2020 Kia Sportage Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 8%of 166 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 10,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the brakes of the 2020 Kia Sportage, 8% of the 166 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 10,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11623188, filed 2024-11“Dashboard showed drivers side brake light was out. I visually confirmed it was.Next day I started car again and the dashboard did not display the warning. I checked and confirmed the brake light was indeed working. A few weeks later, same thing happened: dash display indicated drivers side brake light was out, I visually confirmed it was. The next time I drove the car, dash no longer indicated brake light was out. I visually confirmed brake light was working. Took vehicle to dealer, showed them photo I had previously taken of dash display when it showed brake light was out. …”
NHTSA complaint #11483357, filed 2022-09“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“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 pulled over and both he and his wife exited the vehicle as the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The authorities were called to the scene and the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police and fire report was filed. No injuries were reported at the scene. …”
NHTSA complaint #11425420, filed 2021-07, 10,500 milesRelated recalls
- 21V137000Mar 4, 2021Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU)…Covers: Kia Sportage 2017–2021, Cadenza 2017–2019
Related service bulletins
- 10179255Aug 25, 2020PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 21% |
| 2025 | 6 | 11% |
| 2024 | 7 | 9% |
| 2023 | 34 | 18% |
| 2022 | 2 | 4% |
| 2020 | 13 | 8% |
| 2019 | 7 | 10% |
| 2018 | 11 | 7% |
| 2017 | 26 | 6% |
| 2016 | 38 | 28% |
| 2015 | 31 | 21% |
| 2014 | 24 | 19% |
| 2013 | 25 | 7% |
| 2012 | 11 | 3% |
| 2011 | 25 | 14% |
| 2010 | 6 | 30% |
| 2009 | 15 | 19% |
| 2008 | 23 | 23% |
| 2007 | 12 | 16% |
| 2006 | 10 | 9% |
| 2005 | 6 | 9% |
| 2002 | 25 | 11% |
| 2001 | 27 | 12% |
| 2000 | 54 | 18% |
| 1999 | 44 | 15% |
| 1998 | 71 | 23% |
| 1997 | 19 | 11% |
| 1996 | 15 | 26% |
| 1995 | 6 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2020 Kia Sportage
79 complaintsOther or unknown
34 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsForward collision avoidance
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology