2020 Kia Sportage
Common Problems
Ranked from 49 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
13 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
Engine oil consumption and continuous oil addition
11complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes oil rapidly, requiring frequent refills.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine Catastrophic Failure
10complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine suddenly fails, leading to a loss of power and potentially causing a dangerous situation.
- 3
Engine stalling and vibration
7complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls and vibrates abnormally, often accompanied by warning lights.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Sunroof explosion and glass shattering
4complaintsHigh severityOtherThe sunroof explodes and shatters, posing a safety risk to passengers.
- 5
Engine Knocking and Misfire
3complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine experiences knocking and misfires, often accompanied by a check engine light.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Brake system failure and unexpected acceleration
2complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe vehicle accelerates uncontrollably without pressing the gas pedal, leading to potential accidents.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V137000
- 7
Engine Power Loss on Highway
2complaintsMedium severityEngineWhile driving on the highway, the engine loses power suddenly, reducing speed and creating a safety hazard.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Seizure Without Warning
2complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine seizes unexpectedly, often without warning, leading to potential loss of control.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine Warning Light Malfunction
2complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine warning lights, such as the oil light, malfunction or fail to indicate issues, leading to undetected failures.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Fuel Leak Causing Fire
2complaintsSafety riskOtherFuel leaks occur, leading to fires and potential explosion risks.
$300–$1,200est. fuel line/tank repair · 2–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Odometer Fraud
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe odometer is tampered with, showing a lower mileage than the actual usage.
- 12
Stealing Due to Defective Ignition Column
2complaintsSafety riskOtherThe ignition column can be bypassed using a cell phone charger, making the vehicle easy to steal.
- 13
Steering Wheel Seizure During Slow Speed Turns
2complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe steering wheel locks up during slow speed turns, requiring significant force to unlock.
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.