NHTSA campaign 18V656000 · Kia campaign SC167
Kia Recall 18V-656: Steering Column may Separate
NHTSA recall 18V656000 (Kia campaign SC167) was reported by Kia Motors America on September 21, 2018, with 97 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Kia Sorento for the 2018 model year. Owners were notified on October 26, 2018, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 18V656000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 18V656000 (also written 18V-656 or 18V656)
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Kia campaign number
- SC167
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 97 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Steering — Electric Power Assist System
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 89.69% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 18V656000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Kia
Kia Sorento
- 2018 · Vehicles built June 28, 2017 – July 20, 2017 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 18V656000.
Defect description
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2018 Kia Sorento vehicles. The cowl crossbar that connects to the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) steering column may be improperly welded, allowing the steering column to separate.
Safety consequence
If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cowl crossbar, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC167.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 18V656000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.