The Kia Sportage is a highly ranked SUV in the affordable compact SUV segment. Why wouldn’t it be? The SUV has everything, from a spacious row of seats, that is classy as well to a perfect balance of ride quality and sportfish handling and performance. The SUV is a perfect fit for almost anyone. However, 2017 Kia Sportage reliability might be a concern, with many issues related to the engine, exterior lighting, airbags, and powertrain.
The most concerning of the 2017 Kia Sportage problems is the apparent engine failure and even catching fire while the occupants are driving. The 2017 Kia Sportage recalls account to four, one of them which is of the most urgent as this is the one causing engine fires, and 268 complaints. The 2017 Sportage competition would be the Ford Escape, the Hyundai Tucson, and the Honda CR-V.
2017 Kia Sportage Issues and User Complaints
Mechanical Problems
- Engine catching fire and guzzling up oil-. The 2017 Kia Sportage engine is notorious for being unreliable and problematic. The engine is an oil guzzler with numerous users indicating that they found it practical to just carry around oil canisters the way the engine is consuming it. The engine is also notorious for stalling and failing mid operations. But the most dangerous one is the engine catching fire. This has been a serious concern which Kia has taken into account and has issued an urgent recall you can refer to NHTSA ID: 21V137000 for more details.
- Brake parts being delayed due to HCEU parts-. Vehicles that were recalled due to the NHTSA ID: 21V137000, particularly the parts for the HCEU system are taking more than reasonable time to be sent from the manufacturer. As so, this has left many of the vehicles yet to be fixed and taking a considerable amount of time for the owners of the 2017 Kia Sportage.
- Transmission has a mind of its own- Many users have complained that the transmission, mid-operation, shifts to neutral or disengages the current gear, revs up the engine, and then goes back to normal. They have also complained about the transmission failure to comply with the gear the user wants it to be, for example, park or reverse.
Electrical Problems
- Dashboard lighting up like a Christmas tree - Various users have complained about the light indicators in the dashboard randomly going off without any reason. Most common are the “check engine” light and “oil change” lights.
Safety Problems
- Airbags malfunctioning - The control module of the airbags has been noticed by various users to be faulty. Hence, the airbag check light comes on and the users have to spend money and time replacing the airbags and their components. In addition, the airbags have also been accused of not being deployed during accidents, causing 2 major injuries even.
Exterior Problems
- Doors won’t let you in or out - Numerous users have complained about the difficulty it takes at times for them to open the passenger or driver side doors. For one particular user, their occupants had to jump the window to get into the vehicle, which is a quite bizarre situation.
Recalls for the 2017 Kia Sportage
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional remarks. |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | September 19, 2022 | 22V703000 | Tow hitch harness fire while parked or driving | 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. | 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. |
|
2 |
March 4, 2021 |
21V137000 |
Engine Compartment fire |
This is an urgent safety recall, Kia has urged all owners of the recalled VINs to park their vehicle away from any structures due to potential fire hazards. One of the circuits in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HCEU) may potentially short-circuit, which can lead to a fire starting up in the engine compartment. |
Kia has informed the owners that the dealership will replace the fuses in the electrical junction boxes along with a software update to the vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB). |
|
3 |
December 19, 2018 |
18V907000 |
Fuel pipe might leak due to high pressure. |
Vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the KSDS update are subject to this recall. 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, which can possibly cause a fuel leak. |
The dealership will inspect and change the fuel pipe if necessary free of charge. |
|
4 |
November 30, 2016 |
16V862000 |
Trailer brake lights may stay illuminated. |
The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. Not only can this confuse other drivers on the road, but it also fails to comply with FMVSS regulations. |
Dealers will replace the “trailer tow hitch harness” free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2017 Kia Sportage?
Although the Kia Sportage 2017 reliability score is 81/100 in the J.D. Power Consumer Rating, it's questionable. With the Sportage engine recalls happening due to the vehicle literally catching fire with two open investigations, we would hold off on getting a 2017 Kia Sportage. Despite a five-star safety rating in the NHTSA crash tests, the issue of doors not letting the occupants inside or outside the vehicle is unsafe.
