2018 Kia Sorento Structure & Body Problems
NHTSA lists 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Kia Sorento, 7% of its 254 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 60,500 miles. A related recall (22V703000) covers tow hitch harness issues on the Sorento.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 18
- 7% of 254
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 60,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Owners report engine bay fires with smoke and flames shooting from under the hood while driving at highway speed.
- Some describe fires starting near the rear of the vehicle, with sparks visible in the mirrors before flames spread quickly.
- Panoramic sunroof glass has cracked or shattered with a loud pop while the vehicle was parked, scattering glass particles.
- Door latch warning lights come on and doors fail to lock properly while driving, even after manual attempts to secure them.
- The rear hatch does not open with the key fob or manual handle and requires a manual lift to open.
- Several owners tied to recall 22V703000 report waiting for a tow hitch harness repair part that dealers could not obtain.
When 2018 Kia Sorento body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 20, 2018, latest Mar 22, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Kia Sorento
- NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside
Trailer hitches
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.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Structure & Body complaints by Sorento model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2018 Kia Sorento have?
- NHTSA lists 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Kia Sorento, which is 7% of the 254 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Kia Sorento related to Structure & Body?
- Yes. Recall 22V703000, reported September 19, 2022, covers a tow hitch wiring harness issue and advises owners to park outside away from structures until repaired.
- At what mileage do 2018 Sorento Structure & Body problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for these complaints is 60,500 miles.
- Did the Structure & Body issues cause any fires or crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 2 fires and 1 crash among the 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Kia Sorento, with no reported injuries.
- How does the 2018 Sorento compare to other years for this problem area?
- The 2018 model's 18 complaints and 7% share are lower than years like 2011 (314 complaints, 21% share) and 2014 (174 complaints, 18% share), based on NHTSA data.