2017 KIA Sportage Engine Problems
Owners have filed 220 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2017 KIA Sportage, 55% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 68,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (13% of reports).
- 220engine complaints
- 68,500median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 60%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 29 of 220 complaints (13%)
- Engine failed: mentioned in 14 of 220 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2017 KIA Sportage at $5,550, and half of them between $4,550 and $7,700.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 84 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 220 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 18 a fire, 2 an injury.
KIA Sportage engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sportage | 6 | 11% | 3,500 |
| 2024 Sportage | 10 | 14% | 17,850 |
| 2023 Sportage | 38 | 20% | 47,000 |
| 2022 Sportage | 21 | 46% | 42,000 |
| 2021 Sportage | 23 | 43% | 59,960 |
| 2020 Sportage | 75 | 46% | 21,014 |
| 2019 Sportage | 36 | 51% | 40,000 |
| 2018 Sportage | 91 | 55% | 18,400 |
| 2017 Sportage | 220 | 55% | 68,500 |
| 2016 Sportage | 62 | 46% | 84,000 |
| 2015 Sportage | 84 | 58% | 91,000 |
| 2014 Sportage | 72 | 58% | 92,750 |
| 2013 Sportage | 301 | 79% | 100,000 |
| 2012 Sportage | 328 | 84% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Sportage | 77 | 43% | 99,500 |
| 2010 Sportage | 2 | 10% | 100,000 |
| 2009 Sportage | 10 | 13% | 80,500 |
| 2008 Sportage | 17 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Sportage | 8 | 10% | 97,500 |
| 2006 Sportage | 15 | 14% | 126,000 |
| 2005 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 111,195 |
| 2002 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 150,075 |
| 2001 Sportage | 1 | 0% | 92,000 |
| 2000 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 96,989 |
| 1999 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 250,695 |
| 1998 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 60,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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. Iâm spending a fortune on oil.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2017 KIA Sportages have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 220 owner complaints about engine for the 2017 KIA Sportage (55% of the 401 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2017 KIA Sportage engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 68,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2017 KIA Sportage?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,550 (half paid between $4,550 and $7,700), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2017 KIA Sportage?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 29 of 220 complaints, followed by “engine failed” (14).
Other 2017 KIA Sportage problems
See all 2017 KIA Sportage problems or engine problems across all Sportage years.