2020 Kia Sorento Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Sorento. Part of Generation 3 — 2016–2020.

20192021
Complaints
176
per 10K Sold
23.6
US Sales
74,677
Crashes
15
Fires
18
Injuries
28
Fatalities
1
Recalls
1

Worst 2020 Kia Sorento Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#159 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:83,305 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:4
#216 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:17,448 mi
#315 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:78,000 mi
Fires:6
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Kia Sorento.

Engine Problems
59
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Avg Miles
83,305
Transmission / Drivetrain
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
17,448
Electrical Faults
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
6
Avg Miles
78,000
Trailer Hitches
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
36,000
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
17,500
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
16,000
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Firerelated
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Pressure/Temperature Sensor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Side/Rear Glass
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Sorento. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2020 Kia Sorento

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~70,887 vehicles.

22V703000Trailer Hitches
~70,887 affected

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.

Other Kia Sorento Years

2020 Kia Sorento — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2020 Kia Sorento reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2020 Kia Sorento has 176 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 59 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2020 Kia Sorento?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (59 complaints, avg 83,305 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (16 complaints, avg 17,448 mi); Electrical Faults (15 complaints, avg 78,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2020 Kia Sorento?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 61,680 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2020 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Kia Sorento include 15 crash-related reports, 18 fire reports, 28 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2020 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 70,887 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2020 Kia Sorento?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Sorento reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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