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Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

Kia · Compact SUV

2020 Kia Sorento

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 1

Complaints10 crash · 12 fire · 21 injured · 1 died reported 139

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2020 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorento FWD, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 139 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Kia Sorento — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Kia Sorento · Photo: © M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	22	29	25	$2,700
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.4L 4-cyl	21	26	23	$2,900
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	3.3L 6-cyl	19	26	22	$3,050
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	18	24	20	$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41601, 41603, 41602, 41604.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2.4 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

185 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	3
Seating capacity	7 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: EX, S, L, LX, S, SX). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	189.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.4 in
Height	66.5 in
Wheelbase	109.4 in
Track, front	64.2 in
Track, rear	64.6 in
Curb weight	3,953–4,101 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 2.4L AWD, V6 AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC249

Park outside 70,887 vehicles 30% reported repaired

Problem 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V703000 reported Sep 19, 2022 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

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 spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sorento

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Kia Sorento, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

139complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 12 a fire · 21 injuries · 1 deaths reported

16 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 84,571 Sorento built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 40 · 2026: 35

Most-cited components

Engine → 70

Unspecified 25

Electrical System 20

Power Train 18

Fuel/Propulsion System 10

Trailer Hitches 9

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Friday 12/16 car was being driven at 55 MPH on a rural road with no traffic around it when the Panoramic Sunroof exploded. Very loud boom and my wife thought she had a blow out. Immediately pulled over to check the vehicle. No tire or body damage was found until she looked on top of the vehicle.

Visibility/Wiper Dec 22, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11498521

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.

Trailer Hitches Dec 14, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11497397

The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, her daughter saw smoke coming out of the vehicle. The contact stated that as she opened the vehicle, she saw flames on the front side of the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department.

Electrical System at 26,000 miles Oct 4, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11487905

Here’s the deal, what I would is for the dealership to accept a fair trade of equal monthly payments on a new Kia Sorento 2022. So here’s the deal I have a 2020 Kia Sorento LX looking to do a even trade for a 2022 Kia Sorento, same monthly payments of 540.

Power Train Feb 23, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11453616

Was approaching a light at 40 mph when light turned green. Road was slightly wet. Applied break and it would not engage. Went thru red light and fortunately no car had started thru intersection. Pumped breaks snd they finally engaged but engine was not steady. Kind of up and down on speed 1/8/2022 at snot 4 pm

Service Brakes Jan 9, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11446765

My car stalled as I started to drive. As I started to park again it shut down. I waited a few minutes and it started again. My intention is to get it to the dealership asap

Engine at 17,500 miles May 3, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11414892

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 5 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 5.9 per 100,000 built. Every Sorento model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 20k

miles, typically

Half the 28 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 7,000 and 58,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 28 on file: 11 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 3 30k–40k, 2 50k–60k, 1 70k–80k, 1 80k–90k, 1 90k–100k, 2 100k–150k, 2 150k +.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

15 years or 180,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia warranty extension WTY034CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGERS MEMO (WTY034) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Kia warranty extension (28) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 92

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-10

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 67 service bulletins, 16 emissionss, 7 warranty extensions

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Steering, Equipment, Power Train.

SC365_OWNR_UM Emissions
2026-09-10 · Electrical System
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC365) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations on the 2019-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from January 24, 2018 through Octo
CS2312_TSB_R2 Service bulletin
2026-06-08 · Structure — Body
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia
SC340_TSB_R5 Emissions
2026-04-04 · Engine
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2020MY Optima, 2016-20
PS797 Other
2025-12-09 · Back Over Prevention — Warnings
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane
TSB_TRA046_R5 Service bulletin
2025-04-17 · Power Train
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0088 P0088 on Kia →	Fuel rail pressure is above what the system commanded.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	3 bulletins
P0304 P0304 on Kia →	Cylinder 4 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	2 owner reports

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 2.2%

failed emissions

2,359 initial inspections of 2,310 vehicles.

Measure	The 2020 Sorento	Every 2020 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.2%	2.2%	2,349
Failed the safety inspection	2.8%	1.6%	2,359
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.21%	0.19%	2,359
Miles driven a year	11,124	9,980	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	70,160	62,630	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Sorento by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 37 mpg 2026 B 2 9 37 mpg 2025 C 4 134 36 mpg 2024 B 2 51 37 mpg 2023 D 4 165 Park outside 2022 F 9 227 Park outside 2021 F 5 275 Park outside 2020 this page B 1 139 Park outside 2019 B 2 433 Park outside 2018 D 3 255 Park outside 2017 D 4 808 Park outside 2016 F 8 1,258 Park outside

Common questions about the 2020 Sorento

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Kia Sorento, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V703000, covering Trailer Hitches. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Kia Sorento 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Kia Sorento?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Kia Sorento, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Kia Sorento?

Transport Canada measured it at 189.0 in long, 74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.5 in tall, on a 109.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,953–4,101 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Kia Sorento?

Owners have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Sorento, most often about engine, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 12 a fire, 21 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Kia Sorento?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Kia Sorento is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Kia Sorento?

The manufacturer has filed 92 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Sorento, most often covering electrical system, engine, steering. The most recent is dated 2026-09-10. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Kia Sorento do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Kia Sorento failed the emissions check on 2.2% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.8% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	139	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	92	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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