2020 Kia Sedona problems
The Kia Carnival (Korean: 기아 카니발) is a minivan manufactured by Kia since 1998. It was marketed globally under various nameplates, prominently as the Kia Sedona.
The first generation Carnival was introduced in January 1998, and was marketed in a single, short wheelbase version. Second generation models were marketed (2006–2014) in short and long wheelbase variants. A rebadged variant of the second generation was offered in North America as the Hyundai Entourage (2007–2009). Beginning in 2010, the second generation model received updated equipment, including Kia's corporate Tiger Nose grille, as introduced by its then new design chief, Peter Schreyer. Kia introduced its third generation minivan in 2014, solely in a long wheelbase format. The fourth generation was introduced in 2020, when Kia also began using the Carnival nameplate worldwide.
First generation (KV-II; 1998)
The first generation model was manufactured and marketed differently for specific regions, including under a joint venture in the Chinese market with Dongfeng Yueda Kia, as well as the Naza Ria in Malaysia.
In Indonesia and the Philippines, both Carnival/Sedona names were used. Initially introduced as the Carnival in 2001, from 2003 onwards, it was renamed as the Sedona.
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Common 2020 Kia Sedona problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Kia Sedona 2020, several common problems have been reported:
- Dead or Dying Batteries: Owners have experienced issues with batteries that randomly become discharged, fail to hold a charge, or die unexpectedly. This can lead to warning lights illuminating on the dashboard and affect various vehicle systems. To address this problem, it is recommended to have the battery and charging system professionally tested and replaced if necessary with a high-quality unit. Using an intelligent battery charger when the vehicle is parked for extended periods can also help maintain the battery's health.
- Washer Fluid Leaks: Some owners have reported leaks in the washer fluid system, potentially caused by a cracked washer fluid tank or pump. It is advised to check the washer fluid tank's level before a test drive and ensure that the windshield sprayers are functioning correctly. Any signs of dripping washer fluid beneath the vehicle should be inspected, as parts may need replacement under warranty to resolve leaks.
- Air Conditioning Issues: Problems with the air conditioning system have been noted, including weak performance, inconsistent operation, and difficulties in achieving the desired temperature and air distribution. These issues can impact the comfort of the vehicle's interior. Owners experiencing such problems may need to have the air conditioning system inspected by a professional to identify and address any underlying issues.
These common problems reported by owners of the Kia Sedona 2020 highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to any emerging issues to ensure the vehicle's optimal performance and reliability.
How reliable is the 2020 Kia Sedona?
The 2020 Kia Sedona has a predicted reliability score of 81 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Do Kia Sedona have transmission problems?
If you don't routinely and always change your fluids at least every 30,000 miles or so, you may find that your Kia Sedona transmission will quickly slip.
Are there any recalls on 2020 Kia Sedona?
Summary: Kia Motors America (KIA) is recalling certain 2020 Sedona vehicles. The battery positive (B+) terminal nut on the alternator may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly causing it to loosen over time. Tip: Recalls don't affect every vehicle of the same year, make and model.
Is Sedona a good car?
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The Sedona earned top marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in crash testing. It also received good marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety but missed out on that Top Safety Pick award due to poor-performing headlamps.
2020 Kia Sedona car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Kia Sedona problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Unknown or other problems
- Electrical system problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Engine problems
- Structure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2020 Kia Sedona vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2020 Kia Sedona complaints
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2020 Kia Sedona.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-27
- VIN: KNDMC5C16L6
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: I have multiple spots of the pearl white paint peeling/flaking/bubbling off the vehicle in multiple places. 1st spot noticed was on the roof just behind the sunroof and the 2nd spot is the edge of the liftgate.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-03
- VIN: KNDMB5C11L6
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: I received a letter from Kia America, Inc. extending the warranty on the high pressure fuel pump on my 2020 Kia Sedona. They claim that the fuel control valve plunger may wear unevenly and over time become stuck in the open position. They state different things can happen including stalling. My research found that it can cause stalling at high speeds or in heavy traffic and it may cause a loss of control over the vehicle. ARE THEY TRYING TO AVOID A RECALL. I am [XXX] and this sounds real dangerous. Does a serious accident have to happen before a recall is ordered? i have attached a copy of the letter below. [XXX] cell [XXX] email: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-08
- VIN: KNDMB5C10L6
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I felt it was necessary to follow up on the open recall I have on my vehicle. I have owned the vehicle since Nov. 2019 and not once have we been contacted either by mail, verbal communication, by the NHTSA or the dealership of which the vehicle was purchased. Here we are in April 2024 and just a random click on “check recalls” button located on our vehicle insurance company website, made me aware of the open bulletin. I guess my question is, why are the insurance companies not offering the owner information on this? Or even the company who has been placed as lien holder? Why are we solely dependent on the USPS to deliver correspondence in hopes of making it to the correct address and owner? What happens if the owner has moved and the notification of recall did not forward to the new address? Too many “what if’s” in this scenario to allow unnecessary delay of repair. I’d like to see insurance companies begin notifying the owner as well. Makes sense to me. Or again, even the lien holder could attach notification to that months bill.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-29
- VIN: KNDMB5C19L6
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Oil consumption test failed. Told by dealer the first part of the repair is not covered under the power train warranty because my vehicle is not listed on the list of affected vehicles even though it has the GDI motor that is listed. It's a V6 and not a 4 cylinder and the V6 is not on the list. Dealership in knoxville has done the oil consumption test. Vehicle was bought new in November of 2019 and services have been preformed according to manufacturers recommendation. Van has 104,500 miles on it. Has a 200,000 power train warranty. Kia customer service said it is not covered on the manufacturer warranty because it ends at 100,000 miles. Dealership says its not covered on 200,000 mile power train warranty and Dealership ship isn't responsible because my vehicle and motor are not on the list. I wasn't even aware this was an issue until my van started acting up between oil changes and the oil pressure light came on and the van started stalling. At that time I put 4.5 quarts of oil in it and scheduled the Dealership visit just before 100,000 miles but was told to bring it back if the oil level dropped again. Now it's past 100,000 miles and they didn't register the complaint I made before 100,000 miles. 2nd part of oil consumption test was done today.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-01
- VIN: KNDMA5C18L6
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while driving 40–45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights and taillights became inoperable. The contact also stated that the oil level was low after checking the dipstick. The driver's side window was stuck in the down position. The contact depressed the window button, but the window failed to roll up. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that there was a leak in the trans axle boot, and the 02 sensor and trans axle boot were replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the headlights and taillights needed to be replaced. The dealer performed an oil pressure test, which indicated that the oil level was a 1/2 quart low. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that there was water inside the headlight housing. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, and the contact was informed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted, but there was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-16
- VIN: KNDMB5C18L6
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sedona. The contact was notified by the local Police that the rear brake lights were not illuminating as needed. The vehicle was later taken to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Later while driving approximately 20 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal extended to the floorboard. The vehicle was immediately towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-28
- VIN: KNDMB5C10L6
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle in hot temperatures, the vehicle failed to start immediately. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to be started and seemed to return to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure had become a regular occurrence during the summer months. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,000.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-22
- VIN: kndmb5c18l6
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: my new kumo ho7 235-60-r18, tire fell apart on road trip from fl. to wi. had service done in Clarksville tenn. kia dealership on july 12th 2021. tire had to be replaced. odometer read 5,711 now another tire failed replaced jan. 22nd odometer read 11,765
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-08-20
- VIN: KNDMC5C15L6
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Driving down the interstate at 70mph and the vehicle suddenly began to brake and the forward collision warning light illuminated along with the check engine light. The car stopped on the interstate and this happened at 1:15 am and it was in a rural area and it was pitch black outside. Luckily no one plowed into the back of the car. Was able to restart the car and was barely able to get it to the side of the road before it shut down again. 6 miles to the nearest exit attempted to get the car off the highway. After several attempts and turning off every electric accessory and sensor was able to get the car to the exit. KIA toed the car to the nearest dealership the next day. They discovered that the wiring harness was chewed up in several places and caused numerous shorts circuits and malfunction codes. I own several vehicles that are parked in the same area and this is the only one that has chewed up the wiring. My daughter and 2 of the grandchildren were in the car when this happened and they could have been killed if someone had plowed into the back of them at 70+ mph. This is a 2020 Kia Sedona and I'm being told that this is not covered under warranty. There is something wrong here seeing how this only happened to this car and not my other cars nor my boat. The car is in the shop and will not be ready for a week or two and this happened more than 350 miles from my house. I have lost the use of this car and Kia refused a rental because they said it was not a warranty issue. I know Kia is having this same issue with many of their vehicles. Does it take people to die for this to be addressed? I hope not. My family could have easily been killed because of this. Luck is probably the only thing that prevented a tragedy here. The car has not been repaired yet so I don't have any documents to upload yet.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-08-14
- VIN: KNDMC5C14L6
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? It looks like the ECU communication to my key fob failed and the engine was shutdown while I was driving the car on the highway. Then the anti-theft system called Immobilizer kicked in and prevented me to start the car again. It looks like the memory of my key fob id was erased or something as my car seemed to complain that the fob was not present when it in fact it was right next to me in the center console. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving with my three young kids and wife and we and to shoulder the car in the highway. I was forced to shoulder the car because the engine shutdown in the middle of driving. This was highly unexpected behavior and my immediate thought was to pull to the side of the highway and take a look a the issue in a safer spot but parking at the side of a highway while other cars are driving past at 75MPH is not the safest idea. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The car was towed to a nearby KIA dealership and they have yet to take a look at it. It has been four days since the incident. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I filed a complaint with KIA on Sunday and called today, they said they are escalating the issue but we have not heard any changes. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warnings prior to the incident, the dashboard lights turned off and an indicator light showed the immobilizer mode was on.
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-02-29
- VIN: KNDMB5C13L6
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN THE THIRD ROW SEAT DOESN'T LATCH PROPERLY. USUALLY ONE SIDE WILL LATCH SECURELY AND THE OTHER WON'T. THEN IT GETS STUCK. SUPER DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP. VEHICLE HAS 3600 MILES ON IT NOW AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASED IT NEW.
2020 Kia Sedona recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2020 Kia Sedona.
- Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
- Summary: Kia Motors America (KIA) is recalling certain 2020 Sedona vehicles. The battery positive (B+) terminal nut on the alternator may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly causing it to loosen over time.
- Consequence: If the alternator B+ terminal nut loosens, electrical arcing may result, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator B+ terminal nut, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC192.
Negative 2020 Kia Sedona car reviews
Positive 2020 Kia Sedona car reviews
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So glad to hear that you're enjoying your Sedona! It sounds like you made a well-informed decision. You really put it to the test with that long trip, and it outperformed all the other minivans on the market. Impressive! The inclines on the Grapevine can be tough, but it sounds like the Sedona handled them like a champ.
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When our lease for the '14 Sienna was about to expire (which was a great car, by the way), I searched for a new and improved vehicle. We previously owned a '09 Odyssey followed by a '12 Odyssey. Although these cars were good, especially the 2009 model, the 2012 model was harder to use and much worse to drive. We considered the Pacifica, but we didn't like the driving experience. I didn't love the Sienna's interior quality, so I didn't want another one. Honda's redesign was not to my taste, so our options were either the Sedona or the Quest. After researching the Quest, my parents and I ruled it out. When I told my mom that our best choice was a Sedona, she asked what brand it was. I said it was a Kia, and she couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes. But after discussing it and seeing it at the LA car show, she became very interested in it. We found one in Cerritos and recently purchased it for about $375 per month. We mostly use it for driving to the store, school, work, etc., so the mileage is pretty bad. However, it is really comfortable and everything works well. One downside is that the 'Tune' button is far from the driver, making it impossible to reach while driving. Another issue is the Lane Departure Warning & BSM. We want to keep it on because it can be extremely helpful, but it makes annoying beeps if we are within 2 inches of the yellow line. It also sometimes thinks it 'sees' things that it doesn't, which results in the LDW going off sometimes while pulling into our driveway. All in all, it's an awesome car!
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Now that we're retired and have young grandkids, we decided to get a minivan despite the stigma associated with driving one. We weren't sure at first, but we're so glad we made the move! We've always been SUV fans, from a small CRV to our last Lincoln MKX, but the minivan's height, comfortable seats, and versatile cargo space won us over. We love that each passenger has their own AC vent, there are plenty of USB plugs for the kids, and my 6'2
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I currently own a 2007 Toyota Sienna, which has proven to be incredibly reliable even at 160,000 miles. After making a mistake with my last car purchase, I took my time researching and analyzing my options. I visited multiple dealerships and test drove various vehicles, including Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Subaru, Dodge, and Hyundai. While many SUV and minivan options were impressive, I ultimately chose the Kia Sedona because it offered the best overall package in terms of quality, comfort, power, and price. The Kia dealer was able to provide me with a brand new Sedona with leather seats at a price that fit my budget. Although the gas ratings are lower, I am not concerned as I primarily drive in the city where the more expensive minivans perform similarly. Overall, I am thrilled with my purchase and grateful for the excellent service provided by the Kia dealership.If you're driving long distances on a highway with no traffic, then you can take advantage of the higher mile per gallon Pacifica, Honda, and Toyota. However, in city driving, they all perform about the same. On the other hand, I saved thousands of dollars with my Kia EX and got a great bargain. I love my 07 Sienna and won't get rid of it until it's unrepairable, but my new Sedona outperforms it in every way. My Sedona feels like I'm driving a Mercedes Benz. While it's not perfect, Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota also have cars that perform very well. I didn't choose the Chrysler Pacifica because I didn't like the ugly round gear shifter knob. I don't buy cars with gear knobs. I made an offer and told the dealer my budget, but it was overpriced even with the lease. I didn't choose the Honda because I find it very ugly. Same as above, it was way overpriced for me. I didn't choose another fantastic reliable Toyota Sienna because the current Siennas are not like my older 2007 model. My mother-in-law has one, and the plastic around the front seats and bumpers are cheap and loose. I actually prefer my much older Sienna to the newer ones. During the past 25 years, I have owned Honda, Toyota, Land Rover, and Subaru.The Land Rover has been the most fun car I have owned, hands down. However, they can be quite expensive to repair and consume a lot of gas. I had trouble fitting things in the back as well. While the Honda and Toyota are reliable, they feel and look cheap. The 2015 Subaru Forester was the second most fun car I owned, but the overpriced little rinky-dink strained 4-cylinder engine that burns too much oil with a CVT transmission made me let it go recently. It was the worst car purchase I ever made. I am extremely happy with my new Sedona, and I see this car company making better cars in the very near future. Perhaps by the time my 07 Sienna dies, I do see myself replacing it with another Kia Sedona. By that time, I'm sure the gas mileage will have improved, and most likely, the exterior of the Sedona will have a new design. Till this day, I think the Sedona is the best vehicle I have purchased, hands down.
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This van is a great value for your money. It offers many safety features and an unbeatable Kia warranty of 5 years and 60,000 miles, plus an additional 100,000 miles on the powertrain. As a senior, I highly recommend taking it for a test drive. You won't be disappointed. Consider buying or leasing it today!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2020 Kia Sedona problems:
2020 kia sedona. what's the good, the bad, and the ugly? : r/kia
Jan 22, 2023 ... I bought a 2015 Sedona EX with similar mileage back in 2015. It now has 139k on it without any major issues. The only unscheduled repair needed ...
2020 Sedona EX has mild hesitation - is this common with 8 speed ...
Jun 25, 2020 ... Also, given that the 6-speed has no such widespread problem, I choose to believe that KIA would not take a step backward in that regard. A quick ...
2020 Kia Sedona Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2020 Kia Sedona? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
2007 Sedona - Known problems? | Kia Forum
Dec 20, 2014 ... Timing chain tensioners are a known problem. All the power door components have a tendency to fail. The security module is another known problem ...
Kia Sedona Problems and Complaints - 12 Issues
Top Kia Sedona Problems · Starting difficulty due to defective anti-theft control module · Updated Timing Chain Tensioner to Correct Noise on Startup · Failure of ...
Other years of Kia Sedona
Are you having problems with your 2020 Kia Sedona?
Freeman Rice 2025-05-16
I carefully examined both vehicles and ultimately decided to purchase the Sedona for several reasons. Not only did it have all the features I was looking for, but it was also priced 6 thousand dollars less than the other option. Although I had read some reviews that mentioned a stiff and bumpy ride, I regret not taking a longer test drive to experience it for myself. Unfortunately, the ride was indeed quite uncomfortable and even aggravated my back. As a result, I made the difficult decision to sell the vehicle just three months after purchasing it, which resulted in a significant financial loss.
Eleazar Lehner 2025-03-11
We chose the Kia Sedona over the Toyota Sienna because it had more features for a lower price. However, during the test drive, I noticed a serious flaw in the transmission. When accelerating from a stop, the gears shift back and forth causing the van to shake, almost like the engine is misfiring. As someone who worked as an auto technician for several years, I found this issue to be quite frustrating. Despite taking it back to the dealer, they were unable to find anything wrong with it. However, when I asked one of their technicians to ride with me, he immediately noticed the issue and informed me that it is the same problem that the Kia Sorrento has, and there is currently no fix for it. Although there aren't many complaints online about the Sedona having this issue, there are plenty about the Sorrento's transmission. I contacted Kia customer service to express my dissatisfaction and inquire about a solution. Unfortunately, they were unable to provide any information on whether or not they were working on a fix. Overall, the van is great, but the transmission issue is a significant problem that needs to be addressed.
Judson Waters 2024-11-23
We've had our 2017 Sedona for almost a year now and have put about 12,000 miles on it. This is our third Sedona, and we've had other vehicles in between. We liked the first two, but they were both the older body style and I never was completely crazy about it. However, when this new style came out, we were excited to give it a try. We really like the body style, but it's hard to compare it to our previous vehicle after driving it for three years. There were a few reasons we went back to Kia after leasing a Toyota Sienna, and I'll discuss those shortly. One of the main reasons we went with the Sedona was the value. We were able to get out the door for less than $37000, including all taxes, fees, and negative equity due to purchasing a year-end model. Compared to other van models, the price was several thousand lower. However, the gas mileage is a bit disappointing. No matter how easy I drive it, I can't get more than 16 around town and 20 on the highway. If I had it to do over, I would consider the long-term cost of gas before making a purchase. In terms of performance, it's not the best. It's a bit sluggish upon acceleration, and the computer system can be glitchy at times. However, we understand that no car is perfect, and we're willing to deal with these minor issues. Overall, we're happy with our Sedona and would recommend it to others.Although we haven't been stranded yet, I have noticed that the exhaust emits a strong smell of gas and is always thick, even on hot days. I plan to mention this at my oil change tomorrow. On the bright side, the Sedona has a stylish interior and exterior. However, compared to our previous vehicle, the Toyota Sienna, the Sedona has less leg room in the back and significantly less cargo room behind the third row. One of the reasons we chose the Sedona this time around was because the second row seats fold straight up to the front row, providing more cargo room for larger items. In contrast, with the Sienna, the second row seats had to be completely removed, which was no easy task. In terms of quality, it's just typical, as cars are being made with cheaper materials overall, regardless of whether it's a Kia or a Toyota. As for comfort, it seems to be pretty comfortable for everyday commuting, but we have yet to test it on a longer road trip. The only downside is the shortage of packing room, which means we'll have to buy cross bars for the roof rails to carry everything we need. While we wouldn't buy this van again, it's important to note that the Sienna outshines the Sedona by miles, even with the second row inconvenience.
Enrique Goyette 2024-11-19
Decent drive. Mostly average or slightly above average power. However, I would like to share my personal experience with this car. Unfortunately, my car was stolen from my driveway even though the doors were locked. The thieves bashed in the side windows, ripped off the steering column cover and used a USB to drive away. Therefore, I would recommend being cautious and taking extra security measures if you decide to purchase this car.
Alexandre Stokes 2024-10-14
I bought a brand new 2017 Kia Sedona in June of that year and was excited to put the first miles on it. Unfortunately, in March of 2020, I was informed that my tires were cupping at only 36k miles, despite my regular maintenance and tire rotations. I replaced the tires in July of 2020, including an alignment, but was disappointed to learn that my tires are cupping again. This is my third Kia, and I have never had any issues with the previous two Sorento models. I tend to agree with the technician that this may be a design flaw in this particular model. I am extremely upset that my tires are going bad again after only 8 months (technically 6 due to COVID).