2018 Kia STINGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
23,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 67 complaints (32.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 19.4% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 13.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 22 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
Engine: 22; Electrical System: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Exterior Lighting: 7; Service Brakes: 7; Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2018: 3; 2019: 13; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 10; 2024: 8; 2025: 14; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11331154 · 2020-06-26 (June 26, 2020)
WENT TO CAR WASH TO DEGREASE ENGINE IN THE EVENING. CAR WAS PARKED IN CAR WASH BAY NOT RUNNING. SPRAYED GUNK ENGINE DEGREASER ON MOTOR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN A FEW SECONDS UNEXPECTEDLY. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. QUICKLY PUT FIRE OUT WITH WATER AND FUEL LEAKS AFTER CAREFUL INSPECTION AND ELECTRICAL WIRES FOUND BARE AND BURNT. NOT SURE IF THERE WAS A SHORT OR A FUEL LEAK PRESENT BEFORE USING GUNK DEGREASER BUT DID NOT EXPECT FIRE FOR DOING THIS. PREMIUM MODEL STINGER WITH 2.L T GDI ENGINE. LOVE THE CAR BUT DID NOT EXPECT THIS. :( REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11500841 · 2023-01-09 (January 9, 2023)
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Stinger. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence where it was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall on the vehicle for the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11500841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252579 · 2019-08-31 (August 31, 2019)
NEW CAR. AS SOON AS AROUND 4K MILES TO PRESENT 7K MILES, BRAKES ARE UNSAFE WITH SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION IN PEDAL WHEN BRAKING AT MODERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ANYTHING OVER 35-40MPH) UNDER ANY TYPE OF BRAKING. SUSPECTED FAULTY PADS WHICH ARE TOO SOFT LEAVING PAD RESIDUE ON ROTORS IMPACTING STOPPING POWER AND CREATING THE VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WHEN BRAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11252579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255555 · 2019-09-16 (September 16, 2019)
VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN STOPPING AT ANY SPEED SHAKES VIOLENTLY, STARTED ABOUT 6000 MILES AND CONTINUES EVEN AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11268266 · 2019-10-14 (October 14, 2019)
AN INJURY HAS NOT OCCURRED. THE DEALER DID NOT SEEK TO RESOLVE THE RECALL ISSUE. KIA MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN 2018 STINGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 20, 2017 THROUGH JUNE 8, 2018. THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE. THE FRONT WIRING HARNESS IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED TO FILE AN ONLINE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE SAFETY RECAL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11268266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286356 · 2019-12-02 (December 2, 2019)
VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE KNOCKING. THIS GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE AND WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY LOSE ALL POWER UPON TAKEOFF AT INTERSECTIONS CAUSING FOR DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS. KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTS AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM OR BUYBACK THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,828 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11512912 · 2023-03-20 (March 20, 2023)
Steering wheel began making noises that sounded like grinding of gears that sounded like it was coming from outside of the interior of the vehicle. The noise was heard loudly when turning the steering wheel after the car sat idle and occasionally after driving the car after several minutes of the car warming up. The noise occurred increasingly more frequent over 4 weeks. The steering also became more difficult with tension felt during turning the wheel. Eventually, the steering wheel locked completely during turning and became unable to turn th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11512912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11754211 · 2026-08-01 (August 1, 2026)
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 dangerous because it's trying to jerk you all around the road at no matter what speed you're doing.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11754211 at NHTSA ↗