Our data shows that electrical, engine, fuel, and brake problems are the most common issues
The 2020 Kia Stinger is a sports sedan that supposedly combines power and spaciousness. The automaker claims it is “built to thrill,” but many customers aren’t excited about the adventures it provides. Complaints highlight issues with the sedan shuddering, losing power, stalling, and shutting off. They also report issues with the brakes and steering wheel that may be related to other faulty components.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2021 2022
Several common themes run through complaints about the 2020 Kia Stinger lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These include vehicles losing power, stalling, and shutting down completely. However, there is no clear common component identified in complaints. For instance, many problems are linked by owners to the engine and electrical system combined. An electrical system complaint is also seen as being a visibility problem and another as being an exterior lighting issue. Fuel system issues are linked to engine problems by some owners. Some brake problems are identified as electrical issues, and steering is linked to brake and electrical problems.
Between July 22, 2020, and March 1, 2024, there were six recalls issued for the 2020 Kia Stinger. These relate to the electrical system, engine and engine cooling, the gasoline fuel system, hydraulic brakes, and steering. Two of these — brakes and engine — warn of serious fire risks. All the rest, including the brake recall, warn of the risk of cars crashing because of these issues.
There are also complaints that dealers can’t or won’t help because they can’t replicate issues, as well as issues of unfair charging.
Many of the complaints about the 2020 Kia Stinger shutting down or losing power are identified by owners as being electrical problems.
An owner from Texas states, “The vehicle will shut off without reason from time to time. I’ll be sitting at a light, stop sign, or intersection, and the car just shuts off. All electronics inside the car turn off, the engine turns off, and it’s as if I’ve shut the car off to get out.” While he can usually restart the car, he did some research and discovered he is not the only person with this problem. However, the dealership cannot locate the issue, which the owner concedes is extremely difficult to replicate.
“A person’s safety is definitely in question considering if the car shuts off while driving, it could lock the steering wheel as a few others have seen. The only symptom that I have experienced is the music from the radio goes weird prior to the car shutting down.”
An owner from Tennessee states that the Stinger randomly loses power and cannot drive forward. After having the vehicle towed to a dealership he was faced with a charge of $175 plus tax for them to run a diagnostic. Then they replaced the high-pressure fuel pump without doing a diagnostic test or checking for other defects. He was told they couldn’t do anything unless the check engine light lit up on the dash.
Adding to this owner’s problems, he states that he’s been waiting for more than three years for the automaker to do a recall. “It’s always the same story, they don’t have the part.” Frustrated, he adds, “I can’t afford to be stranded or put myself or the lives of other motorists on the road in danger because my vehicle will randomly lose power out of nowhere. That’s unacceptable and dangerous!”
A complaint from an owner from North Carolina reports an electrical system problem that has recurred at least seven times in six months. ”The issue is that sometimes when I give a right-hand turn signal, the vehicle’s entire electrical system shuts down. It has done it on a slow turn, on a merge going 35 mph, and on a highway exit ramp going 60 mph.
“This is dangerous and only a matter of time until me, or someone else, dies as a result of this failure.”
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Several complaints listed as fuel system (gasoline) or fuel/propulsion system problems state that cars stall.
An owner from Florida mentions a bunch of problems. These started with the Stinger jerking and hesitating when he tried to accelerate, and the check engine light came on. Then the car stalled when he pressed the accelerator pedal. At first, the dealership recommended replacing the spark plugs — but the failure recurred. Then they said the spark plugs and fuel pump must be replaced. The owner linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 20V560000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but was told the VIN was not under recall. See details of the recall below under Brake Problems.
Before his car stalled, an owner from California states that it started shuddering while traveling at 70 mph. The “gas pedal was useless.” Before this, the car had shuddered but hadn’t stalled. When the car was towed to the dealership, there was a “very strong smell of gas and smoke was coming from underneath it.” Additionally, the “engine lights came on after it stalled a second time while parked on the side of the road.” The dealer stated the gas direct injection (GDI) fuel pump had failed, and it was not a common issue.
All three of the recalls featured here are linked to stalling or a loss of drive power.
The first fuel recall, NHTSA Campaign Number 20V560000, was issued for 635 Kia Stinger vehicles, MY 2020-2021. It states that the jet nozzle of the fuel pump “may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process.” This could block the nozzle causing an insufficient fuel supply to the engine. The issue is that it can result in a loss of drive power, which increases the risk of a crash.
The second fuel recall, NHTSA Campaign Number 23V634000, also warns of a loss of drive power that increases the risk of a crash. A total of 18,224 Stinger vehicles, MY 2018-2021, are implicated. In this case, the fuel control valve plunger may stick inside the high-pressure fuel pump, causing over-pressurization and loss of drive power.
Although listed as an electrical system recall, NHTSA Campaign Number 21V862000 warns of inaccurate fuel gauges in 53 2020-2021 Singer vehicles. It states that a software error in the instrument cluster may cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading. This can result in drivers unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Brake problem complaints are varied and include one, mentioned above, which is combined with losing power.
An owner from Texas states in a complaint that the Stinger shakes severely while slowing down. It rattles the entire car and affects the steering wheel violently. The dealer said it was a “known issue” with the brakes leaving a deposit on the rotors. The problem started at 5k miles and was “fixed” under warranty. But when it recurred at 18k miles, the dealer refused to cover any of the costs involved.
In a complaint listed as an unknown or other problem, an owner from Florida tells how the car crashed. The driver was “moving forward into (a) parking space with my foot on the brake car accelerated and smashed into a tree.” There are no other details.
The brake recall is considerably more serious than any of the complaints. First issued in August 2020, NHTSA Campaign number 20V518000, remains an urgent open recall due to a serious fire risk. Initially, Kia recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines. Then in December 2020, the automaker expanded the recall population and added certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. While driving, an engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the anti-lock brake hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) is located. They have identified 28,200 affected vehicles and the recall states that dealers will install a new fuse kit in the electrical junction box, free of charge.
NHTSA Campaign Number 24V169000 warns 36,248 Kia vehicle owners that their left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil. Affected vehicles are certain 2019-2020 K900 and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter turbo gasoline direct injection engine. If oil leaks when engine components are hot this increases the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving.
NHTSA Campaign Number 20V422000 warns that 104 2020 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Turbo-GDI engine risk a loss of steering control that increases the risk of a crash. The issue is that a component within the rack-mounted motor-driven power steering (MDPS) assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly. This could result in the steering locking or becoming difficult to use while driving.
Whether you’ve got a loss of power, shutting down, stalling, or some other completely different issue with your 2020 Kia Stinger, if you think you’ve bought a lemon, take action. The law makes Kia pay legal fees, so you may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners.
All you need to do is call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form. We’ll assess our case and advise you free of charge.
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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