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SteeringPart report

2020 Kia Sportage Steering Problems

Complaints
9about this part
Share
5%of 166 total for the year
Median mileage
400miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the steering of the 2020 Kia Sportage, 5% of the 166 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 400 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

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.

“Vehicle has excessive wandering, that is intermittent, during traffic, surrounding traffic on freeways and on slight wind and rain. The vehicle exhibits behavior that is very very unstable.. I’ve had the vehicle for about three years and it’s been doing this for about two years now intermittently I recently took it into the Kia dealership in Stocton to have it looked at nothing was determined other than the state of the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11707561, filed 2025-12

“When turning the steering wheel, it makes a squeaky/grinding noise. I called into Kia to inquire about this and they said they would call me back after investigating about a recall on this but never received a call back.”

NHTSA complaint #11622581, filed 2024-10

“My vehicle was stolen some time between the evening of 01/09/2022 and the morning of 01/10/2022. The rear left window was smashed to allow entry into the vehicle, and no alarm was heard overnight. This vehicle was stolen without the use of a key, as both keys were inside my apartment at the time of the theft. The thieves stripped the steering column and used what appeared to be a screwdriver and/or a USB port (both items were found inside the vehicle upon recovery) to start the vehicle. This problem has made national news in Milwaukee, WI, and is becoming more common here in Columbus, OH.”

NHTSA complaint #11448144, filed 2022-01

“Over 5,000 vehicles are being stolen because of a defect in the steering and ignition of kia cars made between 2011 and 2020 just in my area where i live. I bought a $28,000 car that I can't even drive to work or to a store unless I have someone with me to stay in the car. I couldn't even take grandkids to a fest this past weekend cause I don't want it to get stolen. I even have to walk to work despite owning a car that I just bought four months ago. Kia dealer did not tell me about the flaw or defect. They did not tell me that kia can be started with a USB cord or I would not have bought it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11482930, filed 2022-09

“While driving to work and actively attempting to pass another vehicle, the battery light suddenly illuminated out of nowhere. A short time later, while slowing down at a stoplight coming into town, the engine completely stalled out and died in the middle of a busy, active intersection. I lost all acceleration and power steering capabilities, and narrowly avoided an accident while coasting blindly across traffic to safety. …”

NHTSA complaint #11774185, filed 2026-10

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202614%
202547%
202445%
202353%
202224%
202095%
201923%
201895%
201792%
201643%
201532%
201321%
201262%
201195%
201015%
20091418%
200811%
20071013%
200633%
200557%
200294%
200152%
200083%
1999104%
1998134%
199763%
199612%
199559%

Other parts of the 2020 Kia Sportage

Engine
79 complaints
Other or unknown
34 complaints
Electrical system
20 complaints
Brakes
13 complaints
Body and structure
10 complaints
Engine cooling
9 complaints
Fuel system
9 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
6 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaints
Air bags
3 complaints
Exterior 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