2020 Kia Sorento Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2020 Kia Sorento, and owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2020 Kia Sorento
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Trailer hitches Park outside
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…
Remedy: 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.…
136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2020 Kia Sorento have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 21 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 41,561 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 40 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 26, 2026 · Engine
“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, accelerate”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2026 · Vehicle speed control
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2020 Kia Sorento (Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–22 / 24–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (S8) |
Compare Kia Sorento model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sorento model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Kia Sorento | 1 | 305 |
| 2004 Kia Sorento | 0 | 220 |
| 2005 Kia Sorento | 0 | 307 |
| 2006 Kia Sorento | 1 | 242 |
| 2007 Kia Sorento | 4 | 154 |
| 2008 Kia Sorento | 3 | 217 |
| 2009 Kia Sorento | 2 | 55 |
| 2010 Kia Sorento | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 7 | 1,519 |
| 2012 Kia Sorento | 5 | 880 |
| 2013 Kia Sorento | 5 | 981 |
| 2014 Kia Sorento | 6 | 988 |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 3 | 751 |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 8 | 1,254 |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 4 | 804 |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 3 | 255 |
| 2019 Kia Sorento | 2 | 428 |
| 2020 Kia Sorento | 1 | 136 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento | 4 | 250 |
| 2022 Kia Sorento | 6 | 190 |
| 2023 Kia Sorento | 3 | 122 |
| 2024 Kia Sorento | 2 | 42 |
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 3 | 75 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 2 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2020 Kia Sorento
How do I know if my 2020 Kia Sorento has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2020 Kia Sorento; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 22V703000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.