2017 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

215Engine complaints

54.6%Of all 394 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE215 · 54.6%

Unspecified / other68 · 17.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM59 · 15%

POWER TRAIN39 · 9.9%

STRUCTURE:BODY22 · 5.6%

Share of the 394 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Kia Sportage overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED, CAR WILL SUDDENLY DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION, THE RPMS WILL REV HIGH AND THEN TRANSMISSION WILL RE-ENGAGE. THIS USUALLY LASTS…”NHTSA complaint 11399976 — filed 03/09/2021

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSUMED OIL…”NHTSA complaint 11385291 — filed 12/28/2020

“ON OCTOBER 6,2020 MY 2017 KIA SPORTAGE SEEMED TO HAVE EXCELLERATION ISSUES; THE CAR WOULD HESITATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THEN ABOUT A…”NHTSA complaint 11373724 — filed 11/08/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Kia Sportage have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2017 Kia Sportage: 215 of 394 complaints on file (54.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Kia Sportage have in total?

394 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 14 involved a crash, 26 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.