2020 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
134 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
18,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 134 complaints (47.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.7% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.2% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 64 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Trailer Hitches | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Engine: 64; Unknown Or Other: 24; Power Train: 18; Electrical System: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Trailer Hitches: 9; Service Brakes: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 108 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 40 |
| 2026 | 30 |
2020: 7; 2021: 11; 2022: 11; 2023: 21; 2024: 14; 2025: 40; 2026: 30
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11310921 · 2020-02-23 (February 23, 2020)
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. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AT THE SAME SPEED, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THEY REPROGRAMED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE 2 TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN ALL 4 DRIVING MODES. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 10-22-2019 AND THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 3 OR 4 DAYS LATER AND CONTINUES THROUGH TODAY 2-23-2020.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326068 · 2020-05-26 (May 26, 2020)
THE TRANSMISSION WILL ACT IN A VERY ERRATIC MANNER WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST DRIVEN AFTER SITTING COLD FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS WHEN ACCELERATING, AND PERSISTS UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A FEW MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11326068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326295 · 2020-05-28 (May 28, 2020)
THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASE MY NEW KIA I HAD STARTED TO WORK THE MOTOR WAS COLD AND WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS IT SLIPPING WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT UNTIL MOTOR HAS WARMED UP I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STAYED TO JUST DRIVE IT UNTIL THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AND THEY WOULD CHECK ON IT THEN I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS GOING BACK DOWN WHEN DRIVING IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11326295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11342828 · 2020-08-02 (August 2, 2020)
TRANSMISSION STUTTERS OR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING, AND IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. IT IS WORST WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR TWO MONTHS AND IT HAS ACTED THIS WAY FROM DAY ONE.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11348480 · 2020-08-10 (August 10, 2020)
WHEN CAR IS COLD IT ACTS LIKE IT SKIPS TAKING OFF ON A HILL. ( TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY) TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE THAT SAID THIS IS NORMAL I THINK IT WILL BE A LOT WORST THIS WINTER WHEN IT GETS REAL COLD AS THE CAR HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF AND PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC
Owner-reported narrative. 6,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 11348480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366977 · 2020-10-29 (October 29, 2020)
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. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT. FOUND OUT WHEN I PICK UP THE VEHICLE UP THAT THEY IN FACT INSTALLED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE NOW HAS 1100 MILES ON IT. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AND THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT A KAI REP WAS GOING TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11366977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375411 · 2020-11-19 (November 19, 2020)
I BOUGHT THIS CAN BRAND NEW 4/30/20. I NOTICED SMALL ERRATIC STUTTERING IN THE ENGINE WHILE CRUISING AT 30-40 MPH. I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS OR THAT I DID SOMETHING TO CREATE IT. A FRIEND WAS RIDING WITH ME AND SSK WHAT WHAT CAUSING THE ISSUES. I SAID YOU CAN FEEL THAT? I TOOK THE CAR IN IN OCT @ THE FIRST OILD CHANGE 6KMILES ON THE CARE AT THIS POINT. THE DRIVE MODE WOULD BE DIFFERENT EACH STARTING AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. THEY RESET THE DRIVE MODES AND SAID THAT SHOULD FIX IT. HERE WE ARE A MTH LATER AT 7K MILES…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387446 · 2021-01-11 (January 11, 2021)
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AUG 2020. AS OF JAN 10, 2021 "CHECK BLIND SPOT COLLISION WARNING (BCW) SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 6 TIMES. IF THE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTS. LIGHT HAS ALSO COME ON WHILE WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT. THE BCW SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF THE LAST TWO TIMES THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE LAST TIME IT CAME ON WAS JAN 10, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45PM. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THE BCW SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF & THERE WERE NO VEHICLES NEXT TO ME. THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN FELT LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTED.…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387446 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V703000 · Trailer Hitches
Reported: 2022-09-19 (September 19, 2022)
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.
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗