2020 Kia Sportage reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Kia Sportage holds 160 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 14 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Sportage years here — over the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Trailer hitch and Brake control module.

2012 Kia Sportage — Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

160

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (73 of 160), then Electrical system (19) and Structure (10). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 12 that report a fire, and 7 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Sportage has 70 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2021 has 51 complaints, 6 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Kia Sportage. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall trailer hitch 2022-09-19 · NHTSA campaign 22V703000

Summary 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.

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.

Recall Brake control module 2021-03-04 · NHTSA campaign 21V137000

Summary 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.

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.

Complaints by component (160 total)

Engine

Electrical system

Structure

Engine and engine cooling

Steering

Fuel and propulsion system

Forward collision avoidance

Hydraulic brakes

Service brakes

Speed control

Air bags

Exterior lighting

Lane departure

Powertrain

Trailer hitch

Visibility

Visibility and wipers

Back-over prevention

Fire-related

Fuel system, gasoline

Suspension

Tires

Wheels

Show 15 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"High oil consumption burning a quart of oil every 500-600 miles."
Powertrain · filed 2026-09-06
"While driving on the expressway posted speed 65 was doing 70, left lane driving, suddenly my check engine light started flashing, my oil light came on and my vehicle started slowing down. Acceleration was not an option,…"
Engine · filed 2026-08-13
"Need an engine replaced for the infamous knocking of the motor from the previous class action but my model isn’t covered. Ridiculous to need a new engine on a less than 5 year old car"
Engine · filed 2026-08-13
"My 2020 Kia sportage spontaneously caught fire. It started smoking about 1/3 mile from my destination. There were no dash lights on and the temperature gauge was not elevated and was below half so it wasn’t the engine…"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-17
"NHTSA Complaint Description — Kia Sportage Engine Stall While driving my 2020 Kia Sportage in mid‑June 2026 on I‑45 in Houston, TX, the vehicle suddenly stalled while I was driving, with no warning lights, messages, or…"
Engine · filed 2026-07-13

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2020 Kia Sportage SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2020 Kia Sportage SUV FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Sportage all-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	22	26	23 MPG	$2800
Sportage all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	24	21 MPG	$3100
Sportage front-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	20	28	23 MPG	$2800
Sportage front-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	23	30	26 MPG	$2500

Specs and fitment

4th generation (QL), 2012–2021

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4.8 qt capacity

Tire size 225/60R17 to 245/45R19 (trim dependent)

Towing capacity 2,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 18V907000. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Kia Sportage Next year 2021 Kia Sportage See every Kia Sportage model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Kia Sportage reliable?

What are common problems with a 2020 Kia Sportage?

Is the 2020 Kia Sportage more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Sportage has 70 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2021 has 51 complaints, 6 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Kia Sportage been recalled?

The 2020 Kia Sportage has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Kia Sportage?

Owners have filed 160 complaints about the 2020 Kia Sportage with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Kia Sportage get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Kia Sportage is 23.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Sportage take?

0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 18V-907 cover on the Kia Sportage?

NHTSA campaign 18V907000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Sportage?

4th generation (QL) (2012-2021).