The 2020 Kia Sportage has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 450,818 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 199 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…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC21V1370002021-03-04379,931 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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…
Complaints by component
ENGINE
69
1crashes6fires1injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
30
2crashes4fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
16
3fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
10
2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9
1fires
STEERING
8
1crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
6
2crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
3crashes2injuries
Total complaints199
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Odometer fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 kia sportage. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 25,881, and while trying to trade the vehicle with another dealer, it was discovered through the carfax…”
“1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle rapidly burns through engine oil between oil changes without visible external leaks. The condition appears related to the engine…”
“Engine died. Complete failure with 50,000.”
“The contact owns a 2020 kia sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was advised that it was normal for the vehicle to use a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The contact was…”
“The car shook and lights came on at a stop light and began violently knocking. Since it was at a stop light the safety was a risk had the hazard lights weren't engaged immediately. The dealer confirmed it was a catastrophic engine failure. An inspector for the warranty company was deployed two…”
“Consumes more than 1 liter of oil per 1000 miles”
“I respectfully request that nhtsa review this issue for potential safety related defect trends involving excessive oil consumption that progress to catastrophic engine failure in 2020 kia sportages equipped with the 2.4l engine. The vehicle consumed oil at an abnormal rate between oil changes…”
“Odometer fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 kia sportage. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 70,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the title was 107,000 while having a…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ23002 Opened 2023-11-17 · open
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured…
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 Sportage as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.