2020 KIA Sportage Engine Problems
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2020 KIA Sportage, 46% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 21,014 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil change” (25% of reports).
- 75engine complaints
- 21,014median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 53%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil change: mentioned in 19 of 75 complaints (25%)
- Limp mode: mentioned in 5 of 75 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2020 KIA Sportage at $4,900, and half of them between $1,450 and $7,450.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2024–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 8 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 75 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 1 an injury.
KIA Sportage engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sportage | 6 | 11% | 3,500 |
| 2024 Sportage | 10 | 14% | 17,850 |
| 2023 Sportage | 38 | 20% | 47,000 |
| 2022 Sportage | 21 | 46% | 42,000 |
| 2021 Sportage | 23 | 43% | 59,960 |
| 2020 Sportage | 75 | 46% | 21,014 |
| 2019 Sportage | 36 | 51% | 40,000 |
| 2018 Sportage | 91 | 55% | 18,400 |
| 2017 Sportage | 220 | 55% | 68,500 |
| 2016 Sportage | 62 | 46% | 84,000 |
| 2015 Sportage | 84 | 58% | 91,000 |
| 2014 Sportage | 72 | 58% | 92,750 |
| 2013 Sportage | 301 | 79% | 100,000 |
| 2012 Sportage | 328 | 84% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Sportage | 77 | 43% | 99,500 |
| 2010 Sportage | 2 | 10% | 100,000 |
| 2009 Sportage | 10 | 13% | 80,500 |
| 2008 Sportage | 17 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Sportage | 8 | 10% | 97,500 |
| 2006 Sportage | 15 | 14% | 126,000 |
| 2005 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 111,195 |
| 2002 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 150,075 |
| 2001 Sportage | 1 | 0% | 92,000 |
| 2000 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 96,989 |
| 1999 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 250,695 |
| 1998 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 60,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2020 KIA Sportage. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Rod Bearing failure June 29,2026 with prior Kia manufacturer recalls June 19,2023: (1.) SC206, HECU fire Recall, a serious safety recall regarding the Hydraulic Electronic Control unit. The circuit board can short out and cause an engine bay fire even when the vehicle is parked. (2.) SC249B (Tow…
My daughter's 2020 Kia Sportage S was purchased September 22, 2025 from a Nissan Dealership with 96,574 miles on it. It dove great. She used it less than 20 miles per day on residential streets to get to and from work and to church on Sunday. It was not used for interstate or freeway driving. By…
Need an engine replaced for the infamous knocking of the motor from the previous class action but my model isnât covered. Ridiculous to need a new engine on a less than 5 year old car
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 KIA Sportages have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 75 owner complaints about engine for the 2020 KIA Sportage (46% of the 162 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2020 KIA Sportage engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 21,014 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2020 KIA Sportage?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,900 (half paid between $1,450 and $7,450), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2020 KIA Sportage?
The most frequent phrase is “oil change”, in 19 of 75 complaints, followed by “limp mode” (5).
See all 2020 KIA Sportage problems or engine problems across all Sportage years.