2018 Kia Sportage recalls

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Sportage. Between them they involve trailer hitch, brakes and engine and cooling. The most recent was received on September 19, 2022.

Safety advisory on 2 campaigns

Park outside: campaign 22V-703 — Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving
Park outside: campaign 21V-137 — Engine Compartment Fire

September 19, 2022Trailer hitchPark outside

Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving

NHTSA campaign 22V-703 · 70,887 vehicles potentially affected · Trailer hitches

The defect: 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.

The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

The 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.
March 4, 2021BrakesPark outside

Engine Compartment Fire

NHTSA campaign 21V-137 · 379,931 vehicles potentially affected · Service brakes, hydraulic

The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.

The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

The remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
December 19, 2018Engine and cooling

High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak

NHTSA campaign 18V-907 · 71,653 vehicles potentially affected · Engine

The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

The remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Check by VIN

A campaign rarely covers every Sportage built in 2018. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.

Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.

Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.

What 2018 Kia Sportage owners should do

Check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup to see which of these campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether any are still open.
Call a Kia dealer and book the repair, quoting the campaign numbers (22V-703, 21V-137, 18V-907).
If you have bought the vehicle used, the recall still applies: the repair is free whoever owns the vehicle now.
Make sure your current address is on file with the manufacturer so the owner letters reach you.

Other Kia Sportage model years

Common questions

Does the 2018 Kia Sportage have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 campaigns for the 2018 Kia Sportage: 22V-703 (Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving); 21V-137 (Engine Compartment Fire); 18V-907 (High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak).

How do I know if my 2018 Kia Sportage has an open recall?

Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. Most campaigns cover only part of a model year’s production, and the lookup also shows whether the repair has already been done on your vehicle.

Is it safe to drive the 2018 Kia Sportage?

Campaign 22V-703 carries a “park outside” advisory. Campaign 21V-137 carries a “park outside” advisory. If your VIN is included in one of those campaigns, follow the advisory until the repair is done.