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2020 Kia Sorento

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Sorento.

The 2020 Kia Sorento, with 130 total owner complaints and a single recall, shows the engine as the most commonly reported problem area. Within the model’s complaint history from 2003 to 2026, this figure sits well below the peak of 1,516 complaints in 2011, though it is higher than the exceptionally low 3 complaints recorded in 2010, placing the 2020 model year in a middle ground of the Sorento’s reliability record.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · 800 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · 800 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified

Tire size235/55R19 101HOEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	74.4 in
Overall height	66.5 in
Wheelbase	109.4 in
Curb weight	3953 lb
Track (front / rear)	64.2 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sorento of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 2016 SX V6

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2019	SXL V6 3.3L V6	7.20 sec	15.50 sec	290 hp	AWD
2019	SXL V6 3.3L V6	7.60 sec	15.80 sec	290 hp	AWD
2016	SX V6 3.3L V6	7.10 sec	15.70 sec	290 hp	AWD
2016	EX V6 3.3L V6	7.20 sec	15.70 sec	290 hp	AWD
2016	SX V6 3.3L V6	7.20 sec	15.70 sec	290 hp	AWD
2016	SXL Turbo 2.0L Turbo I-4	8.00 sec	16.20 sec	240 hp	AWD
2016	SXL Turbo 2.0L Turbo I-4	9.00 sec	16.80 sec	240 hp	AWD
2016	LX 2.4L I-4	9.10 sec	16.90 sec	185 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 79-97 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	311.0-318.0 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Instructions	Use new bolts only.
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53-56 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	15-17 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	15.0-17.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	79-94 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	79-97 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R1234yf
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	800 cca
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	800 cca

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 58.0-; Rear: 47.0-
ABS Sensor Torque	Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: 1.02; Rear: .370
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.0002
Maximum Rotor Runout	Front: .001; Rear: .0012

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

48 inch lbs., Step 2: 84-108

48 in

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

M6 Bolts

96–112 in

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 84.0-108.0 inch lbs.

48 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

20-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 70

20–23 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

34.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 78-82°

34–38 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

24-27.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-95°, Step 3: 90-95°

24–27 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

28-30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 118-122°, Step 3: 88-92°, Step 4: External Head Bolt: 13.7-17.5

28–30 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
At 30,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Kia Sorento recorded 130 complaints, one recall, one investigation, and 85 TSBs, a sharp decline from 2019’s 416 complaints and a fraction of the 2011-2017 peak that saw annual complaints between 746 and 1,516. After years of elevated federal activity—including multiple annual recalls and investigations—the 2020 model sits at the low end of that trajectory, posting lower complaint and recall counts than both the year immediately preceding it and the 2022 model year that followed. The data does not specify root causes, though the top complaint areas listed are Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other, and Trailer Hitches. The model also generated 11 fire-related and 9 crash-related complaints. Given its substantially reduced federal filings relative to the high-activity years and its lower complaint volume compared to surrounding model years, the 2020 Sorento stands out as a comparatively favorable used-year choice in this record.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

130

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 11 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19’20’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 130 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine41

Power Train10

Unknown Or Other7

Trailer Hitches7

Electrical System5

Power Train,Engine4

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine4

Service Brakes4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V703000Trailer HitchesReported 19/09/2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as… Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 85 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
CS2312_TSB_R2	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
SC340_TSB_R5	2026-04-03	Engine	VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT…
SC340_TSB_R4	2026-03-05	Electrical System	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI…
TSB_CS2312_R1	2026-02-18	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
SC340_OWNR_UM103	2025-12-19	Engine	VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 103 / UM) - This…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sorento. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group NS battery

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 Sorento have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

2020 Kia Sorento

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

Full specifications

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Performance & power Independent road tests

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Battery & A/C

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked