2020 Kia Sportage Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 79about this part
- Share
- 48%of 166 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 21,014miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 79 complaints about the engine of the 2020 Kia Sportage, 48% of the 166 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 21,014 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 recall notice. They are not improving anything. The underlying problem that will cause the engine failure has not been addressed and won't be by this so called 'product improvement program'. …”
NHTSA complaint #11281019, filed 2019-11, 1,800 miles“Driving to grandmas Christmas weekend on the highway all of a sudden my car couldn’t keep speed was shaking the check engine light came on. Now my cylinder one psi is only 50. I have noticed over 100 complaints with very similar car issues. I just bought this car 5 months ago from a dealership. I have barely put 4,000 miles on the car myself.”
NHTSA complaint #11708215, filed 2026-01“My car is a 2020 Kia sportage with 65,000 miles. We bought it bran new. Since we bought the car we've had problems. We took it to the Kia dealership and they did an oil consumption test. They said the car needed a new engine. Kia cooperation refuses to replace the engine and want us to pay for it because they due to lack of documented oil changes.”
NHTSA complaint #11702835, filed 2025-12“My Kia Sportage was stolen, however a couple of years ago I had the Kia Anti Theft Logic software updated on the car. I’ve been told that although it does not prevent anyone from breaking in, they should not have been able to move the car. Prior to this, the engine is running on 3 cylinders instead of 4 which has caused major issues with the car burning oil rapidly.”
NHTSA complaint #11694431, filed 2025-10“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11646627, filed 2025-03Related service bulletins
- 11031854Apr 4, 2026VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 11030391Mar 17, 2026VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 105) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions…
- 11029979Mar 6, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 11026898Dec 19, 2025VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 103 / QL) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions…
- 11026533Dec 10, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional…
- 11025895Nov 27, 2025VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 101 / QL) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions…
- 11025892Nov 21, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional…
- 11025859Nov 7, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional…
- 11025889Nov 5, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the…
- 11024469Oct 23, 2025Sc340_stkr: voluntary emissions service campaign completion label/sticker
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 13% |
| 2024 | 11 | 15% |
| 2023 | 38 | 20% |
| 2022 | 21 | 46% |
| 2021 | 23 | 43% |
| 2020 | 79 | 48% |
| 2019 | 37 | 52% |
| 2018 | 91 | 55% |
| 2017 | 222 | 55% |
| 2016 | 62 | 46% |
| 2015 | 84 | 58% |
| 2014 | 73 | 58% |
| 2013 | 301 | 79% |
| 2012 | 328 | 84% |
| 2011 | 77 | 43% |
| 2010 | 2 | 10% |
| 2009 | 10 | 13% |
| 2008 | 17 | 17% |
| 2007 | 8 | 10% |
| 2006 | 15 | 14% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% |
| 1998 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2020 Kia Sportage
34 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsBrakes
13 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 30, 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