YearToAvoid

2017 Kia Sportage Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 74 electrical system complaints for the 2017 Kia Sportage, 19% of all 399 complaints that year. Owners reported 7 fires and 4 injuries tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 56,500. No related recall is listed for this component.

Electrical System complaints
74
19% of 399
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
56,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report smoke and flames coming from under the hood while driving, sometimes leading to a full engine fire.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle stalling or shutting off without warning shortly after using the remote starter and shifting from park.
  • Several complaints describe electrical failures accompanied by loss of power steering and braking along with smoke filling the cabin.
  • Owners describe headlights that are aimed too low or too bright, creating poor visibility or glare for oncoming traffic.
  • A complaint notes rear turn signals and back-up lights positioned low and dim, making them hard for other drivers to see.
  • One owner linked repeated tire pressure alerts, brake lamp replacements, and a burnt cable insulation smell to a possible connection with existing recalls.

When 2017 Kia Sportage electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 3, 2016, latest Jun 16, 2026.

2017 Kia Sportage electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter52016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42021 Q12022 Q32023 Q42025 Q1
74 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2023 Q1 (5).

Electrical System recalls for the 2017 Kia Sportage

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Sportage model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20059 (13%)
  2. 200625 (23%)
  3. 200725 (32%)
  4. 200833 (34%)
  5. 200924 (30%)
  6. 20102 (10%)
  7. 201143 (24%)
  8. 201231 (8%)
  9. 201322 (6%)
  10. 20148 (7%)
  11. 201520 (14%)
  12. 201620 (15%)
  13. 201774 (19%)
  14. 201833 (20%)
  15. 201913 (19%)
  16. 202022 (14%)
  17. 20217 (14%)
  18. 20228 (17%)
  19. 202345 (24%)
  20. 202414 (20%)
  21. 202515 (29%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2017 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA lists 74 electrical system complaints for the 2017 Kia Sportage, which is 19% of the 399 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Kia Sportage electrical system?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for this component on the 2017 Kia Sportage.
Did the electrical problems cause fires or injuries?
Owners reported 7 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 crash connected to the electrical system complaints for the 2017 Kia Sportage.
At what mileage do these electrical problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2017 Kia Sportage is 56,500 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower mileage.
How does the 2017 Sportage compare to other years for electrical complaints?
The 2017 model's 19% share of complaints tied to the electrical system is higher than most other Sportage years listed, though 2023 and 2025 show similar or higher shares at 24% and 29%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.