2020 Kia Stinger Safety Report
2020 KIA STINGER Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Kia Stinger
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Kia Stinger. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (6) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (14) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Fuel/Propulsion System | Compare fuel/propulsion system issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Kia Stinger with 5 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Kia Stinger before buying across this generation. |
Kia Stinger Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Stinger years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Stinger | 16 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Kia Stinger | 40 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2022 Kia Stinger | 12 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Kia Stinger | 64 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Kia Stinger | 5 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2020 Kia Stinger Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Kia Stinger, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Fuel/Propulsion System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Kia onlySteering,Electrical System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Electrical System issues Kia onlyPower Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Kia onlySteering,Suspension
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Suspension issues Kia onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Kia onlyElectrical System,Exterior Lighting,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Engine issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Kia Stinger
Reliability Score
The 2020 Kia Stinger receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2020 Kia Stinger
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2020 Kia Stinger
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Kia Stinger:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling Kia is recalling certain 2019-2020 K900 and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles due to issues with hoses and plumbing in the engine cooling system, which can lead to engine overheating and potential failure. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Kia is recalling certain 2020 Stinger vehicles due to issues with the EPS system, causing the steering wheel to become heavy and difficult to control during turns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Kia is recalling certain 2020-2021 Stinger vehicles due to software errors in the fuel gauge and fuel pump, leading to potential fuel delivery issues and loss of power. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Kia is recalling certain 2019 Stinger vehicles due to issues with the hydraulic control unit, which can lead to brake failure and loss of vehicle control. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Kia Stinger:
Issues with hoses and plumbing in the engine cooling system can lead to engine overheating and potential failure.
EPS system issues can cause the steering wheel to become heavy and difficult to control during turns.
Software errors in the fuel gauge and fuel pump can lead to potential fuel delivery issues and loss of power.
Hydraulic control unit issues can lead to brake failure and loss of vehicle control.
Recall Details for the 2020 Kia Stinger
The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2020 Kia Stinger by NHTSA:
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019-2020 K900, and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter turbo gasoline direct injection engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil.
Consequence: An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 26, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC300.
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. The fuel control valve plunger may stick inside the high pressure fuel pump, causing over-pressurization and loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, inspect, and replace the fuel pump as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC281.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Stinger vehicles. A software error in the instrument cluster may cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading.
Consequence: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC219.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Stinger vehicles. The fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient fuel supply to the engine.
Consequence: Insufficient fuel supply to the engine can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel pump and replace the jet nozzle housing assembly, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC198.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines on August 27, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Kia expanded the recall population and added certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. While driving, an engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) is located.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuse kit in the electrical junction box, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC196.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Turbo-GDI engine. A component within the Rack Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, possibly resulting in the steering locking or becoming difficult while driving.
Consequence: A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MDPS Assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC193.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Kia Stinger
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Kia Stinger with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
I was driving to work when suddenly my steering wheel gets supper heavy as I was making a turn shook the life out of me my eps went out if you could please do a good will repair or see if there’s any extended warranty please check for a TSPs
Transmission light appeared and a loud knocking noise followed by white smoke bellowing out of the exhaust. I took it to a shop and they said it now needs an engine replacement.
I was driving to work and the steering wheel just looked up and got really stiff and hard to control which was really dangerous. Prior to the I could just be sitting idle and the steering wheel would just start moving by itself out of nowhere.
My car shut off while driving down the road, it would not restart, there were no warning lights or check engine lights on. I had it towed to a repair shop and they replaced the fuel pump. Later I found out the fuel pump was recalled for the car and submitted the work receipt for reimbursement on 12/18/2024. I was never notified of the recall to have it replaced. It has been 11 weeks today and I ha...
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Stinger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V169000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recur...
The vehicle will shut off without reason from time to time. I'll be sitting at a light, stop sign, or intersection, and the car just shuts off. All electronics inside the car turn off, the engine turns off, and it's as if I've shut the car off to get out. Usually, I'm able to restart the car after a few moments and go about my day, but in doing some research on this issue, there have been other...
I was sitting at a red light with my foot on the brake. When I took my foot off the brake when the light turned green, my car would not drive forward!! I checked to make sure my car was not in Park. All of the lights on the dash were on and the engine was no longer running. Not to mention something similar happened November 18, 2023 where I was driving and the engine suddenly lost power And cut of...
1st safety related incident discovered December 27th, 2021, rear window defroster stopped working. Checked rear fuse block as the owner's manual had listed that the fuse would be located there. Visual observation of fuse block showed rear heater fuse had blown and the area around the fuse discolored and melted. Remedy was dealership replacing rear fuse block and given back with no explanation why...
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Stinger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk and hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the check engine light appeared on the instrument panel. One day while at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where he was informed that the spark plugs ...
Dealer said it is a known issue, but the brakes leave deposit on rotors and cause severe shaking while slowing down. Rattles entire car and steering wheel violently. Had this issue first at 5k miles, now at 18k miles and it is back. The dealer turned the rotors for me under warranty at 5k, but now are telling me I need to purchase my own aftermarket pads and rotors because they won't cover it. P...
Dealer stated that the GDI pump has failed and that is not a common issue. My car started shuddering as I was driving in the interstate I5 north at 70mph, then the car stalled in the middle of the freeway, gas pedal was useless, if it was not because my speed was 70mph and the force of the speed keep my car moving for a little I would probably be hit by a truck putting my life and others at risk. ...
moving forward into parking space with my foot on the brake car accelerated and smashed into a tree.
I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN JULY AND HAVE HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TIMES NOW. THE ISSUE IS THAT SOMETIMES, WHEN I GIVE A RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL, THE VEHICLE'S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN. IT HAS DONE IT ON A SLOW TURN, ON A MERGE GOING 35MPH, AND ON A A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP GOING 60MPH. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL ME, OR SOMEONE ELSE, DIES ...
FUEL LINE CONNECTION WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD A LOCK/COVER THAT WAS NOT SEATED/ATTACHED. ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED AFTER DOING A THOROUGH LOOK OVER OF A NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE IN WHICH A LOOSE NUT WAS FOUND IN THE TRUNK. UPON REMOVAL OF THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER NEXT TO THE NON LOCKED FUEL LINE TWO MISSING BOLTS WERE FOUND FOR A WIRE HARNESS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. OWNER CONNECTED FUEL LINE LOC...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Kia Stinger
Has the 2020 KIA STINGER been recalled?
Yes, the 2020 KIA STINGER has 6 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2020 KIA STINGER have?
The 2020 KIA STINGER has 14 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 KIA STINGER?
The 2020 KIA STINGER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 KIA STINGER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 KIA STINGER involve fuel/propulsion system (2 complaints), steering,electrical system (1 complaints), power train,engine,fuel/propulsion system (1 complaints). Other affected components include steering,suspension, engine and engine cooling, electrical system,exterior lighting,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2020 KIA STINGER have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2020 KIA STINGER out of 14 total complaints (7.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2020 KIA STINGER have?
There are no fire reports for the 2020 KIA STINGER in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 KIA STINGER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 KIA STINGER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 KIA STINGER?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 KIA STINGER.
Should I buy a 2020 KIA STINGER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 KIA STINGER is acceptable with caveats. It has 14 complaints, 6 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 KIA STINGER?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 KIA STINGER are: 1. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints), 2. STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints), 4. STEERING,SUSPENSION (1 complaints), 5. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (1 complaints). FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM is the single most-reported problem area with 2 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 KIA STINGER?
Be cautious of engine cooling, steering, electrical system, and service brake issues. Regular maintenance and timely recalls can help mitigate these risks. The 2020 KIA STINGER has 14 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2020 KIA STINGER?
The 2020 KIA STINGER receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 14 owner complaints, 6 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Engine Cooling and Steering.
What are the known issues with the 2020 KIA STINGER?
Known issues with the 2020 KIA STINGER include: Engine and Engine Cooling, Steering, Electrical System, Service Brakes. These are based on patterns found across 14 NHTSA complaints. 6 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2020 KIA Stinger?
Common safety issues include engine and engine cooling problems, steering issues, electrical system failures, and service brake malfunctions.
Are there recalls for the 2020 KIA Stinger?
Yes, there are recalls for engine and engine cooling, steering, electrical system, and service brake issues.
What should I do if I experience electrical system problems with my 2020 KIA Stinger?
Contact Kia for a recall check and follow their recommendations for repairs or replacements.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine cooling, steering, electrical system, and service brake issues. Regular maintenance and timely recalls can help mitigate these risks.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Kia Stinger
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Kia Stinger. The data includes 14 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 6 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2020 Kia Stinger an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16