Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Kia Sportage
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Kia Sportage has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 165 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 #21V137000 Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V907000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 91 complaints
- Electrical System 30 complaints
- Unknown or Other 20 complaints
- Power Train 18 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 11 complaints
- Steering 9 complaints
Of the 165 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 165 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Kia Sportage has numerous complaints, especially regarding the engine and electrical system, and three recall campaigns highlight significant issues. With limited data on the frequency of failures other than the engine, our assessment is tentative. Although the overall reliability is below average, it is due to a significant number of complaints about crucial systems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 60,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$6,000 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | 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 and filter changes
- Brake pad inspections
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Coolant flushes
- Air filter replacements
- Spark plug replacements
- Transmission fluid changes
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking sounds
- Dashboard warning lights
- Electrical malfunctions
- Unexpected braking behavior
- Fuel smell in cabin
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Kia Sportage at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.