2020 KIA Sorento Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sorento years
- Fewer complaints than other years 18th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 KIA Sorento. That ranks 18th out of 24 Sorento model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (66 complaints, 48%), typically at around 61,500 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 12 fires, 21 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 137owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2020 KIA Sorento problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 66 | 48% | 61,500 | “burning oil” (14%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 24 | 18% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 20 | 15% | 60,594 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 13% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 7% | 17,500 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 9 | 7% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 4% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 3% | 18,250 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | 79,163 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 2% | 8,550 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 2% | 4,357 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 5,073 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2020 KIA Sorento recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Trailer hitchesPark outside
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from under the hood of the vehicle and the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was temporarily illuminated. The…
Driving at highway speed, the vehicle began to make a loud rattling noise that came from under the vehicle. A passerby pulled even with my car and began frantically gesturing. After a few seconds of confusion, me daughter said the she thought the man was saying "it's on fire." We pulled over to the…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into gear with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked back and forth, accelerated unintendedly, and crashed into the corner plaster wall of a friend's garage, causing plaster to…
While driving my 2020 Kia Sorento on the freeway at highway speed, the panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered without warning. There was a very loud explosive sound that startled and frightened me while I was driving. I was not aware of anything striking the sunroof immediately before it shattered…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the front passengerâs side air bag warning light remained illuminated while an occupant was seated in the front passengerâs seat. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls or warranty…
Other KIA Sorento years
← 2019 Sorento · 2021 Sorento →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 Sorento | 76 | 3 |
| 2024 Sorento | 42 | 2 |
| 2023 Sorento | 123 | 3 |
| 2022 Sorento | 193 | 6 |
| 2021 Sorento | 254 | 4 |
| 2020 | 137 | 1 |
| 2019 Sorento | 431 | 2 |
| 2018 Sorento | 255 | 3 |
| 2017 Sorento | 806 | 4 |
| 2016 Sorento | 1,254 | 8 |
| 2015 Sorento | 753 | 3 |
| 2014 Sorento | 988 | 6 |
| 2013 Sorento | 981 | 5 |
| 2012 Sorento | 880 | 5 |
| 2011 Sorento | 1,520 | 7 |
| 2010 Sorento | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 Sorento | 55 | 2 |
| 2008 Sorento | 217 | 3 |
| 2007 Sorento | 154 | 4 |
| 2006 Sorento | 242 | 1 |
| 2005 Sorento | 307 | 0 |
| 2004 Sorento | 220 | 0 |
| 2003 Sorento | 305 | 1 |
See all KIA Sorento problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 KIA Sorento?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 66 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2020 KIA Sorento?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2020 KIA Sorento a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sorento model years, the 2020 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.