Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Kia Sportage. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving
- Summary
- 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.
- 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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
Engine Compartment Fire
- Summary
- 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 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (161)
161 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 161 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 74 | 46% |
| Unknown or other | 31 | 19.3% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 11.8% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 7.5% |
| Structure | 10 | 6.2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 5.6% |
| Steering | 8 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 4.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 3.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3.1% |
How 2020 compares with other Sportage years
Best and worst Sportage years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 132 | 2 |
| 2017 | 401 | 4 |
| 2018 | 164 | 3 |
| 2019 | 70 | 2 |
| 2020 | 161 | 2 |
| 2021 | 53 | 2 |
| 2022 | 46 | 1 |
| 2023 | 191 | 6 |
| 2024 | 71 | 3 |
| 2025 | 52 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Kia Sportage suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 351 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 351 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 392 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 421 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 Sportage for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Kia Sportage FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 22V703000 (trailer hitches), 21V137000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Kia Sportage problems?
Owners filed 161 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (74), Unknown or other (31), Electrical system (19) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Kia Sportage get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 23 city, 30 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Kia Sportage get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Kia Sportage suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (15.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Sportage compare with other years?
Among the 2016–2021 Kia Sportage model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (53) and the 2017 the most (401). The 2020 drew 161. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.