2020 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 09/08/2026

64Engine complaints

47.8%Of all 134 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE64 · 47.8%

Unspecified / other24 · 17.9%

POWER TRAIN18 · 13.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 · 11.9%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9 · 6.7%

Share of the 134 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Kia Sorento overview page.

What owners report

“Car is 6 years old less then 100k miles and losing oil and motor problems Went through entire oil change in 1 month Kia unable…”NHTSA complaint 11738032 — filed 05/15/2026

“2020 Kia Sorento consuming 1.5 or more quarts of oil every 1,000 miles. Completing oil consumption testing with Kia dealer, which requires I take the…”NHTSA complaint 11733852 — filed 04/26/2026

“Oil pressure light would come on and off, dealer said was probably the sensor got it replaced. Came back on the night I picked it…”NHTSA complaint 11730918 — filed 04/13/2026

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Kia Sorento have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Kia Sorento: 64 of 134 complaints on file (47.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Kia Sorento have in total?

134 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 09/08/2026.