2018 KIA Stinger Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Stinger years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Stinger. That is the most of any Stinger model year in the database (6 years). The most reported problem area is engine (23 complaints, 33%), typically at around 33,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 69owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 KIA Stinger problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 33% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 16% | 8,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 14% | 55,700 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 10% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 10% | 11,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 9% | 8,828 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 7% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% | 83,270 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 4% | 8,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 4% | 6,900 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 4% | 17,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 3% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 9,200 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 KIA Stinger recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger:hoses/plumbing
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019-2020 K900, and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter turbo gasoline direct injection engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 26, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC300.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. The fuel control valve plunger may stick inside the high pressure fuel pump, causing over-pressurization and loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, inspect, and replace the fuel pump as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC281.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines on August 27, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Kia expanded the recall population and added certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. While driving, an engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) is located.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuse kit in the electrical junction box, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC196.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2018 Kia Stinger vehicles. The front wiring harness located in the engine and passenger compartment may get damaged from contacting a burr on the left fender body panel.
Risk: The damaged wiring harness may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness for damage. If no damage is found, a cover will be installed. If damage is found, the wiring harness will be replaced and a cover will be installed, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC170.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
(2018 kia stinger gt2 awd) vin:[XXX] The above-referenced vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine failure directly resulting from a ruptured turbocharger oil feed lineâthe exact defect covered by federal Safety Recall SC300. The vehicle was rendered inoperable and was transported to Kia Store…
Seat belt clicks in, registers as being put on by dash sensor but comes unbuckled when force pushes it forward. Latch is not fully catching on drivers seat.
On XXX my son picked up his 2018 Kia Stinger (VIN [XXX]) from Ken Garff Honda Riverdale, UT after a routine oil change, filter change, and tire rotation (RO# 5026743). About 3 hours later, while driving on [XXX] near [XXX], he noticed a burning smell, then saw smoke coming from the front of the…
While driving the steering wheel jerks back and forth as if it's trying to help assist in keeping in lanes even with the lane assistant off and it doesn't matter what speed it jerks the whole time. The steering wheel will also move on its own back and forth while in a parked position too. It's very…
My vehicle is exhibiting a loss of drive power, particularly uphill, with a diagnostic code of P0088 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too High). This is the same defect addressed by recall campaign 23V634000 (Kia SC281), covering the high-pressure fuel pump / fuel control valve plunger on 2018-2021…
Other KIA Stinger years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Stinger | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 Stinger | 18 | 1 |
| 2021 Stinger | 17 | 5 |
| 2020 Stinger | 16 | 6 |
| 2019 Stinger | 44 | 3 |
| 2018 | 69 | 4 |
See all KIA Stinger problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA Stinger?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 23 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Stinger?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 KIA Stinger a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Stinger model years, the 2018 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.