Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the battery was draining faster than usual. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle overnight with the battery fully charged, the contact became aware that the battery had lost 15-20 % charge by the next morning. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's friend, an electrical engineer, diagnosed that the battery was losing 1 or 2 AMPS of power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and no issues were found. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) which he associated with the failure; however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the dealer informed him that the battery needed to be replaced. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. …
In January 2024 I started getting power steering issues and multiple warning lights related to the electrical systems. I took my vehicle to Car Pros Kia for inspection and repair on 2/1/2024. They took it for a test drive at which time it caught fire.
This KIA Sorento was brand new and I was the only owner. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine, brake lights, charging ports and overhead lights. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine: this puts me at risk because the vehicle stop in the middle of the highway and the rear lights was not working because I burnt harness... a Truck was coming full speed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, several times and they failed to take responsibility. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The manufacturer and several other opinions from other reputable mechanic shops. …
Vehicle: 2018 Kia Sorento VIN: [redacted] Kia Corporate Case #: [redacted] My 2018 Kia Sorento experienced a catastrophic engine failure ("holes in the block") while under warranty. The vehicle lost power, emitted heavy smoke, and became completely inoperable. Kia America has refused to repair the engine and has delayed providing the required written denial for my warranty claim. This vehicle has also suffered five break-ins, and Kia has two active recalls for my year and model that were never performed, including a theft prevention recall. My vehicle is part of a nationwide class action lawsuit involving engine defects and theft vulnerabilities. Because Kia America delayed resolving my warranty case, the vehicle has been sitting at Kia Vacaville accumulating predatory storage fees. …
The vehicle's ignition system began malfunctioning immediately after a recall-related service (Campaign CS2312 - ignition cylinder protector installation) performed on January 9, 2026. Prior to this service, the vehicle had no ignition or electrical issues. After the repair, the ignition key became difficult to turn, and the vehicle intermittently failed to start. Additionally, multiple electrical components began to fail intermittently, including the infotainment screen shutting off, the air conditioning system stopping, and windshield wipers not operating at times. These failures create a safety concern, as they may affect visibility, driver awareness, and vehicle operability while driving. The issue was reported to the dealership, and their own inspection confirmed that the ignition key cylinder is sticking. The vehicle remains available for inspection, and the condition persists.
My vehicle started with oil issues took to dealer and the attempted to perform an oil consumption test however the vehicle would not pass the test as the oil would not last long enough for next test. Was advised I needed an engine, Kia refused to replace since it wouldn't pass consumption test. I paid for engine replacement 1month later engine light comes on, again I return to Kia dealer they say engine needs replacement they replace supposedly through warranty. Drive for about 30 days and engine light comes on again takes to dealer and they say it's the knock sensors code which is the same code that came up prior to engine replacement. The knock sensor was a recalled part that they replaced by them but now are refusing to replace even though they replaced it less then 12 months ago.
The headlights will occasionally turn off at night while driving. We have to then turn them back on by touching the light switch. The are set on AUTO always and should not go out AT NIGHT, especially while driving. They should only go out when exiting the car after engine shut off. The parking lights (front and back) occasionally do not turn off when leaving the car, after engine shut off. They are also on auto and should go off so the battery does not drain. A few times they have even come on when we were not in the care and we discovered them on after a period of time when returning to the car. The dealer could NOT find a problem and did nothing to resolve it.
While driving at night, the headlights turn off by themselves randomly. The lights need to be turned to off and back on to get them to turn back on. Driving with no lights in an area with no streetlamps obviously could result in an accident. It has not yet been inspected by anyone yet, but a check is scheduled. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. when the lights turned off. Not a safety concern, but seems related: On another occasion, the car had been parked and locked for hours with the engine off, and the parking lights turned on and remained on until manually shut to off. They did not turn off by a remote unlock and lock.
Lighting and/ or electrical. When using the auto headlight switch, all lights will come on randomly and periodically and stay on until you notice them or they ware down your battery. This is something that could be checked out by dealer and I will ask about it. So, for now, I do not use the auto headlight switch. My other problem is a glass issue. For no apparent reason, when I shut my driver side door a few weeks ago. My entire rear window shattered into pieces. There were no signs of damage to the rear window. Happened in my drive way. But, it could have happened anywhere. Filed a insurance claim and had the rear window replaced.
While driving down the road my headlights will flash off and on randomly. I have auto headlights and when it's in auto mode it will randomly flash off and on 1-2 times and keep repeating sometimes longer than others. When it's just my drls that are on it does the same as well as the switch being all the way on it will do the same and when it happens I hear clicking coming from somewhere in the dash. Brought it in for the "recall" but Kia tells. Me it only goes to 150k miles. This is absolutely an issue that needs to be addressed and not at the consumers cost. I'm not the only one this is happening to. Please help
Electrical complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Kia Sorento, 12% of the model year's 255 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Kia Sorento electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2018 Kia Sorento, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Kia Sorento electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.