This page covers 3 recalls, 154 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Kia Sportage.
21–25 mpg combined
9.4–11.2 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2018 Kia Sportage, engine complaints dominate the picture by a wide margin. Owners most commonly report excessive oil consumption, frequently describing the need to add several quarts between oil changes, often without any warning light triggering. Related symptoms include cylinder misfires, oil leaks, and in some cases engine failure at relatively modest mileage. A smaller but recurring thread involves engine fires or smoke emerging from under the hood. The electrical system draws a secondary cluster of complaints, with owners describing wiring harness corrosion and related faults. The powertrain category adds reports of the transmission slipping out of gear. The oil consumption pattern is the clearest through-line across this complaint set, with several owners noting the problem began well before 100,000 miles and progressively worsened, sometimes leading to compression loss or cylinder misfires despite ongoing maintenance attempts.
154
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
9
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Kia Sportage has 3 recalls, all rated at the same severity level and all involving fire risk: an electrical short in the brake control module, a fuel leak on vehicles that previously had engine work performed under an earlier recall, and a wiring fault in the tow hitch harness.
The brake system's hydraulic electronic control unit can develop an electrical short circuit that starts a fire in the engine compartment. On vehicles where an engine was replaced under a prior recall or warranty repair, a fuel leak can develop that may ignite if it contacts an ignition source. The tow hitch harness recall affects only vehicles equipped with a factory-installed or dealer-installed hitch, where a wiring fault in the harness can start a fire whether the vehicle is parked or in motion.
At a glance
What can fail
Debris and moisture can build up on the tow hitch harness electrical module, causing a short circuit that may start a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the tow hitch harness and replace the fuse or module as needed, at no cost.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit may short-circuit, potentially causing a fire in the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles with electronic parking brake will also receive a HECU software update.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pipe connecting to the fuel pump may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during a previous engine replacement, causing potential fuel leaks.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe as needed at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
