FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2018 Kia Sportage AWD
The 2018 Kia Sportage AWD has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 158 owner complaints, and gets about 23 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2018 Kia Sportage AWD at a glance
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.4L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 2.4 L
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Body
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Fuel
- Regular
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 14, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
3 openFuel System, Gasoline
19/12/2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
04/03/2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
Trailer Hitches
19/09/2022
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.
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.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 14, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
158 filed- 60
ENGINE
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
- 22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The oil was leaking somewhere not on the motor not under the car not blowing black smoke. I kept adding oil to it. No oil light. I was told not to park between 2 houses or in my garage it could catch on fire. I took it in several times and
- 15
POWER TRAIN
I received a voluntary emissions update letter from kia, and although it was voluntary, the letter said failure to update could be considered lack of maintenance. The update was performed on XXX at Dorsch Ford/Kia in [XXX]. The vehicle ran
- 13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Passenger outside rear view mirror the paint is peeling. It’s the original rear view mirror. Vehicle looks brand new except for that mirror.
- 9
STEERING
My car was stolen from the Kia challenge
- 8
SERVICE BRAKES
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 observ
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 14, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★★★
- Frontal
- ★★★★☆
- Side
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 14, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 23 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 21 / 25
- Est. fuel / yr
- $2,700
- CO₂ / mi
- 397 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 14, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 3 open NHTSA recalls (including the fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Have a mechanic check the engine
Owners report problems with the engine more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
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Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
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Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD? +
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD, including the fuel system, gasoline. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD get? +
The EPA rates the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD at 23 mpg combined (21 city / 25 highway), about $2,700 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD? +
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Kia Sportage AWD, including 7 involving a crash. The most-reported area is engine.
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