Problems · by component

2017 Kia Sportage engine problems

222 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Sportage cite engine, 55% of all 404 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
222
55% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
19
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was unable to be restarted and needed to be towed. The vehicle was towed to a service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,343.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2026EngineODI 11773271
“Driving home noticed smoke from under the hood, pulled over noticed smoke coming through the vents inside the car. Shut it off and got out called 911, they're were no warning lights or messages, the car was a total loss as I only carried liability, when fire trucks arrived, the whole front of the car was engaged”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2026EngineFire reportedODI 11772249
“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 vehicle is a 2017 Kia Sportage with a 2.4L Theta II engine, which had previously received the mandated KSDS safety software flash. The authorized dealership (Southwest Kia) refused to honor the safety recall and lifetime warranty parameters for this engine failure, instead classifying the issue as a "burnt valve" to deny coverage and forcing an out-of-pocket retail customer charge of $6,864.49 for a full engine assembly replacement.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11767043
“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 gasket even though it had been replaced within the last year . The car has 66,000 miles and has been well maintained. There’s copious examples of similar of engine failures and Kia gives the same reason for not fixing the problem.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2026EngineFire reportedODI 11754337
“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. I’m spending a fortune on oil.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2026EngineODI 11752117
“My car went into limp mode on the high way due to a faulty knock sensor. my car decelerated rapidly, which could have put me and others around me at risk. I had to repair this problem on my own even though other cars similar to my make and model have had the same issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2026EngineODI 11751195

Showing 6 of 222 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2017 Sportage problem areas