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2018 Kia Sportage

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
55 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls3 critical3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA162
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2018 Kia Sportage is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sportage FE FWD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 162 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Sportage FE FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl233026$2,400
Sportage FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl222925$2,500
Sportage AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl212523$2,700
Sportage FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212623$2,700
Sportage FE AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl212522$2,850
Sportage AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202321$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38721, 38747, 38725, 38722, 38727, 38728.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Kia Sportage is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC249
Park outside70,887 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V703000reported Sep 19, 2022Kia America, Inc.
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SC206
Park outside379,931 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskAn engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V137000reported Mar 4, 2021Kia Motors America
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC172
71,653 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixKia 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V907000reported Dec 19, 2018Kia Motors America

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
162complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 11 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 8 · 2019: 25 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 25 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 33 · 2026: 17

Most-cited components

Engine89
Electrical System28
Unspecified19
Power Train18
Fuel/Propulsion System10
Steering9

What owners describe

“While the 2018 Kia Sportage is in drive proceeding forward I have noticed on numerous occasions the transmission just dies out. When stepping on the gas, you can hear the engine rev but for a few seconds, there is no reaction by the transmission and the vehicle doesn't increase in speed; the vehicle just coasts. This o…”Sep 26, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“Windshield cracking for no reason. No chips to signify it was hit. Noticed a zigzag on Friday 9/23 approximately 12" and this evening 9/24 has gone laterally an additional 6-8"”Sep 24, 2022 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“9/15 car goes in limp mode on expressway. Get to towed to dealership. Get the car back on 9/17. Only make it about 20 miles, and the same thing happens again. I’m able to make it back to the dealership the same day. On my way home. Pick up the car on 9/19. Happens again on 9/20. Now I am being told I need a full engi…”Sep 21, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2018 Sportage with

2018 Toyota RAV4 →2018 Honda CR-V →2018 Chevrolet Equinox →2018 Nissan Rogue →

Other Sportage model years

A

2027 Kia Sportage

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2026 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 32 complaints

A

2025 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 69 complaints

C

2024 Kia Sportage

3 recalls · 98 complaints

F

2023 Kia Sportage

7 recalls · 299 complaints

B

2022 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 46 complaints

C

2021 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 50 complaints

C

2020 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 160 complaints

C

2019 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 69 complaints

F

2017 Kia Sportage

4 recalls · 399 complaints

C

2016 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 130 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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