TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines listed in the table below. Kia has become aware that certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific conditions. These calibrations
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Kia Sorento electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Kia Sorento have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Sorento | 83 |
| 2017 Sorento | 81 |
| 2018 Sorento | 28 |
| 2019 Sorento | 62 |
| 2020 Sorento (this page) | 19 |
| 2022 Sorento | 19 |
| 2023 Sorento | 30 |
| 2024 Sorento | 10 |
6fires
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC340) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations in certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 10, 2015, through December 7, 2021, certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from August 28, 2015, through June 23, 2020, and certain 2016-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014, through November 4, 2020, equipped with 2.4L Theta GDI engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC340) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations in certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 10, 2015, through December 7, 2021, certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from August 28, 2015, through June 23, 2020, and certain 2016-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014, through November 4, 2020, equipped with 2.4L Theta GDI engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SC340_POC: PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC340) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign SC340.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Eighteen 2020 Sorento owners report serious electrical failures, the most severe being engine fires. Multiple fires occurred while driving or parked, with warning lights illuminating seconds before flames appeared. Owners heard loud pops, smelled heavy smoke through vents, and found piston cylinders or wrist pins ejected from the engine bay. Three fires resulted in total loss; others were extinguished by bystanders or fire departments. Some fires are linked to NHTSA Recall 22V703000 (tow hitch harness electrical short), but others had undetermined cause despite manufacturer investigation.
Non-fire electrical issues include complete headlight failure without warning on dark highways—a critical safety hazard—intermittent dropouts affecting headlights, radio, and blinkers, and horn failure that recurred even after dealer replacement. One owner found a fuse box fire at 130,000 miles.
Owners report battery drain while parked, check engine lights with knock signal faults paired to excessive oil consumption, and a faulty oil pressure switch that Kia is denying warranty coverage for. One owner's body control module short-circuited when a dealership installed anti-theft software; the replacement part was on backorder with unknown arrival date, and the dealership charged the customer for a rental car pending repair.
Recall response has been problematic: parts remain unavailable, dealerships are hard to reach, and one owner's fire occurred before a recall appointment could be scheduled. Manufacturer follow-up has been inconsistent or absent in multiple cases.
Same Kia Sorento electrical reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire due to electrical fault
Vehicle caught fire while driving or parked, with flames visible from under hood or front of vehicle. Owners reported dashboard warning lights illuminating seconds before fire onset, loud pop, and heavy smoke through vents. Multiple cases resulted in total loss. Some fires linked to recall 22V703000 (tow hitch harness module electrical short); others had undetermined cause but similar presentation.
When: 26,000 miles to 130,000 miles; one incident at 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard warning lights illuminating suddenly; Thick smoke pouring through vents; Loud pop or explosion sound from engine area; Flames visible under hood or front of vehicle; Piston cylinder piece or wrist pin ejected from engine; Large quantities of oil, antifreeze, and brake fluid spilled
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; one fire extinguished by bystander and fire department; manufacturer technician investigated one case but determined cause undetermined; parts unavailable for recall repair on some vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 22V703000 (Kia Recall SC249) - tow hitch harness module electrical short fire risk; some owners reported dealership unavailability and lack of follow-up; one manufacturer field technician investigation yielded undetermined cause; one owner reported manufacturer refusal to honor recall claiming dealer-installed hitch not covered
Complete headlight failure without warning
Headlights went out completely and suddenly on dark highway with no advance warning. No brights, running lights, or front hazard lights functional. Owner had to pull over on shoulder during heavy truck traffic; highway patrol escort required. Mechanic indicated fuse likely responsible but warning light on same fuse provided no safety alert.
When: On dark highway; specific mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of headlights, high beams, and running lights; Front hazard lights inoperable; No dashboard warning prior to failure; Only rear hazard lights remained functional
Repairs/costs cited: Likely fuse failure; vehicle left roadside 60 miles from home; required daylight operation and auto parts store visit to identify and replace fuse
Intermittent electrical dropout - headlights and accessories
Headlights became inoperable with blinkers and radio also losing function for several seconds before returning to normal. Failure occurred multiple times during driving, creating significant night-driving safety hazard. Independent mechanic could not duplicate failure; dealer charged diagnostic fee without resolution.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights inoperable for seconds before returning; Blinkers inoperable during same event; Radio inoperable during same event; Recurring intermittent nature
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic unable to duplicate; dealer diagnostic fee charged but failure not resolved
Horn failure - repeated recurrence
Horn failed to operate while driving at 30 mph. Dealer replaced horn; failure recurred approximately one week later with same symptom.
When: 71,188 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Horn non-functional when activated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced horn; failure recurred one week post-repair
Fuse box fire
Fuse box located on driver's side caught fire while vehicle was being driven. Fire extinguished by Fire Department. Fire report and police report filed; cause undetermined.
When: Approximately 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke coming from vehicle while driving; Fire in fuse box on driver side
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; Fire Department report filed; manufacturer not made aware
Battery drain while parked
Battery drained quickly after vehicle not driven for several days. Occurred in vehicle awaiting recall repair (22V703000) where parts were not available.
When: Approximately 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery drained rapidly during parked periods
Repairs/costs cited: Parts not available for recall repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) - parts not yet available; manufacturer made aware
Engine knock signal fault with oil consumption
Check engine light illuminated with knock signal range/performance code. Engine light persisted after code reset. Vehicle unable to accelerate beyond 40 mph. Excessive oil consumption requiring frequent top-ups between oil changes.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Speed limited to 40 mph maximum; Excessive oil consumption; Frequent oil top-ups required between services
Codes mentioned: Knock signal range/performance
Repairs/costs cited: Code reset by mechanic but light returned; oil consumption issue unresolved
Faulty oil pressure switch
Oil pressure switch diagnosed as faulty by both independent service center and Kia dealer. Check engine light displaying oil pressure warning. Manufacturer denying warranty coverage despite owner assertion that coverage should apply.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light - oil can indicator; Faulty oil pressure switch reading
Codes mentioned: Oil pressure switch fault
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed by both independent shop and dealer; Kia denying coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia denying warranty coverage for oil pressure switch replacement
BLM (body control module) failure during dealership service
Body control module (BLM) short-circuited when dealership added anti-theft software. Vehicle inoperable for extended period; replacement part on order with unknown delivery timeline. Dealership charging customer for rental car via credit card pending part arrival and promising later reimbursement.
When: During in-dealership service work
Symptoms owners cite: Complete vehicle inoperability after BLM short circuit
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership states replacement part on order with unknown arrival date; customer charged for rental car pending repair
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I wanted to add to a previous claim I had already submitted, I found an item that had fallen out of my engine, I don't know if I can submit a picture on here but I will try.
I have placed below what I have sent to Kia company.
There already is a recall for my problem, NHTSA Recall #22V703, but Kia has refused to honor the recall after my vehicle electrical wires started burning, exactly as warned in the Recall. Kia asserts that the trailer hitch and wiring was not installed by Kia, but in fact it was installed by a Kia Dealer.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights became inoperable. The blinkers and the radio were inoperable for several seconds before returning to normal function. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times while the contact and the contact's wife were driving the vehicle. The contact stated the failure was…
Had electrical trouble with your 2020 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2020 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 69,297 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.