10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 14
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,493 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2017 Kia Sportage:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #88

Oct 032022

Sportage

  • miles
I purchased a pre-owned 2017 Kia Sportage (~34,000 miles) from a Kia dealership in January 2020. I had my oil changed in late June 2022 at approximately 64,500 miles. In early October 2022 at approximately 67,800 miles (+3300) I noticed my oil light flickering when I would break form a high rate of speed. I brought it in to be looked at and my engine had less than one quart of oil remaining. Not only did the engine consume ~5 quarts of oil in 3.5 months, 3300 miles, but almost more importantly oil light had barely begun to flicker to the deficit in oil. The kia oil consumption issues are well known at this point. However I was unaware of the oil pressure sensor being set to only register once the vehicle was down 4-5 quarts of oil from the fill level. I was told by the Kia service manager that my "excellent" warranty will in fact cover a new engine, but I will have to drive the car until the engine seizes or sustains serious damage. When I first noticed the issue I called Kia to make an appointment to be seen and they were unable to fit me in for 2 weeks. Out of concern for my safety I brought my vehicle to an independent repair center who then confirmed that there was less than one quart of oil in then engine when it was drained (attached service record). My car is currently at the Kia service center.

- Munster, IN, USA

problem #87

Oct 162022

Sportage 4-cyl

  • miles
I was driving up to Vermont for an event. I stopped at a Dunkin Donuts drive through and noticed smoke coming from the hood of my car. I quickly pulled forward into the nearest parking spot and the car started smoking in and burst into flames. I had 20-30 seconds to get out of the car. I could have been killed.

- Revere, MA, USA

problem #86

Oct 142022

Sportage

  • miles
When we are driving the car accelerate on its own. I have taken to Kia multiple times and they see a problem. That-??s a safety concern

- Saddlebrook , NJ, USA

problem #85

Sep 012022

Sportage

  • miles
I purchased my Kia Sportage used in March of 2021. -By July, 2022 I noticed it was staring to burn a lot of oil. I had it at the shop and there were no leaks, --By September 1, 2022 I was driving up the interstate; the car lost power, check engine light was on and the car started shaking. -I checked the oil and it was good. We also checked all codes that were showing and replaced the spark plugs, coil pack, and VVT Solenoid. The car still was not running right. --September 15 I decided to take it to Timbrook Kia to see if I could trade it in or have it repaired. They would offer me $5000 due to engine issue. I was then told there was a recall on the CVVT Cover (later found out it was actually a service action #SA305). They said the CVVT Gear under the Cover was damaged which works the VVT Solenoid which controls the valves in the engine and they thought one of the valves was bent. They put in a request to have the repairs to be covered by Kia, but they denied it twice and claim that the gear was not responsible for the motor issue. -I contacted Kia Consumer Care, which is almost impossible, to be told that my motor was on a Class Action Settlement list and I should go online and fill out the claim form. I tried to fill out the form and found it was for reimbursement, so I called the number on the settlement site. I was then informed that I could not file for the settlement because my engine had not completely blown up or caught on fire and I was misinformed previously. -Over the past week, I have gotten nothing but the run around between Kia themselves and Timbrook Kia.

- Spring Gap, MD, USA

problem #84

Oct 312019

Sportage

  • miles
My car has been having an extreme oil consumption issue. I've been trying to get the issue fix with Kia for over six months. However, it is getting to the point were the engine runs out of oil and coolant in less than 500 miles. They told me the engine is damaged and it could fail and that the issue was caused by the excessive oil consumption. However, they will not cover it because damages by oil consumption are not covered by the manufacturer.

- Selkirk, NY, USA

problem #83

Sep 142022

Sportage 4-cyl

  • 74,695 miles
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. This the first safety issue, no assisted steering or brakes. I paid to have towed. The Kia dealer had no loaner cars. And was told it would take up to ten weeks to get an engine. After the KIA dealer replaced the engine. The power steering, alternator, and water pump belt came off. This caused the second safety issue, as there is no powersteering making it very difficult to control as well as third safety issue the computer to stopped the engine. Again I paid to have it towed. The Kia dealer found a broken motor mount. Which they did repair and cover. Now the first week out of the KIA dealer service department there is a high pitched squeal. The KIA dealer just wrote me a quote for $800 plus dollars, stating this vital moving part is not covered.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #82

Aug 292022

Sportage 4-cyl

  • miles
My engine locked up 8/29/22, my mechanic informed me there was a recall associated with the engine.We had the car transferred to the local dealership. I was denied due to the dealer, Bill Byrd kia stating that the manufacturer, Kia, wouldn-??t cover it due to not receiving the previous safety recall. Regardless of the type of recall all recalls that within the statute of limitation of eight years ago must be completed. Nevertheless the reason I didn't get notice of the recall, they said it was sent june 2019. The reason why I didn't get the recall/product improvement notice was due to my house being damaged due to Hurricane Michael, a category 5 hurricane that destroyed and made my house unlivable. How exactly I was supposed to get this notice being unhoused from a category 5 hurricane.Please contact bill byrd kia in Panama CIty, fl and approve and fix the repair, which companies are required to under federal law, specifically the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. I have taken the liberty to include photos of my house that are time stamped from the month June 2019, the time frame Kia representatives state I should have received the notice

- Panama City , FL, USA

problem #81

Aug 102022

Sportage

  • miles
While driving 70 mph on the highway, the car suddenly lost speed, and I was not able to accelerate, and the engine light came on. Fortunately, I was near an exit, and at the reduced speed I was able to get to a parking lot. After contacting the dealership where I purchased the Kia, they suggested I have it towed to their service department. The initial diagnosis code indicated #1326 - which is excessive rod bearing wear.

- Dexter, MI, USA

problem #80

Aug 262022

Sportage

  • 139,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an oil change, and the mechanic informed the contact that there was no oil in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #79

Jul 082022

Sportage

  • miles
The vehicle will stall upon starting with push to start feature and you-??d only hear clicking sound.

- Indianapolis , IN, USA

problem #78

Aug 092020

Sportage

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 60-70 MPH, the vehicle decelerated temporarily. The accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Altadena, CA, USA

problem #77

Jun 152022

Sportage

  • miles
Vehicle is using on the average 2-3qts of oil within 1000 miles was told this could cause a fire. My vehicle had been checked twice was told I may need a new engine. Is this a common problem?

- West Brownsville , PA, USA

problem #76

Jul 222022

Sportage

  • miles
Car shakes and putters when started as if the engine is shot, which at this point probably is. I have been adding oil every couple of weeks for over 6 months now with no oil leak detected. I went to the dealer in January to ask about white smoke coming from the tailpipe and Dealership tells me I need to blow the engine up before KIA will do anything about it. It's now close to blown up with check engine light on having it towed to dealership this week.

- Vista , CA, USA

problem #75

Jul 122022

Sportage

  • miles
Engine seized twice randomly while driving. Turned car off and back on and it ran without issue. (May 21 2022 and June 30 2022). Had the recall addressed on july 9 and July 12 my check engine light came on. It was towed to Kia and they called the following day saying they-??re replacing the engine under the extended warranty.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #74

May 192022

Sportage

  • miles
Car shakes and putters when started as if the engine is shot, which at this point probably is. We have been adding oil every two or three for over a year now with no oil leak detected. Dealership tells us we need to blow the engine up before KIA will do anything about it. It's not blown up but it is not driveable. Had it towed to the local dealership which diagnosed the problem as being " low compression on cylinder 2 resulting in engine failure. Do not know the exact cause of failure due to no tear down", which cost us $144.04 on a vehicle that has a lifetime extended warranty on the powertrain. Mind you, they already changed out the transmission June of 2020 and just after that the engine problems started. We paid $502.85 as our part of the bill. The estimated cost of this engine repair is $3160 dollars plus taxes which still might not fix the problem, and the cost of a new engine is 4 to 5 thousand dollars. My understanding is that we are not the only people having these problems and this is their best response. With all the new vehicles they continue to sell and produce with their good name intact, they should have to recall or replace these vehicles because they were lemons from the start and they suffer no ill affects for it. A list of all the stuff needed to "fix" this problem are as follows: head gasket, head bolt set, intake gasket, t-stat & gasket, water outlet gasket, 4 spark plugs, 6 valve stem seals, lof, 2 gallons of antifreeze 14 assorted head bolts, 4 bushings for bolts, misc and labor. Total for that is $3160 plus tax. *Might need head-has no compression-valve burnt/stuck, or seat damage. No cost mentioned for that. Remind you, the engine hasn't been torn down yet. And yes, there is a lifetime powertrain warranty on the vehicle, which isn't worth the paper it is written on.

- Jackson, TN, USA

problem #73

May 102022

Sportage

  • miles
I was passing a car doing below 50 in a 55. As I sped to pass him the engine seemed to misfire, the car began to jerk and I suddenly lost power to the engine. I tried pressing on the gas pedal but engine was idle. I pulled to the side shut the engine off, waited a few minutes and tried to start the engine again. It did not want to turn over, sounded like a piston had blown. I had it towed to the family mechanic whom I take all my vehicles to. He ran a diagnostics and said piston #3 was getting no compression and I would need a new engine. I bought the vehicle brand new with 0 miles, the car now has 103,000 miles, just 3000 miles over warranty, which is why I took it to my mechanic and not the dealership. I bought the service contract from the dealership so it has been completely maintained as per contract at Future Kia in Clovis. My mechanic advised me to take it back to the dealer. I had it towed there and awaiting their diagnostics report.

- Kerman, CA, USA

problem #72

Apr 282022

Sportage

  • miles
While driving, the engine suddenly lost power and stalled. All of the warning lights on the dash illuminated. After coasting to the side of the road I pressed the start button and the engine started back up. Later that week the low oil light illuminated. After stopping the car I pulled the dipstick and it was not registering any oil. The car is at JT Kia in Columbia, SC to be diagnosed and we will be doing an engine oil consumption test.

- Palmyra, VA, USA

problem #71

May 022022

Sportage

  • miles
Over the last year the car has been having the engine light come on. The car idols ruff, loses power and has left me stranded on the side road. I lost power in the fast lane on the freeway and had to maneuver out of the fast lane to side of freeway.Each time it has been taken to shop it has been a mis-fire in the #3 cylinder and the spark plug had to be replaced. Several calls not returned by Roseville Kia asking for information regarding this problem as well as trying to set up appointment for current recall over the last year. Once again car left me on side of road and was told by mechanic that it needs new engine. Told by Folsom Kia to have it towed to them since Roseville Kia would not return calls and that the issue with the engine would be covered by warranty being extended due to past recall. After 4 days at Folsom Kia I was told that I would need a new engine and starting price to tear it down is $5000, and it would most likely be more, approx$8000. Also told that the warranty does not apply now.

- Auburn, CA, USA

problem #70

Mar 062022

Sportage

  • 70,175 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and remained at the dealer for over 30 days and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,175.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #69

Apr 012022

Sportage

  • miles
I have a airbag warning light they said it was a sensor with the driver side seat belt. Is this not a safety issue" vehicle is equiped with the "theta II" engine which is under a class action law suit against engine fires I had the oil changed at 70K miles at hollywood Kia I checked the car at 73K and it was 1.5 quarts low I added 1.5 quarts low I added another half quart at 74K it was a quart low at 75K when I got the next oil change also, I had to add a quart at 77K, 78K and 79K just filed a complaint with Kia corporate case # 14755737 I am going into gunther Kia next week to get my 80K oil change I left a voice message with service manager anthony decarlo as well engine oil light never comes on could this also be related to the engine fire issues "

- Hollywood, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »