What 158 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sportage Phev Phev

1. Component or System Malfunction & Availability Component/System Failed: An unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer Reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for Inspection: No. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety Risk Assessment The vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my 21-year-old son, Brennan Font, when the incident occurred. The sudden presence of heavy smoke and intense heat entering the cabin while traveling at high speeds created an immediate, life-threatening hazard. This forced an emergency pullover on the shoulder of a busy freeway. Moments after exiting, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, presenting a severe risk of explosion and injury to the driver and passing motorists. 3. Verification & Third-Party Inspection Reproduced/Confirmed by Dealer: No, the sudden and destructive nature of the failure prevented any prior diagnostic testing. Inspected by Manufacturer/Authorities: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. However, the incident was handled and documented on-scene by local authorities. A formal police report was filed by the Ventura Police Department (Report Number: 26-31369, responding officer: Officer Steinberger). 4. Warning Symptoms and Timeline There were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, check engine lights, or abnormal symptoms leading up to the failure. The onset of heavy smoke and heat was sudden and instantaneous. 5. Detailed Incident Description Brennan immediately steered the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway. As soon as he brought the vehicle to a stop and attempted to park, open flames breached the hood of the car. He successfully exited the vehicle without injury and immediately dialed 911. The vehicle burned completely before the fire could be extinguished. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

NHTSA ODI 11740223

Component/System Failed: An unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer Reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for Inspection: No. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety Risk Assessment The vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my [XXX] [XXX [XXX] incident occurred. The sudden presence of heavy smoke and intense heat entering the cabin while traveling at high speeds created an immediate, life-threatening hazard. This forced an emergency pullover on the shoulder of a busy freeway. Moments after exiting, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, presenting a severe risk of explosion and injury to the driver and passing motorists. 3. Verification & Third-Party Inspection Reproduced/Confirmed by Dealer: No, the sudden and destructive nature of the failure prevented any prior diagnostic testing. Inspected by Manufacturer/Authorities: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. However, the incident was handled and documented on-scene by local authorities. A formal police report was filed by the Ventura Police Department (Report Number: 26-31369, responding officer: Officer [XXX] ). [XXX] ymptoms and Timeline There were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, check engine lights, or abnormal symptoms leading up to the failure. The onset of heavy smoke and heat was sudden and instantaneous. 5. Detailed Incident Description [XXX] immediat [XXX] red the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway. As soon as he brought the vehicle to a stop and attempted to park, open flames breached the hood of the car. He successfully exited the vehicle without injury and immediately dialed 911. The vehicle burned completely before the fire could be extinguished. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11740228

On 1/26/2024 approximately 9am, my husband had been driving on the highway for about 2 hours and pulled over to shut his eyes for a few minutes. He shut off the engine, closed his eyes and immediately smelled smoke. Black smoke began coming from under the hood and quickly got worse. He quickly got out of the car and walked away. He heard a loud pop sound and the engine area was engulfed in flames. He called 911. It took about 10 min for the fire dept to arrive and by then, the fire was being fed by the gas in the tank. They tried to put out the fire but the car burnt completely due to the gasoline. No one was hurt, thank goodness. There were no active lawsuits that I could find to get some compensation for this loss. We had to pay our high deductible and lost personal belongings in the car. This car did have an ongoing oil consumption issue. We had to replace the oil more frequently than normally required and it used much more oil than normal. We were told we had to wait for engine failure to get any kind of resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11727238

My vehicle make and model has been documented to have had engine issues which has caused car fires from the engine compartment from what has been documented this is my best guess.

NHTSA ODI 11695264

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to approximately 45 MPH, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact and her daughter who was inside the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle safely. The contact stated that the fire had started under the hood of the vehicle and totally engulfed the entire vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Fire Department report was filed. The contact and her daughter sustained smoke inhalation and sought medical assistance. The vehicle was towed and was deemed a total loss. The contact inquired about possible recalls on the vehicle and was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the vehicle had not been repaired under the recall because the contact was unaware of the recall. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

NHTSA ODI 11660415

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed black smoke billowing from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power, prompting him and his wife to evacuate the vehicle in the middle of the roadway. While attempting to retrieve important belongings from the vehicle, the contact stated that he heard what sounded to be an explosion within the engine compartment, causing him to fall backward and sprain his ankle. Moments later the front end of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and needed a total loss by the contact insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The contact later transported himself to an appointment with his primary care physician after experiencing physiological symptoms consistent with a cardiovascular event and was treated for angina. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the manufacturer intended to inspect the vehicle but stated that the inspection had yet to take place. The failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11626883

I was in a collision and sandwiched in between cars severe front and back damage. No Air bags!

NHTSA ODI 11569614

Vehicle stopped running smoke was coming from engine . Won’t start back up

NHTSA ODI 11565333

Breaks failed to ingage and caused me to hit the back of the vehicle in front of me.

NHTSA ODI 11544861

My car was stolen from the Kia challenge

NHTSA ODI 11489673

This Kia Sportage's alarm system does not go off when the passenger front window is broken. My car was broken into and the youth stripped the steering column and was able to start my car without needing the key nor having the key within the vehicle. This is a security issue and allows the vehicles to be easily stolen. These safety issues should be address and fixed immediately by Kia. The federal government should also hold Kia responsible for the spike in stolen vehicles across the U.S. seeing they know about the issue but have done nothing to fix it. The vehicle was then crashed and left running by the youth. I have included the estimate from Progressive to get it fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11449031

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving a knocking noise was suddenly present coming from the engine and warning messages were present on the dashboard display before the vehicle stalled. Later while attempting the start the engine a burning odor and smoke were present coming from the engine compartment. The engine was turned off and the smoke dissipated. The cause of the failures was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11448676

I was driving to work, sitting at a stoplight when my car started releasing smoke from under the hood. All warning lights lit up, the car stalled, and the smoke got darker and more intense. Within a minute, flames started appearing under the front of the vehicle and began spreading towards the back of the car

NHTSA ODI 11421190

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A SCHOOL ZONE AND ENTERING THE SCHOOL LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THERE WAS GREY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXIT HIS CHILD FROM THE VEHICLE AND PARKED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT THAT WAS WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11354958

THE ENTIRE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. ALL ELECTRIC WIRES CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CAR IT WAS PARK IN MY HOUSE .

NHTSA ODI 11288823

ALL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES RESULTING IN HEADING CRASH

NHTSA ODI 11255041

2018 KIA SPORTAGE 4D 4X4 WHILE IN 'PARK' ROLLED DOWN HOME DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE ROLLED INTO STREET, WHILE WIFE HOLDING ONE YEAR OLD SON DODGED VEHICLE TO AVOID GETTING CRUSHED.

NHTSA ODI 11113458