2020 Kia Sorento
Common Problems
Ranked from 46 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
10 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Excessive Engine Oil Consumption
14complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes oil at an alarming rate, often requiring frequent refills.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Electrical System Failure Leading to Fire
11complaintsHigh severityElectricalAn electrical system failure leads to a fire, potentially causing significant damage and safety risks.
- 3
Engine Misfire and Cylinder Failure
11complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine misfires and cylinders fail, leading to poor acceleration and engine performance issues.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Engine Failure During Highway Driving
5complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine suddenly fails and stops responding, leading to a complete engine failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Transmission shifting erratically when cold
4complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission shifts erratically between 20 and 40 mph when the engine is cold or has been sitting for an hour or so.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, leading to potential rear-end collisions.
- 7
Oil Pressure Sensor Issues
2complaintsLow severityEngineOil pressure sensors malfunction, causing check engine lights to illuminate.
- 8
Recall issues with trailer hitches
2complaintsLow severityOtherIssues with the trailer hitches, including parts unavailability and exceeding the recall repair timeframe.
- 9
Sunroof Explodes Without External Cause
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe sunroof explodes without any external impact, posing a risk to the occupants and vehicle integrity.
- 10
Suspension Issues Causing Loss of Control
2complaintsMedium severitySuspensionSuspension issues lead to loss of control, increasing the risk of accidents during high-speed driving.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.