repaired · 2026 Q1
Trailer hitches
Park outsideRisk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2017 Kia SportageProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 404 owner complaints about the 2017 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-703 the manufacturer reports only 29% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Kia Sportage has problems
404 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
222Engine22 crash/fire/injury
63Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
41Power train4 crash/fire/injury
24Structure
21Fuel/propulsion system
18Vehicle speed control
16Air bags
15Exterior lighting
15Service brakes
6518 other systems12 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 222 | 22 |
| Electrical system | 63 | 7 |
| Power train | 41 | 4 |
| Structure | 24 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 21 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 4 |
| Air bags | 16 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 4 |
| 18 other systems | 65 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2017 Kia Sportage recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Electrical system
Risk. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
69kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 84 engine complaints. 73% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 45% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
22under 30k miles61under 100k miles23100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
16 owners mentioned a cost$4,750median
Middle half: $2,400 – $7,023
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2017 vs. every other Sportage year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportage median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2017 Kia Sportage safety ratings
2017 Kia Sportage SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2017 Kia Sportage, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Sportage owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was unable to be restarted and needed to be towed. The vehicle was towed to a service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized. The…
Driving home noticed smoke from under the hood, pulled over noticed smoke coming through the vents inside the car. Shut it off and got out called 911, they're were no warning lights or messages, the car was a total loss as I only carried liability, when fire trucks arrived, the whole front of the…
While traveling at highway speeds on the freeway, the engine experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure, causing the vehicle to lose power and violently force itself into an emergency low-speed "limp mode." This created an immediate, severe collision hazard with surrounding high-speed traffic. The…
Own a 2017 Sportage?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.