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2020 Kia Sorento: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2020 / kia / sorento
known issues7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-26)
complaints134 on file (2020-02-23 → 2026-09-01)
recalls1
investigations1
fars25 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Transmission erratic shifting when coldPOWER TRAIN7 complaints2020-02 → 2020-11sorento-2020-cold-shift-transmission
  • 11310921 I HAVE A 2020 KIA SORENTO V6. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD OR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AN HOUR OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH
  • 11342828 TRANSMISSION STUTTERS OR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING, AND IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES
  • 11366977 WE PURCHASED THE 2020 SORRENTO V6 WITH THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN ERRATIC SHIFT WHEN IT WAS COLD
Sunroof and window shattering while drivingVISIBILITY5 complaints2021-03 → 2025-05sorento-2020-sunroof-window-shatter
  • 11498521 Friday 12/16 car was being driven at 55 MPH on a rural road with no traffic around it when the Panoramic Sunroof exploded. Very loud boom and my wife thought she had a blow out
  • 11541817 While driving on a paved highway, very light traffic in the early afternoon at approximately 65 miles per hour the sunroof on my vehicle suddenly and violently exploded spraying shards of glass everywhere
  • 11400254 RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW CATASTROPHICALLY EXPLODED. RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROX 10MPH. BREAKING FOR STOP SIGN. TEMPERATURE 63F. OVERCAST
Headlight failure while drivingELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING3 complaints2025-01 → 2025-10sorento-2020-headlight-failure
  • 11694133 My headlights went out completely and without warning on a dark highway. No brights or even the orange running lights. Not even the front hazard lights would go on
  • 11695305 The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights became inoperable. The blinkers and the radio were inoperable for several seconds before returning to normal function
  • 11636996 Someone had to tell me the break lights were out and then we noticed that the headlights were also out as well
Excessive oil consumption and engine failureENGINE53 complaints2023-06 → 2026-08sorento-2020-oil-consumption-engine-failure
  • 11691282 I am filing a complaint regarding excessive engine oil consumption in my 2020 Kia Sorento. The vehicle burns oil between regular oil changes, requiring frequent top-ups
  • 11724830 I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a 2020 Kia Sorento that is experiencing severe and abnormal engine oil consumption along with confirmed cylinder wall scoring
  • 11655276 According to the dealership diagnostic assessment, the engine has two holes in the block as a result of connecting rod bearing failure. My Kia Sorento engine is a V6
Engine fire following internal failureENGINE, FIRERELATED7 complaints2022-09 → 2026-01sorento-2020-engine-fire-after-failure
  • 11648006 As I was driving down the street it sound like I ran over something but it was actually my engine failing, then caught on fire. I was able to pull over and used water bottles to let out the fire
  • 11622429 The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent a certified mechanic and an inspector from the manufacturer had been sent to inspect the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed the origin of the fire was caused by an engine failure
  • 11542902 The vehicle was not even 3.5 years old, it had been serviced in February 2023 and there was no warning before the fire began. The vehicle stopped accelerating and I immediately pulled over
Trailer hitch harness recall fire and parts delayTRAILER HITCHES12 complaints2022-10 → 2026-02sorento-2020-trailer-hitch-recall-fire
  • 11718700 This recall identifies a fire risk due to a potential electrical short in the tow hitch harness module. The recall notice specifically warns that a vehicle fire may occur while parked or driving
  • 11656250 The contact stated the fuse box located on the driver's side had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department
  • 11520112 The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle
Service brake failure to stopSERVICE BRAKES4 complaints2021-02 → 2023-09sorento-2020-brake-failure-to-stop
  • 11406564 VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF US ON A STATE HIGHWAY. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR FAILED TO STOP WITHIN REASONABLE DISTANCE AND PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT
  • 11546800 While driving my 2020 Kia Sorrento at low speeds, my brakes will lock up on me, and it sounds like metal to metal
  • 11397141 THE ABS DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO PULSATE MY KIA DOES NOT DO THAT WHEN I HAVE TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES THE BRAKES DO WHAT I CALL SKIP WHERE MY FOOT IS USUALLY PUSHED OFF BRAKES AND STOPS BRAKING COMPLETELY

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
1342020-02-232026-09-01911ENGINE:64; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:24; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:19; POWER TRAIN:18; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:9

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
22V70300019/09/2022TRAILER HITCHESKia 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.A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.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.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
DP22003closedLoss of Motive PowerENGINE2022-09-122023-12-12·The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complain

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202425legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2020 Kia Sorento vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/kia/sorento
@misc{wrenchpro_2020_kia_sorento_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2020 Kia Sorento},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/kia/sorento}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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