10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,879 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2020 Kia Sportage electrical problems

electrical problem

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2020 Kia Sportage Owner Comments

problem #8

Apr 202024

Sportage

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On [XXX] had oil change at Kia of Orangeburg, SC. On [XXX] travelled to Summerville, SC on [XXX]. Exited at the [XXX] exit and stopped at the traffic light. Observed smoke coming from under the hood. Pulled over at gas station on right. My daughter opened the hood and there was fire under the hood. Dropped hood and called 911. Fire Department arrived and put the fire out. There were no warning lights in dash board or unpleasant odors observed while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Holly Hill, SC, USA

problem #7

May 262023

Sportage

  • miles
KIA America sent a letter to me dated May 8, 2023 regarding the interim repair to mitigate the spontaneous fire hazard for vehicles equipped with the Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory with which my 2020 KIA Sportage is equipped. I made the initial appointment on May 9, 2023 with the local KIA dealer, Westgate KIA Wake Forest, NC, to have the interim fix done. When we arrived at the dealer, the service manager told us they had not been notified of an interim fix. We made another on May 26, 2023 at the same dealership to have the interim fix done and this time bought the May 8, 2023 Interim Notice Update letter with us which noted that the dealer would change the fuse associated with the trailer wiring harness. The service tech told me again that nothing would be done but agreed to examine our vehicle. When I picked up the vehicle, the service tech told me that nothing had been done, that the vehicle did not need a fuse change as noted in the letter, and that our vehicle would be noted at KIA as "Recall Completed". The KIA connect website, https://owners.kia.com/us/en/recalls.html, updated through May 27, 2023 still shows our vehicle as "Recall Incomplete". We plan a trip and cannot leave our vehicle parked in the street as required by KIA.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #6

Mar 302023

Sportage

  • miles
The genuino Kia Tow Hitch Harness accessory si un ruso of fire02

- Lynwood , CA, USA

problem #5

Dec 202022

Sportage

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Fuse out and back doesn't open by its self. Not sure if it's supposed to. I don't remember and the guy who sold it to me no longer works there. I was in park and the lane assist came on.

- South Charleston, WV, USA

problem #4

Jan 262022

Sportage

  • miles
My car caught on fire in campground where I was staying. Also burned up 2 other vehicles, my RV was deemed a total loss and it also damaged 2 other campers. There was a fire investigation which was ordered by my insurance and there is another mechanical engineer investigation pending. There was a recall on my car and I had taken it to dealership last year for repair. There was no warning lights.

- Tuscaloosa , AL, USA

problem #3

Jan 122021

Sportage

  • 530 miles
The screen in car goes completely blank and will not go back on till you turn car back on. Blind spot warning doesn't always work on highway collision light comes on when there isn't anyone in front of you backroads and highway.

- Ivoryton, CT, USA

problem #2

Mar 152021

Sportage

  • 12,500 miles
I was driving and I began smelling a burning smell when I hit the brakes. The smell has gotten stronger and not gone away. I made an appointment at the dealership after finding out there was recalls on vehicle that were my make and model and the recall described exactly what was happening. The dealership was not helpful. They said they had not gotten a recall on my specific car yet and though they could detect an 'odor' they weren't certain what it was from and literally told me to not park indoors. And if my car caught fire to exit quickly. I also called Kia and they told me the same thing and that I could try another place for a second opinion. I told them there was a recall and my fuses needed to be checked. No one wanted to help me.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #1

Jan 152021

Sportage

  • 2,000 miles
Animals are chewing on the wires, causing the electrical system to fail while driving. This has happened multiple times in a car less than a year old

- South Glastonbury, CT, USA

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