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Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

Kia · Compact SUV

2018 Kia Sorento

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.

Recalls2 critical 3

Complaints12 crash · 11 fire · 11 injured · 1 died reported 255

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 24 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorento FWD, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 255 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Kia Sorento — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Kia Sorento · Photo: © M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	21	28	24	$2,800
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	20	27	23	$2,900
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.4L 4-cyl	21	25	22	$3,050
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	19	25	22	$3,050
Sorento FE AWD	Gas	AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	18	25	21	$3,200
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	3.3L 6-cyl	18	25	20	$3,350
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	17	23	19	$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38689, 38720, 38693, 38726, 38750, 38746, 38751.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sorento AWD, Sorento FE AWD, Sorento FWD	3 / 10	California LEV-II ULEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sorento AWD	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2.4 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

185 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	3
Seating capacity	7 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Parking assist

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: EX, L, LX, SX, SXL). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	187.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.4 in
Height	67.3 in
Wheelbase	109.4 in
Track, front	64.2 in
Track, rear	64.6 in
Curb weight	3,704–4,101 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 6 configurations: Ex/Limited AWD, Ex/Limited FWD, L/Lx FWD, LX AWD, V6 AWD, V6 FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC249

Park outside 70,887 vehicles 30% reported repaired

Problem 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. Risk A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V703000 reported Sep 19, 2022 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Steering

SC167

97 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Jun 28, 2017 – Jul 20, 2017

Problem 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. Risk If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V656000 reported Sep 21, 2018 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

SC159

2,014 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Sep 5, 2017 – Nov 29, 2017

Problem Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2018 Kia Sorento vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag. Risk If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC159.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V784000 reported Dec 8, 2017 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sorento

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Kia Sorento, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

255complaints filed

12 involved a crash · 11 a fire · 11 injuries · 1 deaths reported

36 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 71,687 Sorento built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 11 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 21 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 35 · 2023: 41 · 2024: 49 · 2025: 41 · 2026: 28

Most-cited components

Engine → 114

Exterior Lighting 41

Unspecified 37

Electrical System 30

Steering 26

Fuel/Propulsion System 13

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Car headlamps shut off when car is in motion, first noticed when driving at night as lights were in auto setting and the dashboard shows the light setting change and the lights outside changing as well with nothing being touched. Lights have completely shut off about 5 times when driving

Exterior Lighting Dec 30, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11292183

In january 2019 a recall was done on my vehicle. A few days later, I was traveling out of state. I was on the interstate driving 70 miles per hour when the car lost power. Luckily there was no one behind me. I was told that the recall sent the car into limp mode because the engine was bad.

Electrical System at 7,500 miles Oct 23, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11270532

I was driving back home I had too work in rodeo california half the way everything was going great I had my 3 children with me my car didn't gave me any warning no check engine light.,no white smoke , I was passing the dodger stadium when suddenly my 2018 Sorento just shut down almost got hit I was about too enter the 710 and nooooo I…

Engine at 2,214 miles Aug 26, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11246317

Vehicle was in a parked stationary position, tried to open sun roof and heard a loud pop noise. Panoramic sunroof glass cracked horizontally clear across roof and met with glass particles all over

Structure Aug 26, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11246592

The steering is notchy at freeway speeds 50 MPH. Athe car cannot be held in straight direction by making small corrections to the steering wheel. Any steering corrections made are met with heavy resistance then steering will move instantly to what feels like a notch.

Steering at 30,148 miles Aug 19, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11245129

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the front passenger seat belt did not have a seat belt warning system to advise when the front passenger seat belt was unfastened. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who confirmed that the seat belt unfastened warning system was not installed in the 2018 Kia sorentos.

Seat Belts Jul 16, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11232320

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 9 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 16 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 13 per 100,000 built. Every Sorento model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 49k

miles, typically

Half the 69 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 16,000 and 76,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 10

10k–20k 13

20k–30k 4

30k–40k 6

40k–50k 3

50k–60k 5

60k–70k 8

70k–80k 4

80k–90k 5

90k–100k 1

100k–150k 8

150k + 2

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	30	81,000	1.62×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: engine (1.62×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2021 model years the Kia Sorento ranks 59 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.53× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 35,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 6 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia warranty extension WTY031This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia bulletin WTY026_QAThis bulletin has been revised to include additional information.
15 years, unlimited miles · Kia bulletin TSB_FUE064This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Fuel Pump Warranty Extension Program' (WTY033) to inspect the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles produced from March…
15 years, unlimited miles · Kia bulletin WTY033_QAThis document is the announcement to the vehicle owners that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019 MY Sorento vehicles…
15 years, unlimited miles · Kia bulletin WTY033_DPSMThis document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019 MY Sorento…
15 years, unlimited miles · Kia bulletin WTY033_DPThis document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019 MY Sorento…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Kia warranty extension (28) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 196

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 177 service bulletins, 9 emissionss, 6 service campaigns

Most often about: Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Steering, Fuel/Propulsion System.

SC330_OWNR_301 Service campaign
2026-09-25 · Exterior Lighting
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC330 Flight 301) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to replace the multi-function switch knob with improved parts on certain 2016-2018 MY Sorento vehicles.
WTY031_TSB_R2 Warranty extension
2026-06-16 · Exterior Lighting
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR (WTY031) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch kn
CS2312_TSB_R2 Service bulletin
2026-06-08 · Structure — Body
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia
SC340_TSB_R5 Emissions
2026-04-04 · Engine
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2020MY Optima, 2016-20
WTY026_TSB_R2 Service bulletin
2026-03-18 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (OPS) REPLACEMENT (WTY026 REVISION 2) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the replacement of the Oil Pressure Switch associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Pr
PS797 Other
2025-12-09 · Back Over Prevention — Warnings
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane
TSB_TRA046_R5 Service bulletin
2025-04-17 · Power Train
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is
TSB_ENG222_R8 Service bulletin
2025-04-03 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1326 P1326 on Kia →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	18 bulletins · 5 owner reports

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 2.3%

failed emissions

1,945 initial inspections of 1,897 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 Sorento	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.3%	3.0%	1,940
Failed the safety inspection	2.1%	1.9%	1,945
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.10%	0.22%	1,945
Miles driven a year	11,201	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	92,990	82,833	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Sorento by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 37 mpg 2026 B 2 9 37 mpg 2025 C 4 134 36 mpg 2024 B 2 51 37 mpg 2023 D 4 165 Park outside 2022 F 9 227 Park outside 2021 F 5 275 Park outside 2020 B 1 139 Park outside 2019 B 2 433 Park outside 2018 this page D 3 255 Park outside 2017 D 4 808 Park outside 2016 F 8 1,258 Park outside

Common questions about the 2018 Sorento

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Sorento, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V703000, covering Trailer Hitches. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Kia Sorento 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (66/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Kia Sorento, the best EPA combined figure is 24 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Transport Canada measured it at 187.8 in long, 74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 67.3 in tall, on a 109.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,704–4,101 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Kia Sorento?

Owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sorento, most often about engine, exterior lighting, unspecified. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 11 a fire, 11 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Kia Sorento?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Kia Sorento runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-II ULEV, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Kia Sorento?

The manufacturer has filed 196 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Kia Sorento, most often covering engine, electrical system, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Kia Sorento do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Kia Sorento failed the emissions check on 2.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	255	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	196	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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