2020 Kia Sportage Problems Summary

Electrical system, engine, and brake issues are among the top problems based on our analysis

Updated on June 25th, 2024 Author: Brian Jones | Reviewer: Sergei Lemberg

2020 Kia Sportage

The 2020 Kia Sportage is a well-known vehicle that is designed to offer a value-based ride for the family. The automaker claims that it offers “room to roam.” But owners who experience excessive oil consumption issues that lead to engines seizing feel there’s no space to roam anywhere. Nor do those whose cars have design defects that lead to theft risks or whose vehicles catch alight.

Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019   2021   2022   2023

Most Common Problems

There is a vast range of problems that 2020 Kia Sportage owners are identifying. Some have contacted Lemberg Law and other platforms, while many more have turned to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for help. Number-wise, the most common NHTSA complaints relate to the engine, electrical system, and brakes. But there are also significant complaints about airbags, back-over prevention, exterior lighting, forward collision avoidance, the fuel system, lane departure, powertrain, steering, structure, trailer hitches, vehicle speed control, and visibility.

Fire risk is a huge problem with the 2020 Kia Sportage. There are two ongoing urgent fire risk recalls still in place. One is related to the possibility of an engine compartment fire. The other is due to the risk of a tow hitch harness fire while vehicles are driving or parked. There is also an open investigation relating to antilock braking system (ABS) module fires.

Adding to this hot topic, there are multiple reports of fire episodes in NHTSA complaints in various categories. These include the engine, electrical system, and hydraulic brakes, most of which report fires that totaled 2020 Sportage vehicles.

Another issue that complaints highlight is the vulnerability of these vehicles being at risk of theft. Several complaints report that 2020 Sportage cars were stolen as a result of this.

2020 Kia Sportage Complaint Summary

Engine

Arguably, the most important part of any vehicle is the engine. It must be powerful and reliable and should be efficient enough to ensure customers’ needs are met.  Problems highlighted in NHTSA complaints range from engines overheating to devastating fires. However, the most common complaint relates to excessive oil consumption. Typically caused by oil drain plug issues, these problems commonly result in engines seizing.

One of the first NHTSA complaints states, “Product improvement program which requires a program update to my car’s 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.’ I asked Kia why they aren’t fixing the problem with the engines at the factory instead of just adding an early warning system to the ECU. This is absolutely crazy. I don’t want a brand-new car that can possibly have a total engine failure. I don’t want a car that warns you that your car is about to have an engine failure. That is not a proper way at all to fix a problem.”

The problem being addressed in this complaint is related to Service Bulletin #PI1806. The technicians are installing new ECU software that lets customers know if excessive connecting rod bearing damage is occurring to the engine. The Knock Sensor Detection System provides an alert that the engine is starting to fail. As the customer above said, the engines should be fixed, not merely have software that tells someone when it is about to die. It will be difficult for this SUV to “roam” anywhere once that engine fails.

Complaints About Engines Seizing

This is a problem that isn’t going away.

Oil Plug Falls Out

As recently as April 2024, an owner from Texas had to be towed because the oil plug had fallen out. While the vehicle was still under warranty, Kia refused to cover the costs of a new engine because the oil change was not done at a Kia dealership. Highlighting that this is “a known problem” for the 2020 Sportage, the owner states that Kia should be accountable. There was oil everywhere when the car was towed, but the time the Kia technician checked it he “saw no oil.” He then started (the) car and it started knocking and died. “They are the ones that seized up the engine.”

Low Oil Levels for No Reason

Reporting engine seizure, another owner from Texas states that the check engine light came on before the car’s speed decreased. Then suddenly there was “a loud unusual knocking sound coming from the engine.” The vehicle went into limp mode. Despite having added oil three days prior, it was “critically low.” This issue, the complaint states, had started after an auto accident that involved dealership repairs to the engine. It ended with the engine seizing and the owner is not being covered by the warranty due to high mileage.

Oil Drain Plug Missing

An owner from New York tells how the “engine seized while driving. I had it immediately towed to the local Kia dealership for inspection. The technician found that the oil drain plug was missing and the engine seized needing a complete engine repair for about $14,000.” This time, Kia said that the car couldn’t be repaired under warranty because the oil hadn’t been changed by a Kia dealership. “I had my oil changed three months prior to the drain plug falling out and I did not need an oil change for another 2000 miles. This is a brand new vehicle with very low mileage and as a Kia customer I am not protected with the oil drain plug just mysteriously falling out months after (an) oil change. Kia Warranty continues to deny this and I am suffering greatly with no resolution.”

Fire Problems

Complaints from owners relating to fire are associated with the engine, electrical system, and brake-related issues. As mentioned earlier, there are also recalls and an open investigation that warn of fire risks.

Complaints About Fire Incidents

An owner from South Carolina was on the road after having an oil change at a Kia dealership. He noticed “smoke coming from under the hood.” They pulled over at a gas station, opened the hood, and discovered “there was fire under the hood”. The fire department extinguished the fire.

Three recreational vehicles caught alight in another incident in a campground. At least one was deemed a total loss. The vehicle that initially caught fire had been taken to a Kia dealership for one of the recall repairs prior to this. The complaint doesn’t state which of the recalls it is, but the timeline indicates it was NHTSA Campaign Number 21V137000 (see below). This and the previous complaint were considered to be engine and electrical system issues.

An owner from Ohio was alerted to the fact that there was black smoke coming from the exhaust of his 2020 Sportage. As he got out of the vehicle he saw flames coming from under the hood. Moments later the vehicle burst into flames! It was deemed totaled. This was considered to be an engine issue.

A complaint listed as a hydraulic service brake issue tells how a couple in Florida smelled fuel while driving at about 75 mph. Soon after, there were flames and dark, black smoke. As they got out of the Sportage, “the vehicle became engulfed in flames.” The fire department extinguished the flames but the vehicle was destroyed. Three weeks later, they received the service brake recall. The owner called the dealer and reported the failure — “and the dealer hung up the phone.”

An “unknown or other” complaint from an owner in Illinois also tells of black smoke while driving. Minutes later the car was on fire. It was also destroyed!

Complaints about Fire Risk

In a complaint listed as an electrical system problem, an owner from Minnesota tells how there was “a burning smell when I hit the brakes.” The smell got stronger and didn’t go away. Even though “the recall described exactly what was happening, the dealership was not helpful. They said they had not gotten a recall on my specific car yet and though they could detect an ‘odor’ they weren’t certain what it was from. They literally told me to not park indoors, and if my car caught fire to exit quickly.

“I also called Kia and they told me the same thing and that I could try another place for a second opinion. I told them there was a recall and my fuses needed to be checked. No one wanted to help me.”

Fire-Related Recalls

There are two urgent fire-risk recalls on file with the NHTSA, both still current in mid-2024.

1. NHTSA Campaign Number 21V137000 — hydraulic service brakes
2. NHTSA Campaign Number 22V703000 — trailer hitches

The first, issued in March 2021, warns 379,931 owners of 2017-2021 Kia Sportage and Cadenza vehicles that there is a danger of an engine compartment fire. The issue is that the electrical circuit in the hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) may short-circuit. If this happens it can cause a fire. Owners are advised “to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete.”

The second, more recent recall was issued in September 2022. This warns 70,887 owners of various Sorento and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles that there is a danger their cars may catch fire while parked or driving. This is due to a problem with the tow hitch harness installed as original equipment or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. According to the recall, if debris and moisture accumulate on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) it may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. They are also advised to park outside, away from structures.

Fire-Related Investigation

The NHTSA launched an audit query (AQ) investigation into Hyundai and Kia antilock braking system (ABS) module fires on November 17, 2023. It was a result of a number of Kia and Hyundai recalls containing varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. The purpose of the AQ:

• is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision-making and adherence with reporting requirements
• and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls

Brake-Related

Complaints about brakes are varied. They range from brake light issues to “uneven braking” and brake failure. There are also several complaints about the recall repair not being available.

Describing uneven braking, a complaint states that the brakes pull to the left and then to the right before coming to a complete stop. Despite replacing brake pads, rotors, and hoses, the failure persisted. The Kia dealer said further repairs would not be covered under warranty.

An owner from Illinois describes a crash. “While driving/turning left out of a school parking lot, the light turned green. All (the) cars started moving. Going about 10-12 mph, the car in front slams on brakes. The safety feature alerted me as well, but when (I) attempted to press on the brakes, they were resisting. I could not brake and had no control of stopping.” The Sportage crashed!

Threat of Theft

There are several NHTSA complaints about 2020 Sportage vehicles being stolen or being at risk of theft. It is not entirely clear what the cause is. Most of the complaints are listed as “unknown or other” problems.

NHTSA Complaints About Theft Risk

An owner from Ohio reports that the anti-theft software failed and the vehicle was stolen. “The vehicle was locked and (the) key fob was in my possession. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the theft happened in broad daylight in a crowded hospital parking lot. The thieves erratically sped away as seen by security.”

An owner from Wisconsin blames “a known design flaw in the steering column. Have been without my car for over two months now.”

An owner from Missouri whose Sportage was stolen states, “Where you insert the Key to start the car can be broken and started with a cell phone charger.” This, in turn, makes it a target for car theft.

Another owner from Ohio states that his iPhone charger was used to steal his Sportage. “My 2020 Kia Sportage was stolen out of my yard. They smashed the back window face; busted the column; and used my iPhone charger to steal my car. It took 43 days for me to get back. I’m scared to park the car anywhere. I don’t want the car anymore.”

An owner from Indiana blames the electrical system, stating that the vehicles lack engine immobilizers. This increases the risk of “Kia knew or had (the) knowledge to add an engine immobilizer or similar device to the cars but failed to do so despite knowing how dangerous it was to be with the critical theft prevention measures. My 2020 Kia is not safe and reliable and considered dangerous. Due to insurance companies not renewing policies on Kia vehicles and the extreme decline in value of my Kia, have made my vehicle not safe, undrivable, and not reliable.”

What Should You Do?

There are so many problems with the 2020 Kia Sportage, there may be many lemons out there. If you think your vehicle may be one of them, call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form. We will assess your problems and advise you. 

About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

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