What 248 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

I had the car for just 2 years and it's giving me a lot of problems the car smells like gas it has a gas leak the breaks don't work and the electrical system don't work properly

NHTSA ODI 11742231

Sunroof was working properly, no issues. I parked car with sunroof open and when i restarted car it started closing extremely slow. Technicians have tried resetting but no luck. This is a safety issue that has been repeatitive on KIA Suvs since 2012 or 2014. Techs cannot reset sunroof and last KIA I owned was 2014 had same issue plus drainage hole issues. A panoramic sunroof malfunction can be a safety issue for a few reasons: 1. Emergency situations: In the event of an accident or emergency, it may be necessary to quickly evacuate the vehicle. A stuck panoramic sunroof could prevent passengers from being able to exit through the opening, potentially putting their safety at risk. 2. Ventilation and air circulation: On hot days, being unable to open the sunroof can lead to uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions inside the vehicle due to poor ventilation. This can increase the risk of heat exhaustion or dehydration for passengers. 3. Excessive heat build-up: A closed sunroof can also lead to excessive heat build-up inside the vehicle, which can be particularly dangerous for children, elderly individuals, or pets who may be more sensitive to high temperatures. 4. Visibility issues: A sunroof that is stuck closed can also affect visibility for the driver, especially when driving in bright sunlight or in adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain or fog. Overall, a malfunctioning panoramic sunroof can impact the overall safety and comfort of passengers and drivers, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all vehicle components are in proper working condition. KIA refuses to address the issue and needs to take accountability for this ongoing issue that each model has continued to have.

NHTSA ODI 11727810

The vehicle’s ignition system began malfunctioning immediately after a recall-related service (Campaign CS2312 – ignition cylinder protector installation) performed on January 9, 2026. Prior to this service, the vehicle had no ignition or electrical issues. After the repair, the ignition key became difficult to turn, and the vehicle intermittently failed to start. Additionally, multiple electrical components began to fail intermittently, including the infotainment screen shutting off, the air conditioning system stopping, and windshield wipers not operating at times. These failures create a safety concern, as they may affect visibility, driver awareness, and vehicle operability while driving. The issue was reported to the dealership, and their own inspection confirmed that the ignition key cylinder is sticking. The vehicle remains available for inspection, and the condition persists.

NHTSA ODI 11725924

My speedometer was jumping from 0 to 20 mph while in park. A couple weeks later it did it while I was driving, I was going 25 mph and it jumped to 55 mph. I took it to the shop that day and all 4 of my wheel speed sensors were out, which wasn’t accurately measuring my speed. The shop said it was common with this model and year. Also, my headlights do not work in auto mode. I will have shut my car off, made sure the lights were off, and hours later I have a text from my neighbors that my lights are on.

NHTSA ODI 11718665

Lighting and/ or electrical. When using the auto headlight switch, all lights will come on randomly and periodically and stay on until you notice them or they ware down your battery. This is something that could be checked out by dealer and I will ask about it. So, for now, I do not use the auto headlight switch. My other problem is a glass issue. For no apparent reason, when I shut my driver side door a few weeks ago. My entire rear window shattered into pieces. There were no signs of damage to the rear window. Happened in my drive way. But, it could have happened anywhere. Filed a insurance claim and had the rear window replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11688792

My vehicle started with oil issues took to dealer and the attempted to perform an oil consumption test however the vehicle would not pass the test as the oil would not last long enough for next test. Was advised I needed an engine, Kia refused to replace since it wouldn’t pass consumption test. I paid for engine replacement 1month later engine light comes on, again I return to Kia dealer they say engine needs replacement they replace supposedly through warranty. Drive for about 30 days and engine light comes on again takes to dealer and they say it’s the knock sensors code which is the same code that came up prior to engine replacement. The knock sensor was a recalled part that they replaced by them but now are refusing to replace even though they replaced it less then 12 months ago.

NHTSA ODI 11682431

In January 2024 I started getting power steering issues and multiple warning lights related to the electrical systems. I took my vehicle to Car Pros Kia for inspection and repair on 2/1/2024. They took it for a test drive at which time it caught fire.

NHTSA ODI 11647007

Car won't start system doesn't recognize key. And when I use the other key ams drive the car doesn't recognize the key and keeps showing No key I'm vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11616520

The passenger side headlight has been reinstalled 8 times. The dealership has replaced it and we have replaced it several times. The light goes out constantly and is costing me a fortune to replace as well as possible traffic tickets. The headlights turn off also when in automatic mode. Please recall this vehicle and have this safety and expensive issue fixed. This issue has been going on several months now. The dealership does not provide a permanent solution. This is a defect.

NHTSA ODI 11577535

While driving down the road my headlights will flash off and on randomly. I have auto headlights and when it’s in auto mode it will randomly flash off and on 1-2 times and keep repeating sometimes longer than others. When it’s just my drls that are on it does the same as well as the switch being all the way on it will do the same and when it happens I hear clicking coming from somewhere in the dash. Brought it in for the “recall” but Kia tells. Me it only goes to 150k miles. This is absolutely an issue that needs to be addressed and not at the consumers cost. I’m not the only one this is happening to. Please help

NHTSA ODI 11571128

When signaling a left turn, my right signal flashes before flashing the left signal.

NHTSA ODI 11559547

I had the anti-theft update installed in August which was supposed to prevent the car from being stolen by lengthening the alarm and making it so the car would not start without the key. My car was still stolen in November.

NHTSA ODI 11558238

Lights go off unexpectedly while driving at night. The rear break light has been changed 3 times and continues to work intermittently. Lights come on after the car has parked and turned off.

NHTSA ODI 11551295

My headlights will turn off when using the blinker. It has done this more then a dozen times it is extremely dangerous. They will stay off untill I cycle the on and of headlight switch

NHTSA ODI 11548939

While driving at night, the headlights turn off by themselves randomly. The lights need to be turned to off and back on to get them to turn back on. Driving with no lights in an area with no streetlamps obviously could result in an accident. It has not yet been inspected by anyone yet, but a check is scheduled. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. when the lights turned off. Not a safety concern, but seems related: On another occasion, the car had been parked and locked for hours with the engine off, and the parking lights turned on and remained on until manually shut to off. They did not turn off by a remote unlock and lock.

NHTSA ODI 11540830

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the battery was draining faster than usual. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle overnight with the battery fully charged, the contact became aware that the battery had lost 15-20 % charge by the next morning. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's friend, an electrical engineer, diagnosed that the battery was losing 1 or 2 AMPS of power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and no issues were found. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) which he associated with the failure; however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the dealer informed him that the battery needed to be replaced. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,631. The consumer stated Trailer hitch fuse was removed but the high rate of discharge continued.

NHTSA ODI 11496584

10/5/2022 Driving down Texas Interstate 20 last night, just east of Willow Park, Texas the headlights turned off. I switched the lights from the auto position to the On and the lights turned back on. Wife informed me this has happened to her previously as well. Driving down the road at 70 MPH and everything goes dark is a bit frighting. From my search, this has become a common issue with our KIA model. The issue happens randomly so difficult to pinpoint the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11488149

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) occasionally do not turn off when leaving the car, after engine shut off. They are also on auto and should go off so the battery does not drain. A few times they have even come on when we were not in the care and we discovered them on after a period of time when returning to the car. The dealer could NOT find a problem and did nothing to resolve it.

NHTSA ODI 11476755

This KIA Sorento was brand new and I was the only owner. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine, brake lights, charging ports and overhead lights. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine: this puts me at risk because the vehicle stop in the middle of the highway and the rear lights was not working because I burnt harness... a Truck was coming full speed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, several times and they failed to take responsibility. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The manufacturer and several other opinions from other reputable mechanic shops. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No not at all, I was driving home from work, and once I exited the highway and came to a red light it just started violently shaking. There was no sign of this issue. I thought the light going out was just regular maintenance until it we out a few days later... then again. Then I noticed it was burnt on the wiring.

NHTSA ODI 11469687

Headlights , all front lights shut off while driving, repeatedly.

NHTSA ODI 11464935

THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT JUST STOPS WORKING AND I HAVE TO OPEN THE HEAD LIGHT CASING AND PLAY WITH THE CABLES TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. ALSO THE POWER SEATS DON'T WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11388962

I WAS TRAVELING TO FLORIDA AND SAW SPARKS IN THE MIRRORS IN THE BACK. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND WENT TO THE BACK AND SAW FIRE, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE EVERYBODY GOT OUT, WE TRIED TO PUT IT OUT BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS AN ACCELERRENT OR SOMETHING CAUSE IT WAS ENGULFED WITH FIRE VERY FAST ONCE WE STOPPED THE WHOLE CAR WAS BURNING.+WE WERE ON 65 SOUTH IN KENTUCKY JUST DRIVING ,NO RAIN ROADS WERE DRY.

NHTSA ODI 11378575

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH INDICATED A MALFUNCTION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THE CONTACT MANUALLY LOCKED THE DOORS HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR MESSAGE REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CONTACTED FORT BEND KIA (26633 SOUTHWEST FWY, ROSENBERG, TX 77471; (877) 265-5649) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11376722

WHILE DRIVING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS TO BE FORCED TO GO. IT'S ALWAYS HESITATING TO GO AND I'M FORCED TO PRESS HARD ON THE GAS. IN OCTOBER 2020, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. I'M VERY SCARED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY KIDS. THE DEALERS HAVE NO FIX-I WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR A THIRD TIME WITHIN A YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11376422

2018 KIA SORRENTO - LIGHTS HAVE SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING IN VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS (INTERSTATE/CITY STREET/ETC.). CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP (TWICE YESTERDAY AND FOUR TIMES LAST WEEK ALL WITHIN ONE TRIP). CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT IT HAPPENING WHICH IS FRUSTRATING AS DEALER "NEEDS TO SEE THE ISSUE TO FIX IT". OBSERVING IT IN BOTH NIGHT AND DAY. OBVIOUSLY MORE DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT. I HAVE VIDEOS FROM OTHERS THAT REPLACED THE LIGHT STALK SWITCH WITH SUCCESS. DEALER REFUSES TO DO THIS WHILE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE CONCERN. THEY RECOMMEND THAT I CONTINUE DRIVING AND BRING IT IN "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN". THEY CHARGE ME 150 DOLLARS EACH TIME I BRING IT IN TO TELL ME "THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE IT". I AM SEEING MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON FORUMS FOR THIS ISSUE. VIDEO FROM ANOTHER CUSTOMER (START AT 56 SECONDS): HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=TXG9CJ076HA

NHTSA ODI 11372716