Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Sorento, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine66
- Unknown or other25
- Electrical system20
- Power train18
- Fuel/propulsion system10
- Trailer hitches9
- Exterior lighting5
- Service brakes5
- Steering4
- Vehicle speed control4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 21 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 52 2020 Sorento vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 20 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2020 Kia Sorento failed the safety check 1.47% of the time — 25% more often than the average 2020 passenger car (1.18%). Median odometer at inspection: 37,481 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2020
6,750 new Kia Sorento cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2020; the largest markets were Germany (2,645), the United Kingdom (1,174), Poland (751).
- Average mass
- 1,924 kg
- Average CO₂
- 180 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 144 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 77% · Petrol 23%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
54 first registered in 2020 are on Dutch roads; 43% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €55,960.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde16
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht5
- Gordel beschadigd2
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm2
- Bandenspanning op 1 as niet gelijk2
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1
- Koplamp met afwijkend lichtbeeld onjuist afgesteld1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,164 cars built in 2020 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 6 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,179 of these cars first registered in 2020 took their annual MOT test. 87% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2020 the figure was 88%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.0% | 3.0% |
| Tyres | 3.4% | 4.9% |
| Visibility | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Suspension | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Brakes | 0.8% | 1.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
141 of these cars first registered in 2020 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 91,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
475 2020 cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% arrived as used imports, 99% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Sorento SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.8 % |
| 2020 Kia Sorento SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 15.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.2–11.1 L/100 km (about 21–23 mpg US), CO₂ 242–261 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorento AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 9.0 | 10.2 |
| Sorento AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.3 | 9.5 | 11.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2020 Kia Sorento.
| 2024549 15 Aug 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" a… |
| 2021680 5 Nov 2021 | Electrical Issue: Certain vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer wiring harness that could fail. Over time, water could leak into the control module and caus… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Kia told its dealers about the 2020 Kia Sorento: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11008051 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT (WTY034) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the Warranty Extension Program (WTY034) to diagnose the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) accompanied by DTC P0088 and, if necessary, replace the high-pressure fuel pump on 2019-2021 MY Sedona vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2018 through July 8, 2020, 2017-2020 MY Cadenza vehicles man |
| 11001595 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined o |
| 11000787 | This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced. |
| 11000356 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT (WTY034) - his bulletin provides information associated with the Warranty Extension Program (WTY034) to diagnose the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) accompanied by DTC P0088 and, if necessary, replace the high-pressure fuel pump on 2019-2021 MY Sedona vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2018 through July 8, 2020, 2017-2020 MY Cadenza vehicles manufactured from June 2, 2016 through October 15, 2020, and 2019-2020 MY Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 Engines manufactured from January 24, 2018 t |
| 11000354 | WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY034) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension program launch. |
| 11000349 | WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY034) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the high-pressure fuel pump in certain 2019-2020 MY Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 Engines from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. |
| 11000310 | WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY034) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension Campaign WTY034. |
| 11000309 | WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGERS MEMO (WTY034) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the high-pressure fuel pump for eligible vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address the high-pressure fuel pump condition on 2019-2021 MY Sedona vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2018 through |
| 11000308 | WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY034) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the high-pressure fuel pump for eligible vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address the high-pressure fuel pump condition on the following vehicles: 2019-2021 MY Sedona vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2018 through July 8, |
| 10253007 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING NOISE INSPECTION AND SNAP RING REPLACEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to inspect for a knocking/clicking noise present in the rear of the vehicle during low-speed driving (25MPH or less) on some 2020-2022MY Kia vehicles equipped with All Wheel Drive (AWD). The 4WD coupling snap ring may have excessive play between the drive gear set shaft and coupling flange. |
| 10250517 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN 5.0 WIDE NON-RESPONSIVE RADIO ICON (AM, FM, SXM) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to update the software on 5th Generation AVN wide on certain 2020-2024MY Kia vehicles (refer to model list on page 3) to remedy a 'non-responsive' or 'inoperative' radio (FM, AM, SXM, etc. ) concern. The affected AVN unit on the vehicles may not respond when pressing the 'RADIO' hard key/button on the AVN unit or when selecti |
| 10245266 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING NOISE INSPECTION AND SNAP RING REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to inspect for a knocking/clicking noise present in the rear of the vehicle during low-speed driving (25MPH or less) on some 2020-2022MY Kia vehicles equipped with All Wheel Drive (AWD). The 4WD coupling snap ring may have excessive play between the drive gear set shaft and coupling flange. |
| 10243924 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined o |
| 10242982 | This bulletin provides information to update the software on 5th Generation AVN wide on certain 2020-2024MY Kia vehicles (refer to model list on page 3) to remedy a 'non-responsive' or 'inoperative' radio (FM, AM, SXM, etc. ) concern. The affected AVN unit on the vehicles may not respond when pressing the 'RADIO' hard key/button on the AVN unit or when selecting the 'RADIO' icon on the AVN menu screen. |
| 10242913 | PITSTOP: AWD SYSTEM CONCERN DUE TO TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE - This Pitstop provides information regarding potential concerns with the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system due to tire sizes of differing circumference. Some customers may complain of a chatter sensation felt in the drivetrain of the vehicle and/or the failure of drivetrain component(s). A difference in tire size (width, aspect ratio, construction, rim diameter etc.) may be the cause. |
| 10240563 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: KIA GENUINE REMOTE START CONTROL MODULE UPGRADE FOR ANTI-THEFT LOGIC COMPATIBILITY (CS2310) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to update the software logic in the Kia Genuine Remote Start Control Module on certain 2012-2022MY model vehicles listed on page 7. Vehicles equipped with a Kia Genuine Remote Start feature and have had the Anti-Theft software logic (CS230*) applied to the Integrated |
| 10240558 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined o |
| 10240267 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RE-NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner re-notification advising that Kia has developed a software upgrade that can be installed on the vehicle to restrict the operation of the vehicle's ignition system should a locked vehicle be the subject of a break-in and theft attempt without the key. This software upgrade will be available to the customer free of charge for eighteen (18) months from the date of the original letter. When the software upgrade is complete, Kia will also provide the customer with window stickers that can be applied to the vehicle to |
| 10239714 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined o |
| 10239108 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: KIA GENUINE REMOTE START CONTROL MODULE UPGRADE FOR ANTI-THEFT LOGIC COMPATIBILITY (CS2310) - This bulletin provides information to update the software logic in the Kia Genuine Remote Start Control Module on certain 2012-2022MY model vehicles listed on page 6. Vehicles equipped with a Kia Genuine Remote Start feature and have had the Anti-Theft software logic (CS230*) applied to the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM) may experience five (5) inadvertent honks after starting the vehicle with the remote start feature. |
| 10236650 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined o |
| 10236078 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined |
| 10235104 | PIT STOP: LOG FILE COLLECTION FOR AVN 5.0/W AND DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0 - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This Pitstop contains information regarding the log file collection procedure for 2020MY~ models equipped with AVN 5.0/W or Display Audio 2.0 head units. |
| 10233638 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area.This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined on |
| 10233314 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 20132015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2023MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined on page 10, which may not be equipped with an immobilizer. This logic upgrade will add anti-theft ignition start logic to the vehicle's system operation. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Motive Power
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation