2017 Kia Sportage recalls and problems

The 2017 Kia Sportage has 4 safety recalls and 404 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Urgent: recall 22V-703, recall 21V-137 carry a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
4
Complaints
404
Crashes / fires
14 / 28
Injuries / deaths
19 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2017 Kia Sportage vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 Kia Sportage recalls

Recall 22V-703: Trailer Hitches

Park outsideReported Sep 19, 2022 · 70,887 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 21V-137: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Park outsideReported Mar 4, 2021 · 379,931 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 18V-907: Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Dec 19, 2018 · 71,653 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 16V-862: Trailer Hitches, Electrical System

Reported Nov 30, 2016 · 10,212 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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."

Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

2017 Kia Sportage problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine222
Unknown or Other69
Electrical System63
Power Train41
Structure24
Fuel/Propulsion System21
Vehicle Speed Control18
Air Bags16
Service Brakes15
Exterior Lighting15
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Steering9

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 22
  • Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 3
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Oil/Lubrication — 2
  • Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer — 2
  • Power Train › Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod › Retaining Fasteners/Hardware — 1
  • Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System — 1
  • Electrical System › Ignition — 1
  • Equipment › Electrical › Anti-Theft Devices — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 55,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 Kia Sportage complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · at 103,343 miles · reported Oct 23, 2026
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 contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,343.
Electrical System · at 174,000 miles · reported Oct 20, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Kia Sportage. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 131,600. The Carfax report listed the mileage as 140,000 in 2024. The contact stated that the vehicle was insured but not yet registered. The contact reported the odometer fraud to the Attorney General of Massachusetts. The contact emailed the dealer about the mileage discrepancy, and the dealer informed her that they were no longer leasing the vehicle. The current actual mileage was 174,000.
Engine · reported Oct 19, 2026
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 car was engaged
Exterior Lighting · reported Sep 30, 2026
I own a 2017 Kia Sportage EX with the factory Snow White Pearl paint finish. The vehicle has been well maintained and has not been involved in an accident or collision. The factory paint on the trunk is peeling and delaminating from the vehicle. The white paint is separating completely from the surface, exposing the silver/gray layer underneath. The condition appears to be a failure of the factory paint/coating system rather than damage caused by an accident, collision, or external impact. I contacted Kia Customer Care to report the issue. I was initially told that this was the first time they…
Engine · reported Sep 25, 2026
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 vehicle is a 2017 Kia Sportage with a 2.4L Theta II engine, which had previously received the mandated KSDS safety software flash. The authorized dealership (Southwest Kia) refused to honor the safety recall and lifetime warranty parameters for this engine failure, instead classifying the issue as a…

Other Kia Sportage years

Compare all Kia Sportage years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Kia Sportage have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Kia Sportage: 22V-703 (trailer hitches), 21V-137 (service brakes, hydraulic), 18V-907 (engine, fuel system, gasoline), 16V-862 (trailer hitches, electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Sportage?

Owners report engine problems most often (222 reports), followed by unknown or other (69). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 55,000 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.