The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 96 of 165 complaints (58%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 404 in 2017 to 165 in 2018.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 165
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,400–$2,950
- Combined MPG
- 21–26
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–2,950 | 2,400–2,950 | 2,400–2,950 | 2,500–2,950 | 2,400–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 21–23 | 21–26 | 21–26 | 21–25 | 21–26 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–21 / 25–28 | 20–23 / 23–30 | 20–23 / 23–30 | 20–23 / 23–30 | 19–23 / 24–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 376–420 | 351–424 | 351–424 | 353–424 | 351–421 | |
| Complaints filed | 134 | 404 | 165 | 71 | 169 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 8 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 13 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Sportage have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Kia Sportage?
Engine: 96 of 165 NHTSA complaints (58%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Sportage get?
EPA rates it 21–26 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Kia Sportage?
EPA estimates $2,400–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 351 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 21 mpg | 26 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 392 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 397 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 400 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 424 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 358 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 96 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 30 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 13 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
- Consequence
- A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Defect
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; ENGINE
- Defect
- 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. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.