EN
ENPTESFRDEHE

2017 Kia Sportage: True Cost, Problems & Verdict

398 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.

Reviewed by the MotorJury data desk · 2 sources · Last updated 2026-08-20
Kia Sportage
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · open the model page
advertisement

Owner complaints: 398 filed with NHTSA

Complaints per year on the road: 44.22

Engine219Unknown Or Other68Electrical System62Power Train40Service Brakes25Structure24

What owners say

Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.

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 cylinder wall . They rejected the claim due to what they said was a leaky valve cover gasket even though it had been replaced within the last year . The car has 66,000 miles and has been well maintained. Ther…
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 they will replace it. I’m spending a fortune on oil.
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 similar to my make and model have had the same issue.

Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)

2016201820212022
CampaignComponentSummary
21V137000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/TractKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic C…
22V703000Trailer HitchesKia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and…
18V907000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, LiKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received a…
16V862000Trailer HitchesKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2…

True cost of ownership

Fuel (your region) $0
Maintenance band (your region) $1,645$3,334
Estimated running cost this year (age 9) $3,334

Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.

02468101214$4,444vehicle age (years)
fuel/energy + maintenance band (annual, USD, estimate)

Run your own numbers in the true-cost calculator →

FAQ

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

The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (219 complaints in our indexed sample).

Is the 2017 Kia Sportage a good used car to buy?

Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 25/100, computed from 398 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.

Does the 2017 Kia Sportage have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Kia Sportage, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/03/2021. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

What will a 2017 Kia Sportage really cost YOU per year?

Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.

Open the true-cost calculator

Data sources

Complaints & recalls: NHTSA · Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov · Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements. Last updated: 2026-08-20.

25RELIABILITY / 100
AVOID
  • 398 NHTSA complaints on record (44.2/yr of exposure)
  • 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems

How this score is computed →

advertisement