Is the 2017 Kia Sportage a bad year?
404 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 230, 10× a quiet Sportage year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 10× the complaints of a quiet Sportage year, spread over 30k–100k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Sportage owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 72,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 230 (57%) | 30k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 63 (16%) | 39k–98k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 41 (10%) | 13k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 25 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 24 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 24 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 18 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 16 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 72,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 404 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 28 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 46 say the car was towed.
53 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My 2017 KIA SPORTAGE has 74,695 miles. I am the 2ND owner. The engine failed at highway speed, due to so called knock sensor.
Car is rapidly burning oil and not dripping on ground. Recent activity: oil dipstick showed no oil on 01/18/2021 and took 3 quarts.
Several times while driving, no matter if I'm in eco mode or sports mode, my rpms spike, and my engine sounds as though I hit the accelerator very hard.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 72,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Kia Sportage: 4
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. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
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.
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. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 116
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Kia Sportage. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Product improvement campaign: engine replacement instructions for DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z)
Injector harness routing for PI1802Y/Z and PI1803Y/Z engine replacements
TSB_PI1802_R2 Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement
Regarding: Oil leakage from the 4WD coupling assembly 4WD Malfunction and MIL lamp ON with DTCs Abnormal noise or vibration while driving
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2016 Sportage: 134 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2018 Sportage: 165 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Kia Sportage year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sportage years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2017 Kia Sportage a bad year?
404 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 230, 10× a quiet Sportage year. At 72,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 10× the complaints of a quiet Sportage year, spread over 30k–100k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Kia Sportage?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (230), electrical system (63), transmission and drivetrain (41), brakes (25), body structure (24). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 30k–100k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Sportage have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Trailer hitch (NHTSA 22V-703), Brakes (NHTSA 21V-137), Fuel system (NHTSA 18V-907), Trailer hitch (NHTSA 16V-862). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.