KIA / Sportage / 2020

2020 KIA Sportage problems

Owners have filed 205 complaints about the 2020 KIA Sportage with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 35.6% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of electrical system at 9.3%. A further 15.1% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints205

Crashes16

Fires18

Injuries11

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Engine 35.6% · 73

Unknown or other 15.1% · 31

Electrical system 9.3% · 19

Structure 4.9% · 10

Engine and engine cooling 4.4% · 9

Steering 3.9% · 8

Fuel/propulsion system 3.4% · 7

Forward collision avoidance 2.9% · 6

Severity

Of those complaints, 16 describe a crash, 18 describe a fire and 11 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 21 model years of the KIA Sportage in this data, 2020 sits 13th by complaint volume. 2017 draws the most.

Filings are rising — 119 in the last three years against 79 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 11,800 miles.

In owners' own words

Check engine light intermittently turned on for years. Took to dealership numerous times with no resolution. Was driving and vehicle overheated to the point I thought I was going to catch fire. Pulled over, had towed to dealership. They replaced 51 + parts and spent $15,900 on repairs just to give me back a vehicle that is a lemon. Car engine Revs louder than before. Terrifying after what was experienced. Engine

Just got my oil changed 2 weeks ago and the oil light came on, checked and there was no oil, so been adding oil and it keeps burning it up, after reading a bunch of forums I see that Iâm not the only one to have this issue. This isnât the first time Iâve had this issue, I figured first 2 times were accidental but now that Iâm on my 3rd time I believe that something is wrong. Engine

The engine stalls and starts up again when Iâm driving. There is a diagnostic code that says engine has internal damage and continuing driving it with out repair will damage the engines. The car burns gasoline very fast. I am reporting the issue as Iâm a mother with kids and itâs a safety issue is the engine stalls while Iâm driving and leaves me in an unsafe place. Engine

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other KIA Sportage years

2015 195 complaints · 43.1% engine 2016 183 complaints · 31.7% engine 2017 560 complaints · 39.1% engine 2018 226 complaints · 39.4% engine 2019 102 complaints · 34.3% engine 2023 310 complaints · 14.2% electrical system

Compare all 21 model years →