PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Kia Sportage brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Kia Sportage have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Sportage | 33 |
| 2017 Sportage | 18 |
| 2018 Sportage | 8 |
| 2019 Sportage | 4 |
| 2020 Sportage (this page) | 10 |
| 2023 Sportage | 21 |
| 2024 Sportage | 3 |
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2020 Kia Sportage, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten complaints describe varied brake system issues on 2020 Sportages. One owner experienced a complete engine fire preceded by fuel odor at 10,500 miles—the vehicle was destroyed and the dealer hung up when informed. Multiple owners report NHTSA recall 21V137000 (hydraulic service brakes) was issued but repair parts remained unavailable across several dealerships, delaying fixes indefinitely.
Three separate brake-performance complaints stand out: one owner had uneven braking with left-right pull despite replacing pads, rotors, and hoses (at 91,000 miles; dealer declined warranty coverage); another lost braking response during a low-speed turning maneuver at 10-12 mph and couldn't stop; a third experiences recurring metal-on-metal grinding and shaking every six months that requires repeated service. One owner reports a faulty brake warning light that intermittently displays false "bulb out" alerts. Another notes low brake fluid requiring multiple refills. A Kia dealer diagnosed rust as the cause in one case. None of these failures—except the recall delay—triggered manufacturer assistance or recalls.
Same Kia Sportage brakes reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire
Complete vehicle fire originating from engine compartment, preceded by fuel odor. Vehicle total loss.
When: 10,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: fuel odor from engine; flame from engine; black smoke from engine; vehicle engulfed in flames
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to scrap yard; total destruction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 21V137000 issued; dealer hung up phone when owner reported failure
Brake warning light intermittent malfunction
Dashboard falsely indicates driver-side brake light is out when bulb is actually functioning. Warning clears without repair.
Symptoms owners cite: dashboard warning for brake light out; warning disappears next drive cycle; recurrence over weeks
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to replicate; said no repair possible without live fault display
Uneven braking pull
Brake pedal application causes vehicle to pull left then right before stopping. Persists after replacement of pads, rotors, and hoses. Not covered under warranty.
When: approximately 91,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: uneven braking; pulling to left; pulling to right; occurs at various speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced brake pads, rotors, and hoses; failure persisted. Dealer estimated diagnostic but did not repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repair not covered under warranty
Brake performance degradation and metal-on-metal noise
Loss of prompt, easy braking response with vehicle shaking and metal-on-metal grinding. Diagnosis of rust given by dealer. Recurs every six months despite repairs.
When: Recurring issue at six-month intervals
Symptoms owners cite: inability to stop promptly and with ease; vehicle shaking during braking; metal-on-metal grinding noise; no warning alarms
Repairs/costs cited: Serviced at Kia and two independent shops; Kia identified rust. Recurring repairs needed
Brake pedal resistance/failure to respond
Brakes became unresponsive and resistant to pedal pressure during emergency braking attempt. Owner unable to stop vehicle and lost control.
When: During low-speed turning maneuver at ~10-12 mph
Symptoms owners cite: brake pedal resistance; inability to brake; loss of vehicle control; safety feature alert did not prevent incident
Low brake fluid level
Brake fluid level drops requiring refill multiple times. Indicates possible leak or consumption.
Symptoms owners cite: low brake fluid level; requires multiple refills
Repairs/costs cited: Owner added brake fluid twice
Recall parts unavailability
Multiple owners received NHTSA 21V137000 recall notice (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) but repair parts not available through dealers. Extended delays exceeded reasonable timeframe per owners.
When: Post-recall notification
Symptoms owners cite: unable to complete recall repair; parts on backorder
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; dealerships confirmed parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 21V137000 issued; parts distribution delays acknowledged by dealers and some owners reported to manufacturer
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
While driving/turning left out of a school parking lot, the light turned green, all cars starting moving. Going about 10-12 MPH, the car in front slams on breaks, the safety feature alerted me as well but when attempted to press on the brakes, they were resisting. I could not brake and had no control of stopping. The weather was dry and sunny that day. About 35 degrees.
Had brakes trouble with your 2020 Kia Sportage?
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 brakes problem on the 2020 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 36,833 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/Sportage.
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.