2018 Kia Sorento Safety Rating — 5 Stars Overall
NHTSA rates the 2018 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. Check a specific Sorento’s crash and title history below.
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2018 Kia Sorento— By the Numbers
- Overall rating
- 5★
- Frontal crash
- 5★
- Side crash
- 5★
- Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
- 15.8%
- Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
- 3
Overall rating
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
Quick Answer
- What is the 2018 Kia Sorento safety rating?
- NHTSA rates the 2018 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
- Did NHTSA test every part of the 2018 Kia Sorento?
- Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD.
- Does the 2018 Kia Sorento have recalls or complaints on file?
- NHTSA's record for this version lists 3 recall campaigns, 252 owner complaints and 1 investigation. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
What NHTSA did — and did not — test
A star rating is only as complete as the tests behind it. This is which of NHTSA's four crash tests the 2018 Kia Sorento actually went through.
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD.
2018 Kia Sorento crash-test ratings
Front-drive or all-wheel drive, the stars come out identical; the versions differ only by a sliver of calculated rollover risk, and rollover is the weakest rating for each.
NHTSA rates the 2018 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover.
Forward collision and lane departure warnings were optional this year, so the stars say nothing about whether a given car has them. Owner complaints also far outnumber recalls in this file, and an investigation appears in the record.
Recalls, complaints and investigations
NHTSA keeps these alongside the crash-test results for the 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD. They answer a different question: not how the vehicle was built to perform in a crash, but what owners and the agency have reported since.
A recall campaign covers a range of vehicles; whether the repair was done on a particular car is a per-VIN question. Check open recalls by VIN.
The rating is for the SorentoNHTSA crashed. Check the one you’re buying.
Salvage and rebuilt brands, reported accidents and odometer records follow the VIN.
Inspecting a used 2018 Sorento
The ratings describe the Sorento as it left the factory. A car that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt, or had its airbags replaced is no longer the car NHTSA tested.
Confirm which driver aids this car actually has: look for a radar sensor in the grille or front bumper and a camera housing at the top of the windshield, then check the settings menu for collision and lane warnings. Trim and option packages decide this, not the model year.
Run the VIN for open recalls and ask for dealer paperwork showing completed campaign work. The record also lists an investigation, and investigations can end in recalls, so check the VIN again close to purchase.
On an all-wheel-drive example, confirm the system works as it should: listen for binding or clunks on tight, slow turns, and look for fluid weeping at the rear differential and the transfer unit behind the engine.
Every rated version of the 2018 Kia Sorento
NHTSA rates body styles and drivetrains separately, and the results are not always the same. Match the version to the car you are looking at.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15.8% |
| 2018 Kia Sorento SUV AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15.0% |
How NHTSA's current ratings work
NHTSA announced new NCAP crash tests and rating criteria in July 2008, including a new overall rating that combines the frontal, side and rollover results. It then postponed the change by a year: the new criteria apply to vehicles tested beginning with model year 2011, not 2010 as first announced.
In NHTSA's own words, its rollover resistance ratings “estimate the risk of rollover if a vehicle is involved in a single-vehicle crash.”
One limit applies to every vehicle here. NHTSA notes that the frontal crash rating “depends on vehicle mass, and cannot be compared across vehicle weight classes” — a full-size truck's frontal stars and a compact car's are not the same measure.
- Federal Register, 73 FR 79206 (Dec. 24, 2008) — new NCAP criteria begin with model year 2011
- Federal Register, 73 FR 40016 (July 11, 2008) — NCAP testing and rating changes, including the overall rating
- Federal Register, 68 FR 59250 (Oct. 14, 2003) — NCAP rollover resistance ratings
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Compare and keep going
Nearby model years and the same make, rated by NHTSA.
5 stars overall
5 stars overall
Rated before the current program
5 stars overall
Whether a recall was repaired on one specific car.
Reported crashes and damage after the car left the factory.
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2018 Kia Sorento Safety FAQ
What NHTSA’s record shows for this model year, and what it cannot tell you about one car.
What is the 2018 Kia Sorento safety rating?+
NHTSA rates the 2018 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
Did NHTSA test every part of the 2018 Kia Sorento?+
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Kia Sorento SUV FWD.
Does the 2018 Kia Sorento have recalls or complaints on file?+
NHTSA's record for this version lists 3 recall campaigns, 252 owner complaints and 1 investigation. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
Can I compare the 2018 Kia Sorento's stars with a newer model?+
Yes, with other vehicles rated under NHTSA's current program (model year 2011 onward). Stars from before then came from different tests.
Does a good safety rating mean a used Sorento is safe to buy?+
A rating describes the vehicle as it left the factory. A used Sorento that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt from salvage, or had an airbag replaced is no longer the vehicle NHTSA tested. A VIN check reads its title brands, salvage and accident records from NMVTIS.
Five stars at the factory. What about since?
A crash rating can’t see a salvage title, a rebuilt frame or a replaced airbag. The VIN record can.
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