The 2020 Kia Sorento has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 70,887 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
TRAILER HITCHES22V7030002022-09-1970,887 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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…
Complaints by component
ENGINE
63
1crashes4fires2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
23
4crashes3fires7injuries1deaths
POWER TRAIN
17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15
6fires
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
9
1crashes1fires
TRAILER HITCHES
9
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
5
3crashes6injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
4
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
3
STEERING
3
Total complaints183
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The vehicle suffered a sudden, severe engine malfunction/misfire while in operation, presenting a serious safety hazard on the road. Following the incident, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership service center (repair order #xxx), where technicians verbally confirmed that the engine…”
“The vehicle suffered a sudden, severe engine malfunction/misfire while in operation, presenting a serious safety hazard on the road. Following the incident, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership service center (repair order #xxx), where technicians verbally confirmed that the engine…”
“The vehicle suffered a sudden, severe engine malfunction/misfire while in operation, presenting a serious safety hazard on the road. Following the incident, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership service center (repair order #xxx), where technicians verbally confirmed that the engine…”
“Engine is burning oil at a significant rate, when I get my oil changed at the dealers recommendation it is extremely low. I have to replace the oil regularly between oil changes, and there is an exhaust smell. Also lagging when I hit the gas.”
“2020 kia sorento consuming 1.5 or more quarts of oil every 1,000 miles. Completing oil consumption testing with kia dealer, which requires I take the car back to the dealer every 1k miles, times, so they can verify the oil levels. Last check, when issue was discovered, vehicle was down to only 1qt…”
“Office of defects investigation national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) 1200 new jersey avenue se washington, dc 20590 subject: safety complaint – premature engine failure risk due to excessive oil consumption and confirmed cylinder scoring – 2020 kia sorento dear sir or madam,…”
“My oil pressure switch is diagnosed as faulty by independent service center as well as kia. Kia is denying coverage. I have found information that it should be covered. My check engine light shows an oil can light.”
“My oil pressure switch is diagnosed as faulty by independent service center as well as kia. Kia is denying coverage. I have found information that it should be covered. My check engine light shows an oil can light.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP22003 Opened 2022-09-12 · closed 2023-12-12
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2020 Kia Sorento as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.