2018 Kia Sportage vs 2020 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Kia Sportage | 2020 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 163 | 160 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 133 | 93 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 21–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 22,250 mi | 19,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sportage | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 90 | 73 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 19 |
| Power Train | 18 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 | 7 |
| Steering | 9 | 8 |
| Structure | 6 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 23 | 16 |
| Oil consumption | 23 | 22 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 15 |
| Stalling | 11 | 14 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 8 |
2018 Kia Sportage
2020 Kia Sportage
Compare all Kia Sportage vs Kia Sportage years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.