Home · 2018 Kia Sportage Phev Phev · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (158)Crash / fire / injury (17)Engine (85)Electrical system (28)Transmission & drivetrain (17)Brakes (11)Fuel system (10)Steering (9)Speed control (8)Body & structure (6)Lights (6)Engine & cooling (5)

11 of 158 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Apr 3, 2024Brakes

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions over two days, at various speeds, she observed a growing loud grinding and clicking noise emanating from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The contact stated that on the last occasion, while in reverse(R), the vehicle lost power and failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11580879

Jan 23, 2024BrakesDriver assistance

When pressing brake during operation, a noise comes from underneath vehicle. The warning lights goes off but come back on while driving and stays on. Kia dealer stated it was the ABS module going bad. Kia dealer recently replaced engine block due to manufacturer defect and completed two recalls. Dealer advised this was a new problem.

NHTSA ODI 11567272

Sep 16, 2023BrakesCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 11544861

May 23, 2023Speed controlBrakes

With the cruise control set at highway speed (65pmh, etc) If you push the foot controlled parking brake it will not cancel the cruise control. The vehicle increases the acceleration to maximum and overrides the parking brake input. If using the parking brake in an emergency you would stomp on the parking (emergency brake) and not be able to slow down unless separately cancelling the cruise control.

NHTSA ODI 11523371

Oct 18, 2021BrakesEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact noticed a strong odor of gasoline in the interior of the vehicle. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle but was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact later received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed to pick up the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,147.

NHTSA ODI 11437214

May 18, 2021Brakes

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact contacted two dealers who both confirmed that the parts were not yet available and would take approximately 1- 2 months to be received from the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced failure. Parts Distribution Disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11417625

May 18, 2021Brakes

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V137000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11417671

May 17, 2021Brakes

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V137000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AN IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11417412

Sep 12, 2019SteeringElectrical systemBrakesCrash1 injury

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

NHTSA ODI 11255041

Feb 2, 2019LightsBrakesEngine

I PURCHASED MY 2018 KIA SPORTAGE EX BRAND NEW 6-8-18. LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE DARK. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW GAUGE DIMMER CLUSTER BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL FAILED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING THE CAR WHEN BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY. AGAIN, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESURFACED THE BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPING. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ON 1-28-19 THE ENGINE DIED ON THE HIGHWAY PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO LIMP HOME MODE. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER TRYING TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT AMPLE ENGINE POWER. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. I GOT THE BBB INVOLVED NOW AND I AM TRYING TO GET THE LEMON LAW IN PLACE. I AM CURRENTLY IN A RENTAL.

NHTSA ODI 11173712

Jul 24, 2018BrakesCrash

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

Working with the data? Download all 158 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Kia Sportage Phev Phev verdict →