FaultScore

2020 KIA Sportage driver assist problems

10 of the 205 complaints about the 2020 KIA Sportage are about the driver-assist systems — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 530 miles.

F

10

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Emergency Braking 3 30.0%
Warnings 2 20.0%
Assist 2 20.0%
Blind Spot Detection 1 10.0%
Adaptive Cruise Control 1 10.0%
Warnings 1 10.0%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every KIA Sportage year

2020 10 10.3%
2023 60 61.9%
2024 13 13.4%
2025 14 14.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Philadelphia, PA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

I was driving my 2020 Kia Sportage recently and experienced a safety issue 3 times within 30 minutes. I was driving on a highway (Pennsylvania Turnpike/I-76) at night. Prior to the issue occurring, I drove through an area where snow was falling, there was fresh salt on the road, and I had been behind salt trucks briefly at different times. While driving through the snow and with exposure to the salt, my car notified me that the forward Collision Detection system could not operate because the sensors were blocked. Some time later in the drive, after that notification had turned off and remained off for a bit of time, I engaged my cruise control which uses the forward Collision Detection system. At 3 different times, I either approached a barrier (which run a large portion of I-76 to separate the east and west bound lanes) or a vehicle (I believe it was a semi truck) in the lane next to me while entering a curve. While entering the curve, the sensor saw these items and falsely detected a vehicle in front of me, and responded by rapidly slowing my vehicle. Two times the vehicle speed dropped about 20 mph within 30 seconds. On each occasion, I was fortunate that there was no vehicle close behind me that likely would have rear-ended me.

NHTSA complaint #11710132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockton, CA Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Vehicle has excessive wandering, that is intermittent, during traffic, surrounding traffic on freeways and on slight wind and rain. The vehicle exhibits behavior that is very very unstable.. I’ve had the vehicle for about three years and it’s been doing this for about two years now intermittently I recently took it into the Kia dealership in Stocton to have it looked at nothing was determined other than the state of the problem.

NHTSA complaint #11707561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockton, CA Crash

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

Vehicle has excessive wandering, that is intermittent, during traffic, surrounding traffic on freeways and on slight wind and rain. The vehicle exhibits behavior that is very very unstable.. I’ve had the vehicle for about three years and it’s been doing this for about two years now intermittently I recently took it into the Kia dealership in Stocton to have it looked at nothing was determined other than the state of the problem.

NHTSA complaint #11707561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelby, AL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Engine Overheated lights on dash HECU ABS ADAS CRUISE CONTROL TIRE SENSOR WINDOW DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AUTO DIMMER RADIO BLANKS OUT WATER PUMP WENT OUT TOW TRUCK DAMAGED MY CAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY DAMAGES UNTIL I WAS ACCUSED BY DEALERSHIP I HIT SOMETHING AS I DID NOT. I HAVE WITNESSES N PICTURES.

NHTSA complaint #11690086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

APO, OR Crash 1 injured

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

A vehicle failed to the right of way to me and resulted in a front end collision. Upon collision the airbags deployed and immediately began smoking. I thought my car was about to catch fire and smelt as if was going to. The airbags heat alone resulted in the entire arm of my jacket to completely melt and I now have a permanent scar on my left wrist from where I was burned.

NHTSA complaint #11521590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Charleston, WV

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

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 .

NHTSA complaint #11511063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

I have and had many problems including: Steering components that break suddenly, causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control, Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, which result in leakage of fuel and may cause vehicle fires or gets a strong fire smell at the moment, the Accelerator controls that break or stick and has been acknowledged a Kia dealership repair man. Most recently, Wheels that make loud cracking sound, which may result in loss of vehicle control, had a poor Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate properly causing bad vision for driving, Critical care components that are constantly and simantously needing repair. Beyond belief. Also, Wiring system problems that result in a strong fire smell, or loss of lighting, Wiring system problems that result in a strong fire smell or loss of lighting, or loss of power. Many times, I have been left stranded after having 20 seconds of power flickering and then the car abruptly shuts off. This is very hazardous. I fear for my 5 year old child when this happens. I also have proof of emergency road side assistance for loss of power. Furthermore, I have proof and evidence via road side assistance, many invoices to different dealerships all keeping my car for several hours for diagnostic testing. Then after paying for the services, my car will have another episode of leaving me stranded in bad situations., I have pictures and videos of all these malfunctions occurring and its only a part of what I have been able to catch on video and camera because it happens so fast. I had all of the lights light up on ths dash almost looks like Christmas lights. On and off I have pictures.

NHTSA complaint #11491474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

I have and had many problems including: Steering components that break suddenly, causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control, Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, which result in leakage of fuel and may cause vehicle fires or gets a strong fire smell at the moment, the Accelerator controls that break or stick and has been acknowledged a Kia dealership repair man. Most recently, Wheels that make loud cracking sound, which may result in loss of vehicle control, had a poor Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate properly causing bad vision for driving, Critical care components that are constantly and simantously needing repair. Beyond belief. Also, Wiring system problems that result in a strong fire smell, or loss of lighting, Wiring system problems that result in a strong fire smell or loss of lighting, or loss of power. Many times, I have been left stranded after having 20 seconds of power flickering and then the car abruptly shuts off. This is very hazardous. I fear for my 5 year old child when this happens. I also have proof of emergency road side assistance for loss of power. Furthermore, I have proof and evidence via road side assistance, many invoices to different dealerships all keeping my car for several hours for diagnostic testing. Then after paying for the services, my car will have another episode of leaving me stranded in bad situations., I have pictures and videos of all these malfunctions occurring and its only a part of what I have been able to catch on video and camera because it happens so fast. I had all of the lights light up on ths dash almost looks like Christmas lights. On and off I have pictures.

NHTSA complaint #11491474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gibsonia, PA

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

I am writing because this is an accident, just "waiting to happen." I buy a new car every 3 or 4 years. I purchase every option, and even purchase the extended warranty package to 7 yrs, because of all the electronics in newer cars. I have never noticed on any of them, what I believe is an unsafe driving condition, until now. On my 2020 Kia Sportage...at night, when dark, and you turn off either Left or Right...for some reason, the light does not follow you...it stays focused straight ahead. So, for some seconds, you cannot see, until your car straightens out again. This, I believe is a safety issue. If there was something, in that blind spot few seconds, you would hit it; a child, a biker, a large hole, an animal or some unexpected thing...because it is impossible to see until the car totally straightens again. Accidents happen in seconds. I drive very slowly in turns, since I realized the bad decision someone at KIA made with the lighting package on this car.....but with that extra caution I take, I realize also, that someone coming behind me on the turn, could actually run into me, not expecting me to go slow as I turn off left or right....much slower than I would in daylight. I have called KIA Service and the 800 Customer Service number as well...they just refer you back and forth. So, I am writing to Consumer Safety hoping you can help. This is not an "option", it is a Safety Issue. Sincerely, [XXX] I bought it from Jim Shorkey dealership in Wexford, PA INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11448367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 530 miles Ivoryton, CT

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

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.

NHTSA complaint #11413445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2020 KIA Sportage problems

← Full 2020 KIA Sportage report