2020 Kia Sportage: Engine complaints
Owner-reported issue (NHTSA complaints, not a recall)
Symptoms
NHTSA has 85 owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Sportage that list the engine component. Complaints are individual owner reports, not verified defects.
Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11773080 (filed 10/22/2026): “I was driving and my vehicle and saw smoke and it caught on fire and burnt..…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11770638 (filed 10/12/2026): “Rod bearing failure june 29,2026 with prior kia manufacturer recalls june 19,2023: (1.) sc206, hecu fire recall, a serious safety recall regarding the hydraulic electronic control unit. the circuit board can short out and cause an engine bay fire even when the vehicle is parked. (2.) sc249b (tow hit…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11767293 (filed 09/27/2026): “My daughter's 2020 kia sportage s was purchased september 22, 2025 from a nissan dealership with 96,574 miles on it. it dove great. she used it less than 20 miles per day on residential streets to get to and from work and to church on sunday. it was not used for interstate or freeway driving. by …”
Likely causes
These complaints do not establish a single root cause; read the examples above and get a diagnosis.
Fix, in plain English
No single fix is established by these reports. Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer about technical service bulletins (TSBs) or extended warranty coverage, then have the system diagnosed.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range for this issue. Get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .