbo.
Failure modes owners describe
Turbocharger oil feed line/hose failure
Oil feed line, hose assembly, or oil supply line to turbocharger cracks, leaks, or fails, causing oil loss, smoke, burning odor, and fire risk.
When: Between 83,270 and 139,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: burning oil odor; smoke from under hood; strong oil burning smell; engine knock; loss of power
Repairs/costs cited: Turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly replacement; some owners report the cost deterred repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 24V169000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued; many owners report their VINs not included despite having symptoms
Oil Pressure Switch failure
Oil pressure switch malfunctions, causing false or intermittent oil pressure warning light. Kia recall began July 3, 2019, covering vehicles to 15 years/150,000 miles, but not all affected vehicles included.
When: Between 115,000 and 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: oil pressure warning light on at idle; warning light goes off when driving; intermittent oil pressure indication
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pressure switch replacement; part number 24V169000 recall part
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued but VIN-specific; many 2018 Stinger owners report exclusion from recall despite issue
Cylinder misfire and engine failure
Engine misfires, typically in cylinder #3, accompanied by excessive white smoke and loss of power. Can progress to complete engine failure requiring replacement.
When: Between 93,300 and 122,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine shuddering; loss of motor power; excessive white smoke from exhaust; check engine light; very little or no oil in engine; burnt spark plugs; engine won't hold pressure
Codes mentioned: P0303 (cylinder #3 misfire), check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs, oxygen sensor, and full engine replacement reported; some owners paid out of pocket; one engine replacement cost included labor but amount not specified
High-pressure fuel pump malfunction
High-pressure fuel pump fails or produces fault codes, causing check engine light, sputtering, hesitation, fuel economy loss, and potential engine stall.
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light; sputtering and hesitation under acceleration; severe drop in fuel mileage; loss of power; potential stall; black soot at tailpipe
Codes mentioned: fuel-rail pressure fault code, high pressure fuel pump code
Repairs/costs cited: Repair estimate cited $8,006.26 plus diagnostic fee; recall parts on national backorder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recalls SC279 and SC281 issued; parts unavailable nationwide; manufacturer refused upfront towing or loaner authorization
Timing chain pan oil leak
Timing chain pan leaks, causing antifreeze smell and oil seepage from engine. Dealers recommend timing chain pan replacement but repair not completed in reported case.
When: At 22,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: antifreeze smell; oil leak underneath vehicle; oil leak on engine
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain pan replacement recommended but not completed; independent mechanic also found loose serpentine belt
Turbocharger failure and power loss
Turbocharger malfunctions or fails, resulting in loss of power during acceleration and poor turbo function. May occur alongside fuel system issues.
Symptoms owners cite: loss of power while accelerating; turbo does not work properly; loss of motor power
Repairs/costs cited: Turbocharger replaced in one case; fuel pump issue also diagnosed in another
Recall parts unavailability
Recall parts for engine/cooling system and fuel system repairs are on national backorder or unavailable, leaving owners without vehicles or unable to complete safety repairs.
When: As of complaint dates
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle unsafe to drive; unable to repair
Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturers unable to provide timely parts; 3-day delays reported, ongoing backorder conditions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 24V169000, SC279, SC281; parts unavailable; no loaner vehicle authorization or towing support provided in some cases
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Oil Pressure Switch is bad. Kia had a recall begin July 3, 2029 that the part was faulty and did extend to eligible vehicles to 15 years or 150,000 miles. This part is known problem in the make and model of the Kia Stinger and I now have this issue with my 2018 Stinger GT2 with 115,000 miles. Many complaint on forums related to this but it seems that Kia has selected specific vehicles only.…
Had engine trouble with your 2018 Kia Stinger?
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 engine problem on the 2018 Kia Stinger?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 80,367 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/Stinger.
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.