2020 Kia Sportage Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2020 Kia Sportage most often report engine-related problems, particularly excessive oil consumption, abnormal engine noise, and occasional loss of power, with many of these complaints filed well beyond the base mileage. A second recurring theme is a sunroof glass panel that shatters or explodes while driving, plus theft and brake-related concerns tied to open recalls and service campaigns.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine noise, stalling or loss of power

   • 41 complaints (25%)
   • median 64,222 mi at 4.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $7,500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe knocking or rattling noises from the engine, hesitation and shuddering, and situations where the vehicle dropped speed or went into limp mode without warning. Several owners report the dealer diagnosed failed knock sensors, piston rings, or bearing clearance issues, and in some cases recommended engine replacement. Some say the repair was declined under warranty because the vehicle had a prior owner. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 92,000 miles, often while driving at highway or steady speeds.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for knocking at cold start and during a test drive, and ask whether any engine or knock-sensor work was done. A service campaign describes an engine control module software update for emissions logic on Theta II 2.4L engines, so ask whether that update was installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There were no known issues with my vehicle not even a check engine light or anything was on. I was driving then the car randomly stopped accelerating. It would only go up to about 25 miles per hour. Something started rattling under the hood and it cut off in the middle of an intersection. I was almost hit because it was a 4 way intersection which put myself and all of the other cars on the road at risk. A police offer had to direct traffic until a tow truck made it. I had to get my car towed to a mechanic shop and I was told my engine blew. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11692911, filed 2025-10

   “The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cylinder #4 misfire, a knock sensor, and bearing clearance measurement failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty because the warranty was on the vehicle with the previous owner. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11726703, filed 2026-03, 82,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 45 complaints (27%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe adding oil frequently between changes, sometimes a quart every few hundred miles, with no visible leak on the ground or in the garage. The oil light reportedly flickers or blinks rather than staying on, and some owners say they were told by the dealer to return every few weeks for an oil top-up or that such consumption is normal. Some complaints add that low oil was discovered only when checking the dipstick manually. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 54,000 to 114,000 miles, with several owners noting the vehicle was still short of its next scheduled oil change.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level on a cold engine and look for a fuel or burned-oil smell; ask the seller for oil change records and whether any oil consumption test was performed. A service bulletin describes excessive oil consumption on several Kia engine families, so ask whether that procedure was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We only have 58,000 on our car . We had extremely low oil and light never came on it blinked randomly. We still had 2,000 miles left before oil change was due . Car was almost bone dry if we did not check we would have been in big trouble.We were told these cars are known to burn oil and we should come in every 3/4 weeks depending on how much we drive to have oil added . This is ridiculous! If this place is right about burning oil that should be recalled and fixed and covered . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11707427, filed 2025-12

   “My 2020 Kia Sportage continues to consume too much oil. There is not a leak detected where I park my car during work, nor in my garage. I need to add oil to the vehicle every other week.”

   NHTSA complaint #11710062, filed 2026-01
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine compartment fires

   • 44 complaints (27%)
   • median 68,060 mi at 5.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe smoke or a burning smell followed by flames under the hood, sometimes while parked and sometimes while driving, with no warning light beforehand. In several accounts the vehicle was extinguished by the fire department and declared a total loss, and owners say the cause was not determined. Some complaints mention coolant leaking or smoke from the air conditioning vents. Reported from low mileage (about 11,000 miles) up to roughly 75,000 miles, in both parked and driving situations.

   Recall 21V137000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 21V137000, which concerns a short circuit in the hydraulic electronic control unit that can cause an engine compartment fire, was completed. Also check for the tow hitch harness recall 22V703000 and have any burning or fuel smell inspected before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on hwy going to pass a car look and the mirror and was black smoke Minutes later I was trying to get out of the car took car to the shoulder car was on fire Totally lost no answers yet over what happened be careful second Kia Sportage lost”

   NHTSA complaint #11476817, filed 2022-08

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11656568, filed 2025-04, 11,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake judder, pulling and pedal resistance

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report uneven braking, the vehicle pulling left and right under braking, and pedal resistance or a burning smell when braking. Some say pads, rotors and hoses were replaced without resolving the problem, and others received recall notices but were told parts were not yet available. Reported from very low mileage up to about 91,000 miles.

   Recall 21V137000

   What to check: Test braking from highway speed for vibration or pull, and check whether the brake-related recall work was completed. Ask for service records showing what brake parts were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 weather was dry and sunny that day. About 35 degrees.”

   NHTSA complaint #11291233, filed 2019-12, 9,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he would experience uneven braking upon depression of the brake pedal, without warning. The contact stated that the brakes was pulling to the left and then to the right, before coming to a complete stop. The contact had performed several brake repairs which included the replacement of the brake pads, rotors, and hoses; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was then notified of the failure and provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11520097, filed 2023-05, 91,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Panoramic sunroof glass shatters

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 7,400 mi at 1.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners report a loud bang and the panoramic sunroof glass breaking or shattering outward, sometimes on the highway and sometimes without any impact from another object. Descriptions include glass flying into the cabin and the sunshade or cover being closed to contain debris. Some owners say the dealer or manufacturer declined coverage, attributing the break to an outside impact. Reported from about 1,500 miles up to roughly 54,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass edges and frame for chips or stress marks, and ask whether the panel has ever been replaced. Confirm what the warranty says about glass coverage before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 don't even think Kia looked at the photos because when I asked the dealership for them (because it's needed for a claim with Kia consumer affairs) I was told they didn't have them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407829, filed 2021-04, 1,500 miles

   “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 shards of glass. I shut the sunroof cover immediately and call my insurance and put in a claim. I was still over 200 miles from home at this point with the threat of rain so we made our way home as safe as possible. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11351094, filed 2020-08, 7,400 miles

Buying note. Check the oil level and service history carefully, confirm the open recalls and anti-theft software campaign were completed, and inspect the sunroof glass and brakes during the test drive. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is worthwhile given the engine complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.