"How reliable is the 2018 Kia Sportage?"

"Based on 209 NHTSA complaints, the 2018 Kia Sportage has a median complaint mileage of 18200 miles. The most common issue is Engine."

"What are common problems with the 2018 Kia Sportage?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Kia Sportage is Engine, accounting for a significant portion of the 209 total complaints filed."

2018 Kia Sportage: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 209 complaints

209

Total Complaints

18,200mi

Median Mileage

Engine

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

9,400 25th Percentile

18,200 Median Mileage

48,475 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Steering

Fuel/Propulsion System

Vehicle Speed Control

Service Brakes

Exterior Lighting

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"REAR TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSED LIGHTS ARE NOT INTEGRATED WITH BACK BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY ARE TOO LOW AND PLACED UNDER THE BUMPER AND ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO CARS BEHIND. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS AND HAVE HAD A FEW VERY CLOSE INCIDENTS ESPECIALLY DURING THE ..."

"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."

"HIGH PITCHED WHIRRING SOUND LASTING 10 TO 15 SECONDS WHEN CAR IS PARKED A DAY OR MORE AFTER DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES WE HAVE HEARD IT. VEHICLE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE STARTER MOTOR RUNNING."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 79 complaints

25th: 9,206 mi Median: 16,700 mi 75th: 56,250 mi

Electrical System 26 complaints

25th: 3,462 mi Median: 9,400 mi 75th: 36,250 mi

Unknown Or Other 19 complaints

25th: 9,400 mi Median: 9,500 mi 75th: 11,000 mi

Power Train 16 complaints

25th: 37,000 mi Median: 39,500 mi 75th: 44,000 mi

Steering 9 complaints

25th: 28,750 mi Median: 36,250 mi 75th: 79,632 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 28 CA: 23 OH: 16 IL: 12 TX: 11 PA: 11 NC: 11 NY: 7 WI: 6 MO: 6

Who Files Complaints?

0.5%

Original Owners

99.5%

Second+ Owners

Kia Sportage — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1995	88	-	Buckle Assembly	2
1996	98	79,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	13
1997	299	97,000	Gasoline	50
1998	558	70,000	Gasoline	31
1999	493	71,200	Gasoline	43
2000	462	69,000	Fuel System, Gasoline	27
2001	354	48,595	Fuel System, Gasoline	31
2002	321	58,400	Fuel System, Gasoline	19
2005	93	89,000	Air Bags	13
2006	169	79,500	Air Bags	12
2007	113	69,000	Electrical System	13
2008	138	88,000	Electrical System	2
2009	117	75,000	Electrical System	4
2010	28	89,500	Air Bags	4
2011	260	70,505	Engine	10
2012	448	97,000	Engine	10
2013	447	94,000	Engine	6
2014	149	79,500	Engine	2
2015	190	70,000	Engine	9
2016	182	60,000	Engine	13
2017	523	54,000	Engine	25
2019	98	25,000	Engine	5
2020	187	11,300	Engine	16
2021	45	47,000	Unknown Or Other	3
2022	58	33,000	Engine	10
2023	285	15,250	Unknown Or Other	41
2024	85	22,500	Unknown Or Other	14
2025	69	3,500	Unknown Or Other	6

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28