2020 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Kia Sportage | 2021 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 160 | 51 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 93 | 68 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–26 | 21–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 19,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sportage | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 73 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 6 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 6 |
| Structure | 10 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 2 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 22 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 0 |
| Stalling | 14 | 5 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 0 |
2020 Kia Sportage
2021 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.