2017 Kia Sportage reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2017 Kia Sportage holds 399 complaints after 10 years, a rate of 29 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Sportage years here — over the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Trailer hitch, Brake control module, and Hoses and fittings.

2012 Kia Sportage — Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

399

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (219 of 399), then Electrical system (62) and Powertrain (40). Those filings include 14 that report a crash, 27 that report a fire, and 17 that report an injury.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 Sportage has 131 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2018 has 164 complaints, 14 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2017 Kia Sportage. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (4)

Recall trailer hitch 2022-09-19 · NHTSA campaign 22V703000

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.

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.

Recall Brake control module 2021-03-04 · NHTSA campaign 21V137000

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.

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.

Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2018-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 18V907000

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.

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.

Recall trailer hitch 2016-11-30 · NHTSA campaign 16V862000

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."

Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (399 total)

Engine

219

Electrical system

Powertrain

Structure

Fuel and propulsion system

Speed control

Air bags

Service brakes

Exterior lighting

Hydraulic brakes

Steering

Engine and engine cooling

Wheels

Visibility

Trailer hitch

Visibility and wipers

Fuel system, gasoline

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Fire-related

Latches, locks, and linkages

Seat belts

Chest clip, buckle, and harness

Equipment

Parking brake

Seats

Suspension

Tires

Show 19 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"I have a 2017 Kia Sportage with a recurring door latch problem. Several years ago, the driver’s door developed a problem where it would not open properly from the outside. Kia repaired the driver’s door latch under…"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-25
"Engine caught fire , insurance denied the claim . Kia has a class action lawsuit Theta 2 . It was towed into the dealership for approximately 3 mts . During the diagnostic they discovered a crack in the number 3…"
Engine · filed 2026-08-02
"Engine burns excess oil, I am forced to add oil every other day as it consumes an excessive amount. When I spoke with the Kia Dealership they told me I have an unlimited warranty on the engine but it need to blow before…"
Engine · filed 2026-07-22
"The engine consumes a massive amount of oil to where I have to check my oil constantly and refill as often as weekly. This can pose a risk to myself and others due to the engine failing while I am driving. I am sure…"
Engine · filed 2026-07-17
"My car went into limp mode on the high way due to a faulty knock sensor. my car decelerated rapidly, which could have put me and others around me at risk. I had to repair this problem on my own even though other cars…"
Engine · filed 2026-07-17

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2017 Kia Sportage SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2017 Kia Sportage SUV FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Sportage all-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	21	25	23 MPG	$2800
Sportage all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	23	21 MPG	$3100
Sportage FE all-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	21	25	22 MPG	$2950
Sportage FE front-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	23	30	26 MPG	$2500
Sportage front-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	22	29	25 MPG	$2600
Sportage front-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	21	26	23 MPG	$2800

Specs and fitment

4th generation (QL), 2012–2021

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4.8 qt capacity

Tire size 225/60R17 to 245/45R19 (trim dependent)

Towing capacity 2,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 18V907000. 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. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. 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.

Compare

Previous year 2016 Kia Sportage Next year 2018 Kia Sportage See every Kia Sportage model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Kia Sportage reliable?

What are common problems with a 2017 Kia Sportage?

Is the 2017 Kia Sportage more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2017 Kia Sportage been recalled?

The 2017 Kia Sportage has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2017 Kia Sportage?

Owners have filed 399 complaints about the 2017 Kia Sportage with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2017 Kia Sportage get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2017 Kia Sportage is 23.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Sportage take?

0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 18V-907 cover on the Kia Sportage?

NHTSA campaign 18V907000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Sportage?

4th generation (QL) (2012-2021).