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2018 Kia Sorento

2018 Kia Sorento: engine problems dominate owner complaints

Across 247 owner complaints to NHTSA, the engine is by far the most-reported area at 101 reports (41%), well ahead of exterior lighting at 41 reports (17%) and the electrical system at 29 reports (12%). Most complaints did not involve a crash or injury. Fires show up across several categories: 6 in the engine reports, 3 in electrical, and 1 in steering, and the engine category holds the only injury in this data.

Most reported areas

Engine safety 41%
Most-reported area by a wide margin: 101 complaints (41%), including 6 fires and the only injury in this data. One owner describes smelling smoke while driving on the highway, pulling over, and finding flames after opening the hood.
Exterior Lighting0 17%
Second most-reported: 41 complaints (17%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. Owners describe headlights that fail to illuminate properly, leaving poor visibility.
Electrical System safety 12%
29 complaints (12%), including 3 fires, with no crashes or injuries reported. Owners describe vent and heater controls failing, along with headlamps that do not illuminate.
Steering safety 11%
26 complaints (11%), including 1 fire, with no crashes or injuries reported. One owner describes the steering wheel seizing without warning while driving, forcing them to coast to the side of the road.
Fuel/Propulsion System0 5%
12 complaints (5%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. One owner describes gasoline leaking from the bottom of the vehicle near the rear driver side.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints · 247 complaints

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General information compiled from public NHTSA complaint data, for reference only — not professional advice and not reviewed by automotive experts. Verify before acting; Team AM is not responsible for decisions made from it.