2020 KIA SORENTO Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Sorento. This model year has 125 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2020 Kia Sorento Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
Electrical Faults
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Kia Sorento. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 63 | 1 | 5 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 23 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 18 | — | 6 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Trailer Hitches | 9 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 5 | 3 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Sorento. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 125 most recent complaints
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 w…
Driver seatbelts randomly unlatches itself while operating vehicle.
Oil pressure light would come on and off, dealer said was probably the sensor got it replaced. Came back on the night I picked it back up.
I own a 2020 Kia Sorento. There is currently a class action lawsuit settlement ongoing. I have been informed that my 2020 Kia Sorento is not eligible while the settlement clearly states the 2020 Kia Sorento is included as part of the settlement. My Kia’s engine did not fail un…
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.
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 Dea…
Oil is leaking from my car. The dealership said I would need to replace the engine. The car is only 6 years old.
Component/System Affected: UNKNOWN – suspected fuel system or related component due to strong gasoline odor. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. What Happened: There is a strong gasoline odor specifically at the front driver’s side wheel well/tire area. The odor is…
The engine is burning oil despite all maintenance being up to date and having fewer than 80k miles. Kia of Duluth Service Center checked the oil and said levels were good on 12/31/25. Fewer than 30 miles were driven and it was brought back to the dealership service center on 1/2/…
To the Office of Defects Investigation, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding NHTSA Recall 22V703000 (Kia Recall SC249) involving my 2020 Kia Sorento (VIN: [XXX] ). This recall identifies a fire risk due to a potential electrical short in the tow hitch harness module.…
I bought a Kia 2020 from Long Lewis 3 days after i got it the check engine light come on, I called and told them, then around the 5th day black smut started covering the back of the suv, and i was smelling a burnt oi; and antifreeze smell, took it to a shop and they pulled the co…
Check engine light came on indicating a problem with cylinder 4(P0304). Replaced all spark plugs and coil pack to no avail. Car still struggles to accelerate even though light has went out. Especially noticeable at higher speeds.
Oil consumption, causing 8 spark plugs and dangerous driving. Refusing to cover under warranty.
My engine light is on. Codes show cylinder 4 misfire. Code P0304. My vehicle slows down while driving. It takes time to excelerate to a reasonable speed. My vehicle is becoming harder to start each time. I purchased a new battery and replaced spark plugs to no avail. I’ve be…
The engine check light is on and the car is using more oil than it should. I had the oil changed and had to add quarts before 2000 miles. I called Kia and was told my VIN is not part of the recall. I got an inspection and Cylinder 2 is misfiring and has low pressure so the entire…
The engine began leaking and burning oil, and general engine issues.
I was driving 2 minutes away from my house and all of the sudden every warning light on the dashboard came on, billowing smoke started coming through the vents. I immediately pulled in a random driveway, as I was turning I. I heard a loud pop. I shut the car off immediately, jump…
Around 100,000 miles I noticed that my engine was going through a lot of oil. Every time I would get an oil change, I would ask why and they stated that these Kia engines after hitting 100,000 start to burn oil fast and about every 1,000 miles you have to add a quart of oil and …
The oil pan got a large crack in it right by the plug
To Whom It May Concern, I had a horrible experience with my 2020 Kia Sorento and I can't seem to get anyone to respond to me. This very upsetting. My VIN number is [XXX] , my vehicle only had 75,000 miles on it. I kept up with all maintenance, oil changes, checking oil on a regul…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2020 Kia Sorento.
Recalls for 2020 Kia Sorento
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2020 Kia Sorento. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2020 Kia Sorento — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2020 Kia Sorento reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2020 Kia Sorento has 125 NHTSA owner complaints, 9 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (63 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Kia Sorento?▾
#1: Engine Problems (63 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (23 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (18 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2020 Kia Sorento?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2020 Kia Sorento?▾
The 2020 Kia Sorento has 9 crash-related complaints and 11 fire reports out of 125 total NHTSA complaints. 20 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2020 Kia Sorento have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2020 Kia Sorento. The largest issue: TRAILER HITCHES. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2020 Kia Sorento?▾
The 2020 Kia Sorento has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Sorento reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2020 Kia Sorento
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.