KnownCarProblems2020 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (52% of complaints, typically around 63,000 miles). It is 10th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2020 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
84 complaints · 52%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles.
The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that driving at 25 MPH with her daughter, another driver on the opposite lane, alerted them that the engine was on fire. Upon checking the rearview mirror, the contact noticed black smoke. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off the…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who discovered metal shavings in the engine oil. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who…
Other or unspecified
31 complaints · 19%I was driving on the highway into pennsylvania at approximately 70 MPH (the speed limit) and all of a sudden my son and I hear a loud sound. It sounded like a gun shot and startled US both. I quickly looked around and above me I see a gaping hole in my panoramic sunroof and realize that my son and I are covered in…
I was driving on the highway on a clear day with no cars around me when my sunroof exploded. The glass was defect and the manufacture isn't trying to accept responsibility. The dealership will not confirm how the denial was determined nor will they produce a formal denial letter. The biggest issue in my opinion is I…
Electrical
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 12,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, ignition.
I was driving and I began smelling a burning smell when I hit the brakes. The smell has gotten stronger and not gone away. I made an appointment at the dealership after finding out there was recalls on vehicle that were my make and model and the recall described exactly what was happening. The dealership was not…
Animals are chewing on the wires, causing the electrical system to fail while driving. This has happened multiple times in a car less than a year old
Brakes
12 complaints · 7%While driving/turning left out of a school parking lot, the light turned green, all cars starting moving. Going about 10-12 MPH, the car in front slams on breaks, the safety feature alerted me as well but when attempted to press on the brakes, they were resisting. I could not brake and had no control of stopping. The…
The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, he and his wife began to smell a fuel odor emitting from the vehicle without warning. Soon after smelling the fuel, a flame had ignited from the engine as a dark, black smoke began to emit from the vehicle. The contact immediately…
Body and structure
10 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: body.
I was driving on the highway into pennsylvania at approximately 70 MPH (the speed limit) and all of a sudden my son and I hear a loud sound. It sounded like a gun shot and startled US both. I quickly looked around and above me I see a gaping hole in my panoramic sunroof and realize that my son and I are covered in…
I was driving on the highway on a clear day with no cars around me when my sunroof exploded. The glass was defect and the manufacture isn't trying to accept responsibility. The dealership will not confirm how the denial was determined nor will they produce a formal denial letter. The biggest issue in my opinion is I…
Driver assistance
8 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, assist, warnings, blind spot detection.
Fuel system
8 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: storage.
Steering
8 complaints · 5%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 Kia Sportage recalls
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 11, 2023. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc249.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 sorento, 2021-2022 sorento hybrid (hev), 2022-2023 sorento plug-in hybrid (phev), and 2017-2022 sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (pcb) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (epb) will also receive a hecu software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on april 30, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc206.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 sportage and cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Questions about the 2020 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (84 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles); other or unspecified (31 complaints); electrical (19 complaints, typically around 12,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Sportage have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 19, 2022 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2020 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is 10th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints, with 162 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.