2018 Kia Sorento vs 2020 Kia Sorento
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Kia Sorento | 2020 Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 248 | 131 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 195 | 85 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 11 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 20–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 46,225 mi | 20,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sorento | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 102 | 63 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 19 |
| Exterior Lighting | 41 | 5 |
| Steering | 26 | 4 |
| Power Train | 9 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 9 |
| Trailer Hitches | 7 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 23 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 23 | 12 |
| Oil consumption | 19 | 19 |
| Loss of power | 17 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 15 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 14 | 6 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 7 | 6 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
2018 Kia Sorento
2020 Kia Sorento
Compare all Kia Sorento vs Kia Sorento years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.