Complaint volume
156 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Kia Sportage Complaints
156 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Kia Sportage, grouped by component category.
156 Total complaints
11 Crash reports
11 Fire reports
7 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 11 crash reports, 11 fire reports, 7 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 37 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 33,736 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Kia Sportage?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Kia Sportage
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Kia Sportage complaints?
11 Crash
11 Fire
7 Injury
0 Fatality
11 Towed
6 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Kia Sportage complaint categories?
ENGINE 62
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6
SERVICE BRAKES 5
STRUCTURE 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 4
STEERING 4
TRAILER HITCHES 3
156 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | ENGINE | I was driving home and the car kind of jerked, like it was down shifting, and the engine light came on. If I had to stop, it would almost stall out. When I got home I checked the oil and it was bone dry, however, my oil light never came on and I am diligent about oil and filter changes. I added oil to it, but the engine light still is on (flashing). The recall shows two, one for the hitch and one for an engine fire. I only received one for the hitch. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ENGINE | While I was driving on a very busy road (hurstbourne parkway in Louisville KY) during 5:00pm rush hour traffic my car stalled and died on me. We tried to jump it but it would not turn on and I had to have it towed. My life was put at risk as this was a high traffic area during rush hour traffic ( I have anxiety and even had an anxiety attack). I had no warning! No warning lights came on, no noises causing concern. I did not even have time to pull over to a safe spot. It literally shut off right there and would not come back on again. The dealer says it needs a new engine. My car is only 5 years old/ I’ve only have it for 9 months with no issues detected at purchase. My car was running fine with no issues, no concerning sounds or lights until it did this. I have taken very good care of this car and can show proof of oil changes upon request. I feel unsafe driving this vehicle with my 6 month old son and 3 year old daughter in it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My car has the same issues as the Kia Soul and Kia Sorento. Kia has issued recalls for certain Soul and Sorento models due to various issues. A significant recall involves the 2020-2021 Soul and 2021 Seltos with 2.0L Nu MPI engines, where the piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, potentially leading to engine damage and even fires. Additionally, some 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 models have been recalled due to a potential loss of drive power caused by a faulty transmission oil pump. I purchased my car within the same time frame between 2020 - 2021 as well. Many mechanics have also told me the fast oil burn issue has been happening to a lot of Kia Sportages as well. I have also been told by Kia dealership they have stopped selling my particular model for a while now as well. My engine is having issues, and the air in my car is also not working as well. Please help assist in this concern of mine and the issue that is very relevent and related to the Kia Soul and Kia Sorento. Thank you! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ENGINE | My 2020 Kia vehicle experienced a potential engine failure while driving, entering “limp mode.” It was towed to Kia on the Boulevard (Philadelphia, PA) on August 3, 2025, under warranty coverage. The vehicle has remained inoperable since. Kia initially accepted my oil change receipts but later rejected them for alleged “nonconformance to PA invoice regulations.” This change in requirements was never disclosed before submission. The rejection appears intended to delay or deny warranty coverage, leaving me without transportation and creating ongoing safety concerns if the vehicle were to be returned without proper repair. The service manager stated in writing that the warranty is “not denied” yet still invoiced me for diagnostic fees. I have not received the requested warranty denial letter, copy of my warranty, or the specific clause supporting their rejection of my receipts. This raises concerns over Kia’s warranty handling practices, which could leave other consumers at risk if safety-related repairs are delayed or denied on similar grounds. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | STRUCTURE | Clear coat began peeling from side mirrors about a year ago. It is now peeling aggressively on the rear liftgate cover/spoiler. This seems common and is very unsightly. Only impacts the plastic parts. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | Dear NHTSA, I am writing to update you regarding a prior concern I raised about the premature engine failure on my 2020 Kia Sportage at just over 66,000 miles. While I was not covered under Kia’s powertrain warranty due to being the second owner, the dealership—Kia Cornerstone in Elk River, MN—has now agreed to submit a goodwill reimbursement request to Kia America on my behalf for the $7,500 engine replacement. At this time, I have not yet received reimbursement, and there is no set timeline for when the funds will be issued. However, the dealership has acknowledged responsibility to submit the request and follow through with Kia corporate. I wanted to provide this update as a matter of record and to ensure that this case remains visible should further follow-up be needed. I continue to hope Kia will do the right thing and take responsibility for a major failure that occurred well below industry expectations for engine longevity. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE | The car started making a knocking noise. I got it checked out and nothing showed up on the diagnostic. Today I was driving and it wouldn’t go over 65 and the engine light keeps blinking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that weeks after having an oil change, the oil warning light became illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where the oil change was performed, and the contact was informed that the failure was common for the model vehicle. The contact was advised to have the oil topped off every 6 weeks due to the failure. The contact then stated that while driving 45 MPH, there was an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that three unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle started to lose motive power. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and remained for several days before the vehicle could be diagnosed. The dealer asked for receipts of the oil changes and the contact provided the receipts available. The contact was later informed that since there were missing receipts, the engine would not be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | On May 19, 2025 I was driving down the highway at approximately 70mph and experienced a loud explosion sound and my panoramic sunroof exploded. I did have the sunshade closed so I was not hit with any debris. I did swerve and narrowly avoided an accident. There were no warnings before this happened. I was not passing under any bridges or immediately behind any vehicles (there were vehicles to the side and behind me). I took the automobile to the Kia dealership and they filed a claim with Kia Consumer Affairs and a representative came out and told them they needed to file with Kia Tech Line. They did that weeks ago, to no response. The dealership actually called me today and told me to try to contact Kia Consumer affairs ourselves to see if they would respond to us. I did see that there have been reports of this previously and class-action lawsuits for this issue. The Kia dealership guy said they had a customer that this had also happened to and when we went to get a rental car Enterprise told us that they also had a customer with a Kia in the last two weeks that had the same thing happen to them. My Kia is still at the dealership and is available for inspection as it has not been repaired yet because they were waiting for Kia. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | My car shut down in the middle of the road one day to work on the 4/17/25. I toll the suv to dealer and I paid $299 to find out what is the problem and the problem is that I need a new engine that cause $10000 . I am cover under power train warranty to fix my engine and dealer warranty refuse to give me a new engine. They told drive to drive it home. While driving home it broke down again on 5/19/25. I paid $75 to toll it to my house. The first time it broke down I paid $139.05. While it was at the dealership I paid $1520 for rental. Kia knows that these engine is on recalls and refuse to repair instead they in danger my life every time the Kia break down. These are all out of pocket expenses that I paid when it broke down and they refuse to help me. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | Engine is burning oil, having to continuously add. No low oil light coming on. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally, with the check oil and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the spark plugs, ignition coils, valves, and piston rings needed be replaced, and an oil consumption test needed to be performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 80,000 |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the contact discovered smoke coming from the engine compartment and from out of the A/C unit; the contact pulled to the side of the road as she discovered that the engine compartment, the front driver side and passenger side of the vehicle, and underneath the vehicle had caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. The origin of the fire was unknown. The vehicle was occupied during the fire. The contact's spouse sustained burns from attempting to extinguish the fire that he discovered had spread onto him and the contact's clothes while they were still driving. Once all of the passengers had safely exited the vehicle, the vehicle exploded. Medical attention was sought. A fire department and police report was filed. A dealer was not contacted however, the vehicle was pronounced totaled at the scene. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Injuries: 1 Medical attention | 11,000 |
| Apr 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | On October 27th my 5 year old daughter and I were driving home just after leaving Tiresplus getting four brand new tires and an oil change. On the way home out of no where my vehicle caught fire. Driving down the highway, once noticing the car was on fire, no warning no nothing- until I hit the breaks which did not work cause they were completely burnt. Within moments of thinking how I am going to get to my child in her car seat and save myself I went into the median of the highway thinking grass would slow me down. Once the car was going about 30 MPH I opened my driver door fearing we would be locked in the burning vehicle. As soon as I opened my door my legs were burning, I unbuckled my seat belt and jumped out of the car. Only to get up and chase the vehicle to get my 5 year old out. The car was fully engolfed in flames when approaching the vehicle thinking my daughter was dead. By the grace of god she unbuckled her self, climbed through the center counsel out the driver door and jumped into my arms! We were down to seconds of dying. Breaks didn’t work, nothing told me the car was hot, the trauma we endured. No one has taken responsibility for this and it’s frustrating that I owe money on the vehicle with full coverage and gap insurance still. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | This is the second time my check engine light popped up blinking they said it was a knock sensor and that was gonna fix the problem and that wasn’t the case. Said there was two recalls on certain Kia Sportage but not all but this has been with these Kia cars and it very frustrating that now I’m stuck without my car when the first thing came up with the knock sensor they should have replaced the engine they kept giving me the run around my engine was going bad after that and I reach out to multiple dealerships to see what the noise was in my engine and everyone kept telling me no you’re fine. You’re fine. You have a lot of life left in it and that was not the case. My engine been failing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ENGINE | The engine stalls and starts up again when I’m 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 I’m a mother with kids and it’s a safety issue is the engine stalls while I’m driving and leaves me in an unsafe place. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,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 I’m not the only one to have this issue. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this issue, I figured first 2 times were accidental but now that I’m on my 3rd time I believe that something is wrong. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | [XXX] the vehicle was driven approx. 20-25 miles and parked at a local grocery store in front of the propane tanks. No warning lights came on. Regular maintenance on vehicle. The vehicle caught on fire and was extinguished by the local FD. Total loss. Case filed with kia to request an investigation however no timely response. The vehicle is at the insurance auction yard now and we are waiting on guidance for an investigation regarding the start of the fire. No guidance given and insurance would like to settle the claim, however we would like to know why/where the fire started. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ENGINE | The contact's parents owned a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact's parent stated that the vehicle was parked and turned off at a local grocery store. The contact's parents were informed that the front of the vehicle had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A Police report was not filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Towed | 75,000 |
| Jan 2025 | ENGINE | My vehicle (and I've heard from others with a Sportage) has been burning oil with no errors. I regularly get my oil changed. My last oil change, I had no oil and didn't know (oil change every 5000 miles or less). After this oil change and before next is due, I looked and oil is burned up again. Concerning due to the age of vehicle and this should not happen. Again, I'm seeing this happening to others with the same vehicle. Several online discussions and doesn't seem to be a one off issue and a recall may be required. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact heard a loud popping sound, and the sunroof glass shattered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Dec 2024 | ENGINE | I have a 2020 Kia Sportage and the engine failed at 48,000 mi. Car has two attempted thefts as well as one actual theft. Car Also has software upgrade required hello, car was still stolen after software upgrade was implemented as well as steering wheel lock. Car damage windows bus. Cars steering wheel locks stolen damaged door handles scratches to vehicle. I have not had this car for almost 47 days. I am behind in payments as well as still receiving premium insurance increases. This car is still able to be stolen although the software upgrades from Kia promise have not exactly worked. I am wishing for any resolution to this situation. Asking for help. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ENGINE | On 12/1/24 I was driving my Kia Sportageto my home around 3pm. The car seemed completely fine and out of no where there was a large knocking noise and the car shut off and would not restart. I was in the middle of a main road and put me in a position of danger as oncoming cars were unable to see my hazards and I was almost hit several times till it was safe to get out of the vehicle. As of right now I was denied warranty work and I am still working with the dealer for a solution. What bothers me is I just spent $3000 less than 2 months ago to replace a cam actuator and timing chain and never once was a blown engine mentioned to me or that I should be concerned about one. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | WHEELS | Car rolled down the hill despite being on Park with Parking breaks engaged | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | Brakes, yes When the issue is happening, we loose the ability to stop promptly and with ease. The entire vehicle shakes, and it metal on metal. Yes, we've taken our car to a Kia, as well as 2 other companies. Kia did an inspection and told us that it was rust. There are no warning sounds or alarms. We average needing to take the car in every 6 months but having said that we just took the car in, in October and it is already making sounds. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |