2020 Kia SPORTAGE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2020 Kia SPORTAGE has 197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: kia sent me a letter telling me my car is subject to a "product improvement program" which requires a program update to my cars engine control unit. this is because my engine may experience catastrophic bearing failure possibly destroying the engine. my complaint is that this notice should be a rec. ⚠️ 17 fire reports filed.
197
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
77 complaints- • KIA SENT ME A LETTER TELLING ME MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO A "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM" WHICH REQUIRES A PROGRAM UPDATE TO MY CARS ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS BECAUSE MY ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE POSSIBLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE A REC
- • MY CAR WOULDN'T START TWICE. WHEN I DID GET IT TO START, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE ON THE FREEWAY, THE GEARS DID NOT CHANGE UNTIL AFTER 45 MPH. THIS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE MY FIRST MONTHLY PAYMENT AND I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 56 MILES ON IT.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT WAS AT A RED LIGHT WHEN A SMOKE ODOR WAS DETECTED AND ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED HIM THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE, HE SAW FLAMES IGNITING UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND MOMEN
“KIA SENT ME A LETTER TELLING ME MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO A "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM" WHICH REQUIRES A PROGRAM UPDATE TO MY CARS ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS BECAUSE MY ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE POSSIBLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE A REC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
34 complaints- • THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS UNABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY MOVE UP DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE EYESIGHT MECHANISM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. A PERSON OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BODY SIZE CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SINCE IT'S MOVEMENT RANGE WILL NOT ALLOW THE MIRROR TO MOVE UP. THIS IS A DES
- • 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
- • MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDER RECALL SINCE MARCH 4TH OF 2021. HOWEVER, EVERY KIA DEALER I HAVE CONTACTED HAS SAID MY SPORTAGE DOESN'T HAVE ONE, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE MEETS THE PARAMETERS OF MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND MANUFACTURING DATE. THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER IS SC206A AND THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER I
“THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS UNABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY MOVE UP DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE EYESIGHT MECHANISM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. A PERSON OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BODY SIZE CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SINCE IT'S MOVEMENT RANGE WILL NOT ALLOW THE MIRROR TO MOVE UP. THIS IS A DES”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
18 complaints- • 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
- • 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 DEALE
- • THE SCREEN IN CAR GOES COMPLETELY BLANK AND WILL NOT GO BACK ON TILL YOU TURN CAR BACK ON. BLIND SPOT WARNING DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK ON HIGHWAY COLLISION LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THERE ISN'T ANYONE IN FRONT OF YOU BACKROADS AND HIGHWAY.
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
12 complaints- • 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 CONTRO
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V137000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STERLING KIA (197 N. EARL RUDDER FWY, BRYAN, TX 77802) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRME
- • The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall re
“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 CONTRO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
10 complaints- • 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
- • 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 ISS
- • I am concerned with the liftgate/trunk panel latching/operation. On our liftgate/trunk it falls sometimes and comes down on you while you are still in the way. My wife was slightly injured on her head, when it malfunctioned, and she was in the way when it came down. Several times it just started com
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 197 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: KIA SENT ME A LETTER TELLING ME MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO A "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM" WHICH REQUIRES A PROGRAM UPDATE TO MY CARS ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS BECAUSE MY ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE POSSIBLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE A REC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS UNABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY MOVE UP DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE EYESIGHT MECHANISM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. A PERSON OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BODY SIZE CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SINCE IT'S MOVEMENT RANGE WILL NOT ALLOW THE MIRROR TO MOVE UP. THIS IS A DES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: 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 CONTRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SPORTAGE — Year Comparison
How does 2020 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 197
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 17
- Crash reports
- 9
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2020 Kia SPORTAGE