2020 Kia Sportage · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 37owner reports
- 65,000median miles
- $4,040median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
83 of the 161 complaints on this car are about the engine. 37 of those describe engine failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Sportage.
Tick what matches of 37 reports
Engine failure on other Sportage years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2023, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (37 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Sportage
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-224.
Fan blade cracking/separation. Closed apr 16, 2007, led to recall 07V-161.
Fan blade cracking/separation. Closed jan 22, 2007.
What owners paid
11 of the 37 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,000 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 48,000 and 75,400 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Kia Sportage that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
TSB - Rev2 - KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1806) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1806_R1) This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage for some 2020MY Sportage (QL) ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1806) This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage for some 2020MY Sportage (QL) ...
What owners wrote
“Need an engine replaced for the infamous knocking of the motor from the previous class action but my model isnât covered. Ridiculous to need a new engine on a less than 5 year old car”
Filed Aug 13, 2026
“I bought vehicle used from a Honda dealership at 51,000 miles. At 55,000 my engine broke, mechanics found metal fragments in my engine. The Honda dealer nor Kia were willing to do nothing. So I had purchase new engine at 12,000.”
Filed Jul 9, 2026 · 51,000 miles
“The car shook and lights came on at a stop light and began violently knocking. Since it was at a stop light the safety was a risk had the hazard lights weren't engaged immediately. The dealer confirmed it was a catastrophic engine failure. An inspector for the warranty company was deployed two times. The lights only appeared at the time of engine failure.”
Filed May 22, 2026
“My car is a 2020 Kia sportage with 65,000 miles. We bought it bran new. Since we bought the car we've had problems. We took it to the Kia dealership and they did an oil consumption test. They said the car needed a new engine. Kia cooperation refuses to replace the engine and want us to pay for it because they due to lack of documented oil changes.”
Filed Dec 3, 2025 · 65,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 37 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Burns oil or oil level rises 31 reports