2017 Kia Sportage Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2017 Kia Sportage has 399 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 95, the second-worst year of 21 model years covered. Engine problems dominate at 59% of complaints, with 4 recalls including a brake-related fire risk, earning it an Avoid verdict relative to other Sportage years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 95/100
- #2 of 21 Sportage years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 399
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 2 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 27
- Injuries
- 19
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 21 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 0
Top 2017 Kia Sportage problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine234 (59%)
- Electrical System74 (19%)
- Other73 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain40 (10%)
- Structure & Body31 (8%)
- Brakes28 (7%)
- Fuel System24 (6%)
- Airbags16 (4%)
- Steering9 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report vehicles catching fire suddenly, with smoke and flames appearing from under the hood or engine bay while driving or parked.
- Some drivers describe the engine surging or accelerating on its own without input, leading to crashes.
- Multiple owners say airbags failed to deploy during head-on or side-impact collisions, even at highway speeds.
- Owners report brakes stopping the vehicle abruptly without warning while driving in traffic.
- One owner described the vehicle rolling out of park on its own while parked and unattended, resulting in a crash.
2017 Kia Sportage recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside
Trailer hitches
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.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 21V137000Mar 4, 2021Brakes379,931 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 18V907000Dec 19, 2018Engine71,653 vehicles
Engine
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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
2017 Kia Sportage fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Kia Sportage reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Sportage ranks 2nd worst out of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 95 and 399 complaints, most tied to the engine.
- What are the main problems with the 2017 Kia Sportage?
- Engine issues account for 59% of complaints, followed by electrical system problems at 19% and transmission/powertrain issues at 10%. NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 55,000 for the model year overall.
- Does the 2017 Kia Sportage have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Sportage, covering structure and body issues (tow hitch harness fire risk), a brake control unit fire risk, and an engine fuel pipe inspection tied to a prior engine replacement recall.
- How does the 2017 Sportage compare to other years?
- The 2017 model has a complaint index of 95, worse than most other Sportage years except 2023 (100). Years like 2005, 2006, and 2007 have much lower complaint indexes of 0, 10, and 15.
- Were there fires reported in the 2017 Kia Sportage?
- NHTSA complaint data lists 27 fire incidents for the 2017 Sportage, several tied to the electrical system, and one recall specifically addresses a brake control unit short-circuit fire risk.