AI Damage2017 KIA Sportage: common problems
Owners of the 2017 KIA Sportage filed 403 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 145 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 403
- involving a crash
- 14
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 145
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 55% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 221 complaints (55% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 21.
- Electrical system: 63 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 53.
- Powertrain: 41 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Service brakes: 25 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Structure: 24 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 8 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 403 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 221 | 3 | 21 |
| Electrical system | 63 | 0 | 53 |
| Powertrain | 41 | 2 | 11 |
| Service brakes | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| Structure | 24 | 1 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 4 | 2 |
| Air bags | 16 | 6 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 1 | 2 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 34 |
| Wheels | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My car has been having an extreme oil consumption issue. I've been trying to get the issue fix with Kia for over six months. However, it is getting to the point were the engine runs out of oil and coolant in less than 500 miles.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact was transported to the hospital with the assistance of a family member. The contact sustained a concussion, jaw and back injuries. A police report was filed.
Upon pulling up to the driveway to get ready to park, vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own leading to crash through the garage door & impact to the wall. Airbags did not deploy.
Vehicle accelerated on its own causing accident & head on collision to a wall. Airbags was not deployed. I was pulling up the driveway getting ready to park when suddenly the car accelerated on its own which led to crash through the garage door & hit a wall.
While pulling into a parking space with my foot on the brake, my engine accelerated as if it had a mind of it's own and hit a post. I pushed hard on the brake with no response. The airbag did not deploy even with $5,500 damage to the front end.
Airbags did not deploy even though an impact sensor was definitely hit. I am looking to take this case to kia as well.
The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained back and neck injuries that required medical attention. The contact was not aware of the other driver's injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to the driver's residence.
For the last 2-3 months my car has been randomly accelerating on its own, due to this I was recently (aug 14, 2018) in an at fault accident. I have called my dealership multiple times inquiring if there have been any recalls and there haven't been.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 143 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 7% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sportage has 113 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 403, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 105) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 103 / QL) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 101 / QL) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New / revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black…
- SC340_STKR
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL/STICKER
NHTSA lists 145 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 KIA Sportage?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 403. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (26%), smoke, burning smell, fire (13%), engine failure or replacement (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 KIA Sportage?
NHTSA lists 145 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 KIA Sportage from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.