The Lemon Index2017 Kia Sportage.
The 2017 Kia Sportage is worse than average by owner complaints: 117 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 148, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 21 to 26 mpg combined. The best Kia Sportage year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 401 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sportage year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 16K to 82K miles on the car (180 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 26K–100K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 34K–82K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 12K–66K miles
Recalls 4
- trailer hitches 2022
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.
- brakes 2021
The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
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.
Show all 4 recalls
- trailer hitches 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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 191 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- R1234yf oil and dye injectors - using fluorescent leak detection dye in vehicles a/c system…
- E-cvvt cover and motor plug replacement - this bulletin provides information about the…
- E-CVVT COVER AND MOTOR PLUG REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information about the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sportage SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Have changed oil in less that 3000 miles every time as it was supposed to be changed. Now I have metal shavings in my oil
2017 Kia Sportage owner · NHTSA complaint 11361372
More owner reports
Power window motors failing. This car has less than 55,000 mile one it and only 2 years old but three out of the four power window motors have failed in the past two months.
NHTSA complaint 11277468
Car won't start for no reason at all on some occasions
NHTSA complaint 11190322
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Kia Sportage reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 148; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sportage year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2017 Kia Sportage problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (38%), electrical (15%) and transmission & drivetrain (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Sportage have?
4 safety recalls (latest: trailer hitches). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia Sportage get?
21 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Kia Sportage safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Sportage problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,200 and 82,300 miles. The middle report was at 54,500 miles, from 180 complaints.
Does the 2017 Kia Sportage have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Kia Sportage cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Kia Sportage have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Kia Sportage year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2022 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works