2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Ford Escape | 2020 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,571 | 157 |
| Recall campaigns | 23 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 271 | 93 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–41 | 21–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 45,500 mi | 19,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 670 | 10 |
| Power Train | 231 | 2 |
| Engine | 112 | 71 |
| Electrical System | 152 | 19 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 116 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 73 | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 61 | 6 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 53 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 58 | 15 |
| Stalling | 41 | 14 |
| Hesitation / surging | 37 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 32 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 26 | 8 |
| Loss of power | 25 | 14 |
| Shifting problems | 12 | 0 |
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Kia Sportage
Compare all Ford Escape vs Kia Sportage years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.