{"id":"2018_kia_sorento","make":"Kia","make_slug":"kia","model":"Sorento","model_slug":"sorento","year":2018,"url":"/kia/sorento/2018/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":38689,"model":"Sorento FWD","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.4,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":21,"hwy":28,"comb":24,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":377,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2600,"save_spend":-1750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38720,"model":"Sorento FWD","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":20,"hwy":27,"comb":23,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":397,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2700,"save_spend":-2250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38693,"model":"Sorento AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.4,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":21,"hwy":25,"comb":22,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":397,"fe_score":4,"ghg_score":4,"fuel_cost":2850,"save_spend":-3000,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38726,"model":"Sorento AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":19,"hwy":25,"comb":22,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":414,"fe_score":4,"ghg_score":4,"fuel_cost":2850,"save_spend":-3000,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38750,"model":"Sorento FE AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":6,"displ":3.3,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":18,"hwy":25,"comb":21,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":434,"fe_score":4,"ghg_score":4,"fuel_cost":2950,"save_spend":-3500,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38746,"model":"Sorento FWD","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":6,"displ":3.3,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":18,"hwy":25,"comb":20,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":436,"fe_score":4,"ghg_score":4,"fuel_cost":3100,"save_spend":-4250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38751,"model":"Sorento AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":6,"displ":3.3,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":17,"hwy":23,"comb":19,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":465,"fe_score":3,"ghg_score":3,"fuel_cost":3300,"save_spend":-5250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Compact SUV","recalls":[{"campaign":"22V703000","component":"TRAILER HITCHES","mfr":"Kia America, Inc.","reported":"2022-09-19","owner_notified":"2023-07-27","units":70887,"summary":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":true,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC249","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"18V656000","component":"STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM","mfr":"Kia Motors America","reported":"2018-09-21","owner_notified":"2018-10-26","units":97,"summary":"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.","consequence":"If the steering column separates, it can cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC167","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"17V784000","component":"AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW","mfr":"Kia Motors America","reported":"2017-12-08","owner_notified":"2017-12-18","units":2014,"summary":"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.","consequence":"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.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC159","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":3,"critical_count":1,"park_outside":true,"do_not_drive":false,"score":69,"grade":"D","complaints":{"count":252,"crash":12,"fire":11,"injured":11,"deaths":1,"comps":[["Engine",104],["Exterior Lighting",41],["Unspecified",37],["Electrical System",29],["Steering",26],["Fuel/Propulsion System",13]],"by_year":{"2017":1,"2018":11,"2019":16,"2020":21,"2021":12,"2022":35,"2023":41,"2024":49,"2025":41,"2026":25},"excerpts":[["2022-08-04","Engine And Engine Cooling","The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal ticking noise detected. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that t\u2026"],["2022-07-31","Exterior Lighting","The headlights will occasionally turn off at night while driving. We have to then turn them back on by touching the light switch. The are set on AUTO always and should not go out AT NIGHT, especially while driving. They should only go out when exiting the car after engine shut off. The parking lights (front and back) o\u2026"],["2022-07-07","Engine","excessive oil consumption causing engine to fail. need to replace whole engine. no warning lights or gauges registered the low oil"]]},"investigations":[{"action":"DP22003","component":"ENGINE","opened":"2022-09-12","closed":"2023-12-12","campaign":"","subject":"Loss of Motive Power","summary":"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 "}],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":5,"frontal":5,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.15,"seats":null,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"SUV FWD","overall":5,"frontal":5,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.158,"seats":null,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":25,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":24,"ncap":5,"complaints":252},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 05:01 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}