KnownCarProblems2017 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 401 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (57% of complaints, typically around 70,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Sportage model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2017 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
228 complaints · 57%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Had motor replaced on 2017 Kia Sportage with 65k on it. New motor lasted to about 67k on it. Been waiting almost 2 months for engine replacement.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming excessive oil. The contact stated that the oil consumption caused the RPM to surge to 5,000 rpms. The contact also stated that after driving 75 miles, due to the oil consumption failure, the vehicle used up a half tank of fuel. The…
Other or unspecified
69 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 31,500 miles.
After several complaints of rough idle, burnt oil and drive-ability issues starting at 7128 miles, 16066 miles, 21000 miles,22711 miles & 29356 miles, the engine was required replacement. After the engine was replaced (short block we were told), the brake assist system (bas) & the forward & rear collision warning…
Interstate, weather affected collision with cable barriers at 70mph. Airbags did not deploy even though an impact sensor was definitely hit. I am looking to take this case to Kia as well.
Electrical
62 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, ignition, adas.
The drivers side rear door will not unlock. Not manually or electronically. This started 2 months ago and the roseville, ca Kia service dept. Walnuts to charge for repairs. I feel that this is a safety issue that they should repair at no cost to the buyer.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the seat belt chime reminder, the blind spot warning system, and the turn signal sound were inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for a diagnostic test. The contact declined to pay the fee.…
Transmission
41 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: shift linkage/cable/rod.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-50 MPH, the RPM revved suddenly which caused the front wheels to spin and the vehicle to independently accelerate. The vehicle was taken to dutch miller Kia of charleston (339 maccorkle ave sw, south charlston west va) there…
While driving at a steady speed, car will suddenly disengage the transmission, the rpms will rev high and then transmission will re-engage. This usually lasts 20-30 seconds, it is very random. I have taken it in and because no codes are showing and they are unable to recreate there is nothing they can do. It is a very…
Brakes
26 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 93,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and while taking a picture of his instrument panel, a grayish color smoke began to emit from the hood of the vehicle. As the…
Recently I had a car accident , my car breaks failed to stop when I was driving, my Kia was giving me alerts with tires presures, needs a lt s ide brake lamp replaced in multiple times, brakes rotators been changed, smell of burnt cable insulation, can you investigate if it could be related to the recalls nks twice,
Fuel system
24 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles.
I was on the street driving pulling out in traffic. When I tried to give gas car made idle sound but did not move. I was in middle of street. Not first time happening..advised nally Kia dealership. Did not help me.
This happened twice in 10 days. Once while driving and once in parking mode with vehicle on - suddenly the vehicle loses power, cannot accelerate, power steering is lost, and 3 panel lights turn on simultaneously: battery, oil, check engine. Both times by turning off and restarting engine I have been able to continue…
Body and structure
24 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
With 60,700 miles, the driver's side rear door locks and unlocks, but will not open. Dealership stated I was over warranty by 700 miles. I explained that I thought this should be treated as a safety issue as if the vehicle is in an accident on the passenger side, rear occupants can not exit the vehicle on driver's side
The passenger side rear door fails to open from both inside and outside of the vehicle. This happened unexpectedly and without provocation. There are numerous filed complaints siting this very same issue on the NHTSA.gov website and should be investigated.
Speed control
18 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 19,000 miles.
For the last 2-3 months my car has been randomly accelerating on its own, due to this I was recently (aug 14, 2018) in an at fault accident. I have called my dealership multiple times inquiring if there have been any recalls and there haven't been. I am currently in the service department (aug 18, 2018) having the…
While pulling into a parking space with my foot on the brake, my engine accelerated as if it had a mind of it's own and hit a post. I pushed hard on the brake with no response. The airbag did not deploy even with $5,500 damage to the front end.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 Kia Sportage recalls
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 11, 2023. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc249.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 sorento, 2021-2022 sorento hybrid (hev), 2022-2023 sorento plug-in hybrid (phev), and 2017-2022 sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (pcb) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (epb) will also receive a hecu software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on april 30, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc206.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 sportage and cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began january 17, 2019. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc172.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 optima, 2012-2017 sorento and 2011-2018 sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17v-224, warranty, or the knock sensor detection system (ksds) product improvement campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began january 18, 2017. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc142.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 sorento vehicles manufactured october 27, 2014, to august 25, 2016, and 2017 sportage vehicles manufactured december 10, 2015, to august 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, " lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Questions about the 2017 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (228 complaints, typically around 70,500 miles); other or unspecified (69 complaints, typically around 31,500 miles); electrical (62 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Sportage have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 19, 2022 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is the most complained-about Sportage model year since 2000, with 401 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.