Kia Sportage 2017–2022 problems by year and mileage
4th generation (QL)
NHTSA data through 18 October 2026897 complaints, 313 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2017 Kia Sportage
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 401
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2017
- Engine220 reports · median 67,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise69 reports
- Electrical system62 reports
Recall areas Trailer hitches · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2018 Kia Sportage
Close- Median failure report
- 18,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 164
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2018
- Engine91 reports
- Electrical system29 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise19 reports
Recall areas Trailer hitches · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2019 Kia Sportage
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 70
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2019
- Engine36 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise14 reports
- Electrical system10 reports
Recall areas Trailer hitches · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2020 Kia Sportage
Close- Median failure report
- 13,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 162
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2020
- Engine75 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise31 reports
- Electrical system19 reports
Recall areas Trailer hitches · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2021 Kia Sportage
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 54
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2021
- Engine23 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise14 reports
- Engine and its cooling system7 reports
Recall areas Trailer hitches · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2022 Kia Sportage
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 46
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2022
- Engine21 reports
- Electrical system8 reports
- Forward collision avoidance5 reports
Recall areas Trailer hitches
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. † Median likely runs low (complaints filed after 2020). Latest: the 2017; earliest: the 2020, and the 2017 is 3 years older (part of the gap is age). 3 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2017–2022 Kia Sportage reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 40,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 107,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 313
- Recalls
- 4
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Engine52.0% of complaints · median 54,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise16.8% of complaints · median 20,000 mi
- Electrical system14.9% of complaints · median 53,000 mi
Owners filed 897 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017–2022 Kia Sportage; the engine leads with 52% of them, and half of the 313 that record an odometer reading came by 40,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
26% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 2.0 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2017–2022 Kia Sportage last?
On the 2017–2022 Kia Sportage, half of the 313 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 40,000 miles and 90% by 107,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
7 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 1 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Sportage reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Kia Sportage 2017–2022 · 313 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 65 complaints
- First 12,000 miles — 26% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 1 complaints (0.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 2,500
- 25%
- 12,000
- Median
- 40,000
- 75%
- 80,000
- 90%
- 107,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 65 | 20.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 48 | 15.3% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 18 | 5.8% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 25 | 8.0% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 10 | 3.2% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 21 | 6.7% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 24 | 7.7% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 22 | 7.0% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 21 | 6.7% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 16 | 5.1% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 12 | 3.8% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 10 | 3.2% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 5 | 1.6% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 3 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 6 | 1.9% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 3 | 1.0% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 1 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Sportage problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Kia Sportage 2017–2022
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Throttle and speed control35 reportsmedian 19,000middle half 9,500–60,000
- Fuel and propulsion system51 reportsmedian 20,000middle half 4,000–44,000
- Problems owners could not categorise151 reportsmedian 20,000middle half 7,500–50,000
- Transmission and driveline76 reportsmedian 36,000middle half 14,000–60,000
- Electrical system134 reportsmedian 53,000middle half 9,500–79,000
- Engine466 reportsmedian 54,000middle half 15,000–87,000
- Body structure43 reportsmedian 56,000middle half 9,000–70,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 466 | 52.0% | 54,000 | 15,000–87,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 151 | 16.8% | 20,000 | 7,500–50,000 |
| Electrical system | 134 | 14.9% | 53,000 | 9,500–79,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 76 | 8.5% | 36,000 | 14,000–60,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 51 | 5.7% | 20,000 | 4,000–44,000 |
| Body structure | 43 | 4.8% | 56,000 | 9,000–70,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 35 | 3.9% | 19,000 | 9,500–60,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 32 | 3.6% | 86,000 | 70,000–100,000 |
| Brakes | 32 | 3.6% | 16,000 | 900–95,000 |
| Steering | 30 | 3.3% | 16,000 | 500–53,000 |
Known problems with the 2017–2022 Sportage
Engine - Bearings 2017–2019
Theta II connecting rod bearing failure claims continue into the early years of this generation; the class settlement population extends to roughly MY2019 for affected Theta II applications.
Before you buy a 2017–2022 Sportage: the 3-minute check
Generated from 313 mileage-tagged complaints, 4 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check engine - bearings on 2017–2019 primarily cars. What it looks like: Known problems.
- Years differ here: from 46 to 401 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Sportage problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi60% below | At 90k mi81% below | At 120k mi93% below | At 150k mi98% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 7,500–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 9,500–79,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 14,000–60,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 4,000–44,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 9,000–70,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 9,500–60,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Kia Sportage 2017–2022 · 313 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 60% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 81% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2017–2022 Kia Sportage recalls (4)
NHTSA records 4 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
2 of these carry a severe advisory — do not drive or park outside; check those first by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around trailer hitches (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (1), the engine (1) (why one area can repeat).
Sep 2022 · 2017–2022 · Trailer Hitches park outsideA fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an…
What can happen. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. 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…
Mar 2021 · 2017–2021 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideAn engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
What can happen. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical…
Dec 2018 · 2017–2018 · EngineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Nov 2016 · 2017 · Trailer HitchesIf the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an…
What can happen. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 897 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 44 (4.9%)
- Fires
- 63
- Injury reports
- 33
- Fatality reports
- 0
Sportage problems by model year
The 2017 drew the most complaints of this generation, 401, most of them about the engine, and the 2022 the fewest, 46. A typical year drew about 116.
That makes the 2017 stand out at roughly 3.5 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 401 | 180 | 54,000† | Engine (220) | 4 |
| 2018 | 164 | 51 | 18,000† | Engine (91) | 3 |
| 2019 | 70 | 23 | under 30 reports | Engine (36) | 2 |
| 2020 | 162 | 37 | 13,000 | Engine (75) | 2 |
| 2021 | 54 | 13 | under 30 reports | Engine (23) | 2 |
| 2022 | 46 | 9 | under 30 reports | Engine (21) | 1 |
What Sportage owners reported
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that after an oil change, while leaving the dealer and driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle, lifted the hood, and checked the oil dipstick and became aware…
2021 · 104,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power with the accelerator pedal depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be…
2018 · 65,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, there was an alert on the instrument panel that stating "Warning - System Overheating". The contact checked the coolant level, and the level was at the operational level; however, the A/C was not…
2022 · 97,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while parked on several occasions, a "Battery Discharge Warning" message was displayed, which disappeared once the vehicle was driven. The contact then stated that on several occasions after the vehicle sat unoperated for a day, the engine failed to start.…
2021 · 55,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 313 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Sportage generations
- Sportage 1995–2002 567 reports with mileage, most about the engine and its cooling system
- Sportage 2005–2010 340 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Sportage 2011–2016 872 reports with mileage, most about the engine