Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Kia Sorento
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Kia Sorento has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 255 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22V703000 Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V656000 Steering Column may Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V784000 Inflator Component may Detach During Deployment NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 107 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 41 complaints
- Unknown or Other 37 complaints
- Electrical System 30 complaints
- Steering 26 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 13 complaints
Of the 255 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 255 complaints, owners report 11 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Kia Sorento has a moderate number of complaints and a few recalls, indicating typical reliability for its class. Most complaints concern the engine and exterior lighting. The vehicle also has three significant recalls affecting steering, airbags, and trailer hitches. This suggests reliability is average, as issues are present but not excessive.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 60,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$4,500 | common |
| exterior lighting | 40,000–80,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake pad replacement every 25,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 45,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine rough idling
- Flickering exterior lights
- Steering wheel vibration
- Unusual electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Kia Sorento at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.