2020 Kia Sportage: excessive oil consumption

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 Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · SC

On Saturday, XXX, while driving on XXX in [XXX], my 2020 Kia Sportage (2,4 L engine, 152,245 miles) suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power. The vehicle actively entered Limp Home Mode at high speed, dropping velocity rapidly and creating an immediate traffic hazard that my husband and I stranded 6.5 hours away from home. The vehicle was brought back to [XXX] on Sunday XXX, to Stokes Hodges Kia in [XXX], where a diagnostic scan pulled faulted code P0404. No low-oil pressure warning light or dashboard oil alerts were illuminated prior to or during the failure. The engine suffered a sudden internal mechanical failure directly relating to the vehicle's progressive, severe internal oil consumption defect, causing a severe highway safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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 Sep 6, 2026 · Transmission · MO

High oil consumption burning a quart of oil every 500-600 miles.

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 14, 2026 · Engine · FL

In October of 2025 my husband noticed that our car was idling roughly and checked that there was plenty of oil in the system. The dipstick was pretty much empty so my husband added approximately 3 quarts of oil to bring it up to a little over half. After a thousand miles he checked to make sure it was still holding stead just in case. When he did so the dip stick again showed nearly empty. On approximately October 13, 2025 we took our vehicle into the local Kia Service center and they informed us that we would have to do an oil consumption test. The results of this test were that we were losing 2 quarts of oil per 1000 miles. We asked what could be done to remedy the situation and were told we would have to pay $900 for a chemical treatment that "might fix the problem". They said if the $900 cleaning did not work we would have to pay to have the engine repaired/replaced which we simply can't afford. Upon doing some research online we found that this was a problem that a lot of people had not just with our product year but that previous cars of the same make and model had a class action lawsuit due to similar issues. We drive 85 miles per day 5 days a week and feel that this is a major safety hazard. We also have a [XXX] daughter who would potentially be impacted if something happened while driving on the interstate. This is our only vehicle and is essential to our jobs as I work as a rehab director and occupational therapy assistant in a memory care facility and my husband is an assistant manager with a local business that requires him to use our car daily. We sent certified letters to Kia Corporate on Monday May 11, 2026 after attempting to deal with the dealership directly regarding these problems with no remedies offered there. Yesterday, my husband called Kia Corporate and they claimed that they hadn't received the letter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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

Filed Apr 5, 2026 · Engine · CT

I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review this issue for potential safety related defect trends involving excessive oil consumption that progress to catastrophic engine failure in 2020 Kia Sportages equipped with the 2.4L engine. The vehicle consumed oil at an abnormal rate between oil changes despite routine maintenance and regular oil level checks, and the condition ultimately resulted in a non-operational vehicle. Over the months leading up to the failure, I was forced to add oil at least monthly and began checking the oil level more frequently due to the rate of loss. I maintain my vehicle carefully and have consistently kept up with oil changes. In March 2026, the vehicle broke down after I experienced a sudden loss of power and stalling, and the engine ultimately failed and left the vehicle non-operational. When an engine consumes oil rapidly and then stalls or loses power unexpectedly, drivers can face an increased risk of a crash particularly if the failure occurs at highway speeds or in traffic. I have found numerous similar complaints posted online by other Kia owners describing the same pattern of excessive oil consumption followed by sudden loss of power, stalling, and/or engine failure. While I understand online posts are not formal findings, the volume and consistency of these reports suggest a broader trend that warrants the federal safety agency review for potential defects and safety impacts. After the failure, I had the vehicle towed to Kia of [XXX] . The service department advised that the engine requires replacement and quoted approximately $14,000 for the repair. The invoice I received (#XXX) states that the technician recommends “short block motor replacement,” but the dealership verbally stated they would not perform only a short block replacement and would instead replace the complete engine because, in their view, a short block-only repair would lead to additional problems. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 2, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

Vehicle: 2020 Kia Sportage Issue: Excessive Oil Consumption — TSB #TSB_ENG222 I am reporting a recurring issue involving excessive engine oil consumption in my 2020 Kia Sportage. The engine is consuming oil at an abnormal rate between scheduled oil changes, requiring me to add approximately 2.5 quarts of oil every month to maintain safe operating levels. This issue first began approximately 6 months ago and has been ongoing since. The affected component is the engine system, specifically related to abnormal oil consumption. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This issue poses a serious safety risk to me and my children. If the oil level drops too low, it can lead to sudden engine failure, loss of power while driving, or engine seizure. This creates a dangerous situation, especially when driving at highway speeds or in traffic, increasing the risk of an accident. The problem has been consistent and reproducible. It has been confirmed by an independent service center, which verified that the vehicle is consuming oil excessively beyond normal operating standards. I have brought attention to this issue through service evaluations, but no permanent repair has been provided to resolve the root cause. Prior to the issue, there were no clear warning signs. In some instances, the oil warning light only illuminates after oil levels have already dropped to a critically low level, limiting my ability to prevent potential engine damage or failure. This ongoing defect raises serious concerns about the safety, reliability, and longevity of the vehicle.

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Engine · NC

In April of 2025, it was noticed that my Sportage was consuming oil. There were no leaks or smoke just having to put oil in. Two mechanics stated that’s just Kia. On the night of 1/30/2026 my Sportage had an engine light come on. After the winter storm, I was able to get the code read and it came back as a Cylinder 1 Misfire. In May of 2025 I replaced all coil packs and spark plugs. On 2/1/26 we replaced the coil packs and spark plug. On 2/4/2026, Kia told me I have to replace the engine. I am still paying the vehicle off. This does seem to be an issue with Kia engines 2.4 from what I’m reading.

Filed Jan 2, 2026 · Engine · OH

I own a 2020 Kia Sportage that is currently within the 100,000-mile power-train warranty. The vehicle has been experiencing EXCESSIVE OIL consumption, requiring oil to be added between scheduled oil changes, despite no visible leaks or warning indicators. I have consistently maintained the vehicle according to Kia's recommended maintenance schedule. Oil changes were performed regularly, including some done at home. For those oil changes, I have kept vehicle maintained with regular oil changes and more the last 9 months. There is NO evidence that improper maintenance caused the oil consumption. Will be reaching out to Kia customer service to see what next steps are. Maintenance dept constantly wants to fix things on car that are not needed yet will not report issues with Engine. Very disappointed customer.