2018 Kia Sportage: Engine failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Sportage report: engine failure. CarComplaints.com lists 3 owner complaints, average mileage 11,950 miles.
NHTSA has 96 owner complaints for the 2018 Sportage in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11765480 (filed 09/19/2026): “The vehicle suffered a primary connecting rod bearing failure covered under the theta ii class action warranty campaign. a brand-new warranty engine long-block was installed by an authorized dealership. immediately upon vehicle pickup, the brand-new engine beg…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11763274 (filed 09/10/2026): “Shortly after driving away, before reaching a highway on-ramp, i noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. i turned around and returned to the location. by the time i arrived, the vehicle was emitting black smoke, and shortly after, it was fully engulfed in fire …”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: repair wiring harness (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .