RoadVitals

2018 Kia Sorento Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 22, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 248 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Mar 22, 2026

Paint is peeling on the roof of my Kia by the windshield. No incident has happened this is a manufacturer defect.. My car has never been involved in a car accident. No incidents.

NHTSA ID
11726157
Incident
Mar 21, 2026
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2025

2018 Kia Sorento. Snow White Pearl paint started delaminating at about 45,000 miles. Now it has 51,000 miles and I have multiple spots where it is delaminating on the hood, front bumper, and fender. Also, where the paint is delaminating I am also starting to see small chips on the paint below since the clear coat is gone. I cant believe my car paint is having issues and it only has 51,000 miles on it. It has been stored in a garage for the life of the car.

NHTSA ID
11657908
Incident
Aug 1, 2024
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 9, 2024

While driving, heard a LOUD noise like a large rock hit the top of my 2018 kia sorento SXL, which I just purchased four days ago with 44,441 miles on it~ when I stopped to inspect the panorama sunroof, front panel was shattered could see no impact point of a rock or anything hitting it- researching online seems this happens a lot to Kia vehicles with a panorama sunroof. Also Hyundai and BMW ~seems there is a defect in the material with this occurring for no apparent reason in different weather conditions -garage kept or whatever ~ also read where a repair man stated to a customer plan on it happening again in a year~ lot of sorento issues with this problem- I could have wrecked my car- when exploded it was loud and frightening- just occurred yesterday, so have not reported it to manufacturer -insurance company- anyone With all the complaints from 2011-present it should have already been a recall or the problem fixed

NHTSA ID
11571009
Incident
Feb 8, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jul 25, 2023

The Pearl white paint is peeling off and has been for awhile. It’s getting worse.

NHTSA ID
11534406
Incident
Jan 1, 2023
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Feb 23, 2021
Crash reported

MY SON WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45-55 MPH WHEN HE OVERCORRECTED AND MADE FULL IMPACT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH A SOLID SNOW BANK IN THE MIDDLE MEDIAN. THE RADIATOR WAS SLAMMED BACKWARDS, THE FRONT END WAS DEMOLISHED WITH AROUND $12,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN FIND THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RATING BUT NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR AIR BAGS. WILL THEY PROTECT US IF THIS SHOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN?

NHTSA ID
11397573
Incident
Feb 13, 2021
Mileage
68,702 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 3, 2021

MY KIA SORENTO BACK HATCH (REAR DOOR) IS NOT OPENING, IT CLICKS WITH THE KEY FOB AND THE MANUAL HANDLE, BUT IT NEEDS A LIFT BY HAND TO BE ABLE TO OPEN, I DID A WEB SEARCH AN THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11386286
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 8, 2020
Fire reported

I WAS TRAVELING TO FLORIDA AND SAW SPARKS IN THE MIRRORS IN THE BACK. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND WENT TO THE BACK AND SAW FIRE, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE EVERYBODY GOT OUT, WE TRIED TO PUT IT OUT BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS AN ACCELERRENT OR SOMETHING CAUSE IT WAS ENGULFED WITH FIRE VERY FAST ONCE WE STOPPED THE WHOLE CAR WAS BURNING.+WE WERE ON 65 SOUTH IN KENTUCKY JUST DRIVING ,NO RAIN ROADS WERE DRY.

NHTSA ID
11378575
Incident
Nov 21, 2020
Mileage
36,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2019

VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKED STATIONARY POSITION, TRIED TO OPEN SUN ROOF AND HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE. PANORAMIC SUNROOF GLASS CRACKED HORIZONTALLY CLEAR ACROSS ROOF AND MET WITH GLASS PARTICLES ALL OVER.

NHTSA ID
11246592
Incident
Jun 22, 2019
Body & structureEngine
Filed Nov 20, 2018
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY ABOUT THREE MILES FROM HOME GOING 50 MPH. I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HWY. AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED MY DOOR AND OPENED THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I DID, FLAMES AND SMOKE BEGAN TO SHOOT OUT FROM THE HOOD AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE WHOLE CAR WAS CONSUMED WITH FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED A VEHICLE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS BOTH RESPONDED WITHIN MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, I NOTED ALL THE DOORS AND THE HATCH HAD LOCKED AT SOME POINT DURING THE FIRE. I CONTACTED CUMBERLAND KIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO NOTIFY THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON.

NHTSA ID
11152866
Incident
Nov 19, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .