2020 Kia Sportage: engine failure

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Engine · KS

My vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure, losing power on the roadway. The vehicle is currently located at the Kia dealership, and I have been provided a formal Repair Order showing an active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1326. Kia Corporate and the dealership are currently denying coverage under the In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation Class Action Settlement, claiming that the "VIN shows clean with no open issues." This is a fundamental misinterpretation of Kia's internal database. The VIN shows "clean" because the mandatory Product Improvement Campaign PI1806 (Knock Sensor Detection System / KSDS) was successfully completed on my vehicle on November 13, 2019. I hold physical, printed proof of this completed campaign from a certified Kia dealership. Under the terms of the court-approved settlement and Kia's own Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs): 1. Completion of the KSDS update (PI1806) qualifies the vehicle for a Lifetime Short-Block Warranty Extension against connecting rod bearing failure. 2. An active or history P1326 fault code mandates that the dealership perform a digital Bearing Clearance Test (BCT) and submit a Prior Authorization (PA) package to corporate for an engine replacement. By refusing to look at the historical campaign completion data and denying my claim based on a "closed/clean" status, Kia is actively violating the court-mandated terms of the settlement.

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Engine · MA

car and Jen was replaced October 2025 for engine failure 10 months later the engine begin stalling and not accelerating on the highway or on any road so we brought it to our dealership to get it looked at a code came up, which said the engine was in failure . no oke will cover the engine and kia wont stand behind the work that they did

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · OR

"While driving to work and actively attempting to pass another vehicle, the battery light suddenly illuminated out of nowhere. A short time later, while slowing down at a stoplight coming into town, the engine completely stalled out and died in the middle of a busy, active intersection. I lost all acceleration and power steering capabilities, and narrowly avoided an accident while coasting blindly across traffic to safety. The vehicle has had a chronic, active P0420 Catalytic Converter efficiency code caused by a known Kia manufacturing defect of massive, excessive oil consumption (requiring constant oil additions to maintain operation). The excessive oil burning directly fouled the exhaust and caused this sudden, life-threatening engine failure on a public roadway."

Filed Sep 27, 2026 · Engine · KS

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 June of 2026, we noticed that it was requiring more oil between oil changes. The oil level was checked at least once every other week to see if more oil needed to be added. We were adding about a quart of oil every two to three weeks although there was no evidence of excess smoke coming from the exhaust. Then on my daughter's way to work on August 13, 2026 she experienced a sudden shaking of the car and the engine light came on. She immediately pulled over and turned off the engine. We were out of town at the time so my son came to see what was wrong with the car. He checked the engine oil first and it was within the right level. The car was limped to the local Kia dealership to trouble shoot it and they said that there was evidence of rod/bearing failure in one cylinder that was causing the shaking. There is no fix for it other than to replace the engine at a dealer discounted price of $6,600. Kia corporate is offering a $1,000 credit toward the repair and the dealership is contributing $4,040 to the engine replacement. The car has 103,510 miles on it now. The Theta II 2.4 engine had an engine settlement that covered model years through 2019. Ours is a 2020 that was built in May 2019 and has the same engine that failed under the engine settlement. But ours is not covered. We are still in the process of working with the local Kia Dealership and Kia Corporate to make it right on an engine that clearly has known problems causing premature engine failures. I have owned or recommended to family members to buy Kia/Hyundai vehicles and between all of us we have had 13 Kia/Hyundai vehicles. This may be the last Kia/Hyundai vehicle that we own...

Filed Aug 13, 2026 · Engine · NJ

While driving on the expressway posted speed 65 was doing 70, left lane driving, suddenly my check engine light started flashing, my oil light came on and my vehicle started slowing down. Acceleration was not an option, causing hazardous conditions to have to put my hazards on and cross two lanes of heavy traffic. Vehicle went into limp mode. Vehicle was caught up on an oil change, and was regularly checked and filled with oil. Oil seemed to have been burning rapidly or just simply disappearing. The motor blew and i purchased this vehicle less than 6 months ago. I only put 4,000 miles on it. 2020 kia sportage s, dealership was lilliston ford. Took vehicle to kia dealership to get two safety campaigns fixed. They informed me i was only a couple hundred miles over my warranty and my repairs are not covered. I now have an inoperable vehicle that i have payments on, which now needs a new engine. No recalls matching my vin, only my make, model and year. All repairs were denied. Worst vehicle decision ive ever made…

Filed Aug 13, 2026 · Engine · TN

Need an engine replaced for the infamous knocking of the motor from the previous class action but my model isn’t covered. Ridiculous to need a new engine on a less than 5 year old car

Filed Jul 9, 2026 · Engine · CA

I bought vehicle used from a Honda dealership at 51,000 miles. At 55,000 my engine broke, mechanics found metal fragments in my engine. The Honda dealer nor Kia were willing to do nothing. So I had purchase new engine at 12,000.

Filed Jun 29, 2026 · Engine · NY

Engine died. Complete failure with 50,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2026 · Engine · 73,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was advised that it was normal for the vehicle to use a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The contact was advised to bring the vehicle to the dealer every 1,000 miles. The failure became a persistent failure. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was black smoke coming from the exhaust pipes and the engine seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jun 15, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IL

While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. I was able to safely pull to the side of the road. The engine would not restart. Upon inspection, the engine was found to be completely out of oil despite being maintained according to recommended oil change intervals and not being overdue for service. There were no visible oil leaks under the vehicle and no prior low oil warning light or oil pressure warning light was observed before the failure. The vehicle had previously been serviced by a Kia dealership for turbocharger-related concerns, including turbocharger boost control and wastegate actuator issues. The dealership later diagnosed the vehicle with a burnt valve in cylinder #1 and recommended complete engine replacement. I am concerned because this vehicle experienced excessive oil consumption without sufficient warning to prevent engine failure. The vehicle stalled while being driven, creating a potential safety hazard due to sudden loss of power in traffic. The vehicle is available for inspection. The failure has been confirmed by a Kia dealership service department.

Filed May 22, 2026 · Engine · KS

The car shook and lights came on at a stop light and began violently knocking. Since it was at a stop light the safety was a risk had the hazard lights weren't engaged immediately. The dealer confirmed it was a catastrophic engine failure. An inspector for the warranty company was deployed two times. The lights only appeared at the time of engine failure.

Filed May 14, 2026 · Engine · AR

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle rapidly burns through engine oil between oil changes without visible external leaks. The condition appears related to the engine lubrication and internal engine components. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The excessive oil consumption creates a risk of sudden engine failure, engine seizure, loss of power while driving, or vehicle stalling in traffic. This creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle could lose acceleration or stop unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds or in traffic conditions, increasing the risk of an accident or injury. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The excessive oil consumption has been consistently reproduced during normal driving conditions. The vehicle requires frequent oil top-offs between oil changes. The issue has been discussed with a dealership/repair facility, and the symptoms are consistent with widespread Kia engine oil consumption complaints. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle will be inspected by a Kia dealership or repair facility regarding the excessive oil consumption issue. No police or insurance inspection has occurred related to this issue. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Symptoms included rapid oil loss between oil changes, the need to frequently add oil, and concerns about low oil levels. Warning indicators related to low oil or engine performance appeared after the oil consumption worsened. According to service records from Walmart dated December 29, 2023, the issue was present at that time and has progressively