On October 25, 2026, at approximately 6:16 PM, while driving east on I-78 in Newark, New Jersey, my 2018 Kia Sportage caught fire in the engine compartment. There was no crash. Everyone in the vehicle got out safely and there were no injuries. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire department and New Jersey State Police responded (NJSP case D030202601287R). My insurer, Travelers (claim JFJ1199-001), has handled the total loss. I later learned of the federal safety agency recall 21V‑137 (Kia SC206), a fire risk caused by a short circuit in the HECU (hydraulic electronic control unit). A VIN check showed no open recalls on my vehicle, so I do not know whether the recall repair was ever performed or whether the defect caused this fire. I am reporting the fire so it is on the record.
2018 Kia Sportage: fire, smoke or burning smell
12 of the 166 complaints about the 2018 Kia Sportage describe fire, smoke or burning smell.
- owner complaints
- 12
- of this car's complaints
- 7%
- recalls
- 0
Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year
What owners say
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 before I could retrieve a fire extinguisher. Vehicle has a documented history of a known manufacturer recall related to an electrical/HECU component and a separate high-pressure fuel pipe recall, both reportedly remedied prior to this incident
1. Component or System Malfunction & Availability Component/System Failed: An unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer Reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for Inspection: No. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety Risk Assessment The vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my 21-year-old son, Brennan Font, when the incident occurred. The sudden presence of heavy smoke and intense heat entering the cabin while traveling at high speeds created an immediate, life-threatening hazard. This forced an emergency pullover on the shoulder of a busy freeway. Moments after exiting, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, presenting a severe risk of explosion and injury to the driver and passing motorists. 3. Verification & Third-Party Inspection Reproduced/Confirmed by Dealer: No, the sudden and destructive nature of the failure prevented any prior diagnostic testing. Inspected by Manufacturer/Authorities: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. However, the incident was handled and documented on-scene by local authorities. A formal police report was filed by the Ventura Police Department (Report Number: 26-31369, responding officer: Officer Steinberger). 4. Warning Symptoms and Timeline There were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, check engine lights, or abnormal symptoms leading up to the failure. The onset of heavy smoke and heat was sudden and instantaneous. 5. Detailed Incident Description Brennan immediately steered the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway. As soon as he brought the vehicle to a stop and attempted to park, open flames breached the hood of the car. He successfully exited the vehicle without injury and immediately dialed 911. The vehicle burned completely before the fire could be extinguished. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Component/System Failed: An unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer Reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for Inspection: No. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety Risk Assessment The vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my [XXX] [XXX [XXX] incident occurred. The sudden presence of heavy smoke and intense heat entering the cabin while traveling at high speeds created an immediate, life-threatening hazard. This forced an emergency pullover on the shoulder of a busy freeway. Moments after exiting, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, presenting a severe risk of explosion and injury to the driver and passing motorists. 3. Verification & Third-Party Inspection Reproduced/Confirmed by Dealer: No, the sudden and destructive nature of the failure prevented any prior diagnostic testing. Inspected by Manufacturer/Authorities: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. However, the incident was handled and documented on-scene by local authorities. A formal police report was filed by the Ventura Police Department (Report Number: 26-31369, responding officer: Officer [XXX] ). [XXX] ymptoms and Timeline There were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, check engine lights, or abnormal symptoms leading up to the failure. The onset of heavy smoke and heat was sudden and instantaneous. 5. Detailed Incident Description [XXX] immediat [XXX] red the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway. As soon as he brought the vehicle to a stop and attempted to park, open flames breached the hood of the car. He successfully exited the vehicle without injury and immediately dialed 911. The vehicle burned completely before the fire could be extinguished. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The oil was leaking somewhere not on the motor not under the car not blowing black smoke. I kept adding oil to it. No oil light. I was told not to park between 2 houses or in my garage it could catch on fire. I took it in several times and they did all kinds of stuff motor wash knock sensor was replaced wiring harness was corroded was slipping out of gear and other issues. And now it doesn't run because of the motor issue and they refused to fix it because I didn't have oil change receipts they are the ones that took care of that there was no oil to change I kept adding it. I have all of the detailed work invoices of what they did to it. I've been without a car for a year now they said it's not under warranty my car has several of the recalls. They wouldn't do all of the stuff they did if it wasn't necessary and trying to locate the problem.
On 1/26/2024 approximately 9am, my husband had been driving on the highway for about 2 hours and pulled over to shut his eyes for a few minutes. He shut off the engine, closed his eyes and immediately smelled smoke. Black smoke began coming from under the hood and quickly got worse. He quickly got out of the car and walked away. He heard a loud pop sound and the engine area was engulfed in flames. He called 911. It took about 10 min for the fire dept to arrive and by then, the fire was being fed by the gas in the tank. They tried to put out the fire but the car burnt completely due to the gasoline. No one was hurt, thank goodness. There were no active lawsuits that I could find to get some compensation for this loss. We had to pay our high deductible and lost personal belongings in the car. This car did have an ongoing oil consumption issue. We had to replace the oil more frequently than normally required and it used much more oil than normal. We were told we had to wait for engine failure to get any kind of resolution.
The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to approximately 45 MPH, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact and her daughter who was inside the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle safely. The contact stated that the fire had started under the hood of the vehicle and totally engulfed the entire vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Fire Department report was filed. The contact and her daughter sustained smoke inhalation and sought medical assistance. The vehicle was towed and was deemed a total loss. The contact inquired about possible recalls on the vehicle and was informed that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the vehicle had not been repaired under the recall because the contact was unaware of the recall. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.
Sudden strong hot fire smell out of nowhere. Immediately looked at my C to H gauge. It was not on C yet not all the way on H. I immediately looked for smoke/fire from vehicles in front of me as I have seen semis and diesel trucks appear or actually on fire while traveling. No more than Iook I up and look back down at the gauge which was now over halfway now closer to H, smell was stronger and smoke seen seeping through my instrument dashboard and honestly I was having a brief moment where it didn't seem real (between military trauma and fear of burning up in a vehicle). I was right at a stoplight so very quickly smoke started to engulf my engine hood coming out of all sides and I felt it was about to explode as quick as the smell and clouds appeared. I took an immediate left turn and quickly pulled into the parking lot near and immediately got out and called 911. Someone seen it up in smoke and told me he thought it smelled like a fire. I informed him 911 was coming. Two fire engines showed up along with EMS & police along with about 3 non fire engine volunteers. As I turned the vehicle off immediately prior to 911, the smoke started to subside outside of the vehicle. A firefighter in charge informed it was a fire risk/hazard, do not turn on and to contact KIA right way to report...have towed. I have been informed there was huge amounts of oil loss at one time, engine leak concern involving an oil feed tube. I was informed by dealership that so much oil spilling out that a fire could have started if it did not. Firefighters showed sprayed oil to the back of the vehicle under hood that should not ever be there and recommended to not drive.
The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed black smoke billowing from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power, prompting him and his wife to evacuate the vehicle in the middle of the roadway. While attempting to retrieve important belongings from the vehicle, the contact stated that he heard what sounded to be an explosion within the engine compartment, causing him to fall backward and sprain his ankle. Moments later the front end of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and needed a total loss by the contact insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The contact later transported himself to an appointment with his primary care physician after experiencing physiological symptoms consistent with a cardiovascular event and was treated for angina. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the manufacturer intended to inspect the vehicle but stated that the inspection had yet to take place. The failure mileage was 55,000.
I was driving to work, sitting at a stoplight when my car started releasing smoke from under the hood. All warning lights lit up, the car stalled, and the smoke got darker and more intense. Within a minute, flames started appearing under the front of the vehicle and began spreading towards the back of the car
Tl* the contact owned a 2018 kia sportage. The contact stated that while approaching a school zone and entering the school lot at about 5 MPH, there was grey smoke coming from under the hood. The contact exit his child from the vehicle and parked the vehicle to inspect it that was when the hood was opened. The contact discovered that the vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was contacted. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact mentioned the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine) as a possible solution to the failure however the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The entire car caught fire. All electric wires caught fire and the car it was park in my house .
Service bulletins that may apply
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (SC340 flight 105)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: theta II 2.4L GDI emission secm logic improvement (SC340 rev 4)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: dealer parts and service manager memo (SC340)
- Voluntary emissions service campaign: SC340_POC: proof of correction card
- SC340_STKR: voluntary emissions service campaign completion label/sticker
- Customer satisfaction: anti-theft s/w logic upgreade $ decal installation (CS2302)
- Product improvement campaign: engine replacement instructions for DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/z)
- Customer satisfaction: kia genuine remote start control module upgrade for anti-theft logic compatibility...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2018 Kia Sportage fire or smoke
Is fire, smoke or burning smell a common problem on the 2018 Kia Sportage?
12 of 166 owner complaints about the 2018 Kia Sportage (7%) mention fire, smoke or burning smell. The model year with the most reports is 2017.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Kia Sportage?
There are 0 recalls and 36 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 Kia Sportage
Engine failure 31Check engine light 27Oil consumption 22Knocking 13Loss of power 9Stalling 9Jerking 6Misfire 5Won't shift 5
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