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2020 Kia Sportage

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA160
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2020 Kia Sportage is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sportage FWD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 160 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Sportage FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl233026$2,400
Sportage AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl222623$2,700
Sportage FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823$2,700
Sportage AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192421$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41227, 41230, 41228, 41231.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Kia Sportage is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC249
Park outside70,887 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V703000reported Sep 19, 2022Kia America, Inc.
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SC206
Park outside379,931 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskAn engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V137000reported Mar 4, 2021Kia Motors America

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires open

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 by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

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

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
160complaints filed

11 involved a crash · 12 a fire · 8 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 45 · 2026: 29

Most-cited components

Engine73
Unspecified31
Electrical System19
Structure10
Engine And Engine Cooling9
Steering8

What owners describe

“- On four separate occasions, the car failed to start. On all four occasions, it was towed to the Yonkers Kia dealer. It is available for inspection if necessary. - Failure to start jeopardizes my safety as I could be stranded in the wrong neighborhood or situation. - The problem was reproduced on the third tow to the …”Jan 28, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“I have and had many problems including: Steering components that break suddenly, causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control, Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, which result in leakage of fuel and may cause vehicle fires or gets a strong fire smell at the…”Oct 30, 2022 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the check engine and the oil pressure warning lights were illuminated, and the engine seized. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact opened the hood and noticed that there was no engine oil in the vehicle though he had co…”Oct 17, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Compare the 2020 Sportage with

2020 Honda CR-V →2020 Chevrolet Equinox →2020 Nissan Rogue →

Other Sportage model years

A

2027 Kia Sportage

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2026 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 32 complaints

A

2025 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 69 complaints

C

2024 Kia Sportage

3 recalls · 98 complaints

F

2023 Kia Sportage

7 recalls · 299 complaints

B

2022 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 46 complaints

C

2021 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 50 complaints

C

2019 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 69 complaints

F

2018 Kia Sportage

3 recalls · 162 complaints

F

2017 Kia Sportage

4 recalls · 399 complaints

C

2016 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 130 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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