NHTSA (USA)CriticalPark Outside
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
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 three recalls, all involving fire risk: an anti-lock brake control unit that can short-circuit and ignite in the engine compartment, a fuel leak on vehicles that previously had engine work done, and a wiring issue in the trailer hitch harness.
The anti-lock brake control unit contains an electrical circuit that can short and start a fire under the hood, with no warning to the driver before flames develop. The engine recall applies only to vehicles that previously received an engine replacement or had knock sensor detection software installed under an earlier campaign, meaning a prior repair may have introduced a fuel leak that can ignite if it reaches a heat source. On the towing side, vehicles fitted with a factory or dealer-installed trailer hitch harness carry a wiring defect that can cause a fire whether the vehicle is moving or parked. All three issues share the same consequence, but they involve different systems and the hitch harness concern only affects vehicles equipped with that specific accessory.
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
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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 →
Dealers will inspect the tow hitch harness and replace the fuse or module as needed, at no cost.
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.