YearToAvoid

2020 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 Sportage years

The 2020 Kia Sportage has 160 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 60, and ranks 7th worst among 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 53% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 59,282.5 miles.

Complaints
160
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
11 / 12
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
21 city / 27 hwy

Top 2020 Kia Sportage problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine85 (53%)
  2. Other31 (19%)
  3. Electrical System22 (14%)
  4. Structure & Body13 (8%)
  5. Brakes12 (8%)
  6. Fuel System8 (5%)
  7. Steering8 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers5 (3%)
  10. Airbags3 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine fires with flames and black smoke coming from under the hood, sometimes while stopped at a light or driving at highway speed.
  • Some drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration, with the vehicle lunging forward into walls, poles, or buildings when parking or entering a roadway.
  • Owners report brake resistance or failure to stop the vehicle in time during low-speed traffic situations.
  • Electrical system complaints include vehicles catching fire after being parked, in one case spreading to nearby vehicles at a campground.
  • Airbag complaints describe airbags failing to deploy in a low-speed crash or, in another case, smoking and causing burns after deployment.
2020 Kia Sportage complaints: complaints filed per quarter212019 Q42021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
202 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (21).

2020 Kia Sportage recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside

    Trailer hitches

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

    Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

  2. NHTSA 21V137000Mar 4, 2021Brakes379,931 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.

2020 Kia Sportage fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Sportage years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution53164323
2019Best770223
2020Caution60160223
2021Good2751223
2022Best2046123

All Kia Sportage years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Kia Sportage reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Sportage has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Sportage years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Kia Sportage?
Engine problems are the top issue, making up 53% of the 160 complaints filed, including reports of engine fires with a median failure mileage of 59,282.5 miles.
Does the 2020 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 Sportage: one for a tow hitch harness fire risk and one for a Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit that could short-circuit and cause an engine compartment fire. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2020 Sportage compare to other Sportage years?
The 2020 model's complaint index of 60 is worse than the 2019 (7), 2021 (27), and 2022 (20) model years, but better than the 2017 (93) and 2023 (100) model years, which are rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Kia Sportage?
EPA rates the 2020 Sportage at 23 mpg combined (21 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.