2017 Kia Sportage Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Kia Sportage. Part of Generation 4 — 2017–2022.

20162018
Complaints
527
per 10K Sold
72.4
US Sales
72,824
Crashes
25
Fires
41
Injuries
32
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2017 Kia Sportage Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1203 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:71,908 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:16
#257 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:83,730 mi
Fires:7
#338 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:41,126 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2017 Kia Sportage.

Engine Problems
203
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
16
Avg Miles
71,908
Electrical Faults
57
complaints
Crashes
Fires
7
Avg Miles
83,730
Transmission / Drivetrain
38
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
41,126
Body Structure
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
53,406
Fuel System
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
33,709
Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
46,064
Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
73,799
Unintended Acceleration
14
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
27,857
Headlight/Taillight Failures
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
21,178
Hydraulic Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
48,435
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,107
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
90,750
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,774
Wipers & Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Trailer Hitches
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Adas:Hill Start Assist:Software
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Pressure/Temperature Sensor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Anti-Theft Devices
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Bulbs
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Firerelated
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Kia Sportage. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2017 Kia Sportage

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~532,683 vehicles.

22V703000Trailer Hitches
~70,887 affected

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.

21V137000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
~379,931 affected

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.

18V907000Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~71,653 affected

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.

16V862000Trailer Hitches · Electrical System
~10,212 affected

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."

Other Kia Sportage Years

2017 Kia Sportage — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2017 Kia Sportage reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2017 Kia Sportage has 527 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 203 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2017 Kia Sportage?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (203 complaints, avg 71,908 mi); Electrical Faults (57 complaints, avg 83,730 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (38 complaints, avg 41,126 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Kia Sportage?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 62,070 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2017 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA complaints for the 2017 Kia Sportage include 25 crash-related reports, 41 fire reports, 32 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2017 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 532,683 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2017 Kia Sportage?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Sportage reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2017 Kia Sportage

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