7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$6,080
Average Mileage:
70,900 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
  2. replace engine (3 reports)
  3. replace head gasket (1 reports)
2017 Kia Sportage engine problems

engine problem

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2017 Kia Sportage Owner Comments

problem #12

Mar 242024

Sportage LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,016 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought my 2017 certified preowned Kia in 2020 believing I had a great car with a great warranty. It had 45,280 miles on it when I bought it and now has a little over 75,000 miles on it. I took it in to the dealer for an oil change maybe 6 months before telling them to check for leaks because it had been going through a lot of oil although I couldn't see any oil under the car. They told me they would put a seal on it to check the oil consumption but never said anything to me about it and I had to leave for work and thought it must not have a problem. I've now been told that the spark plugs are shot because there is oil consumption due to the piston rings failing. I've since seen that this is happening to many of them around 70,000 miles. The dealer quoted me about 8000.00 to replace the engine.

Kia is saying they are not responsible for the piston rings going out and that its not under the warranty although that's not what my warranty says on paper. They obviously expect others to foot the bill for their mistakes..they lost my respect in all of this. First and last Kia I will ever buy.

- Nina D., San Bernardino, US

problem #11

Sep 252023

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,999 miles

My 2017 Kia Sportage has seriously been the worst vehicle ever!. The first problem I had but oil consumption. I kept taking it in the dealership and telling them there must be a leak. They insisted that I didn't. They just kept telling me that Kia said it was normal to use 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles. Well it was using way more than that! I was using 5 quarts within a month while driving maybe 200 miles per week. I had seals replaced and did any suggestion that I could find online. There was no rhyme or reason to the amount it used or when it was going to just disappear. I may go a week and not need any but then it all be gone in one daytrip. It was very stressful. It is much better now that I had to have the motor replaced. That will be in another complaint!!

- mommamad@kia, Monticello, US

problem #10

Jul 262023

Sportage EX 2.4L 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,327 miles

Our Kia Sportage has always had small electrical issues, but the biggest shock came last weekend when we found out that the car is burning tons of oil. It burned nearly 2.5 quarts of oil in 2000 miles. We looked at a dealer report showing that the coolant was filled last time we were in. Lo and behold the coolant was also about empty. When we brought it in to the Kia dealership, they informed us that the head gasket was failing and since there wasn't a complete service record (other than the most recent appointment) for the coolant being checked regularly, they deemed it not covered under Kia's warranty. I am surprised that a dealership wouldn't want to fix it and bill the manufacturer. Kias have a 10 year 100,000 warranty. Not only do they NEED them badly, but that warranty doesn't cover as much as people think. Especially if there are not solid service records from a Kia dealership. We were hesitant initially about buying the car back in 2016, and now we know to never return to this manufacturer. This should receive an "avoid like the plague" stamp. Consumer reports even rates this vehicle as a 1/5 on reliability. For a good reason, too.

- running4ever, Sandy, UT, US

problem #9

May 012023

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2017 Kia Sportage burning oil. Brought into dealer, they ran the preliminary test, agreed it's burning oil, but then told me my extended warranty doesn't cover it. A class action lawsuit needs to be filed asap against Kia and the insurance company. They have a bulletin out about the excessive oil checking process but they aren't wanting to fix their known issue.

- junl20, Fall , US

problem #8

Oct 292022

Sportage LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

Sadly, like my 2014 Optima, with the recommended 5w20 it was consuming 1 quart of oil every 300 miles. They did a combustion chamber cleaning which hopefully cleaned up the carbon off the top piston ring, which I suspect got carboned up. After the cleaning I traded off the Sportage for an RDX before finding out if that fixed it, because I saw a report that a 2022 Sportage caught fire after parking it in the driveway. I didn't want my wife in a SUV that could still catch fire.

- Craig K., Auburn, US

problem #7

May 302022

Sportage EX 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,500 miles

I have a 2017 Kia Sportage I bought brand new back in May 2016. I was very happy with my purchase.

It was until I got to about 56,000 miles that I noticed my oil light would come on if I braked hard then turn off after I released the brakes. I would check my oil and it was Barely on the dip stick!! I would put about 1 to 2 quarts of oil. Then at my oil change a few weeks later, the tech said I had Little to No Oil.

Now I am at about 62,000 miles and the Oil Light does NOT come on, and when I checked my oil (which I do EVERY week) it was again barely on the dip stick. I added 2 quarts of oil :( I had a mechanic check out my car, there are NO leaks and NEVER been in an accident or any wrecks.

Called Kia to tell them the problem, and service told me to bring it in to run some tests, BUT the catch is... I have to PAY $200+ out of my pocket to have it "Checked out"... WHY??? My car is covered under the 10yr/100,000 mile warranty!!

I am BEYOND pissed off, that I bought a brand new car, and after 61,000 miles, there is a problem with the engine and Kia wants me to pay to fix their problem!!

I am called the corporate office to put in a formal complaint and see if there is anything else they can do to help out with this issue... fingers crossed for good news.

Update from Sep 28, 2022: Update so called corporate and filed a claim with them. They actually called a few dealerships in my area and found a dealership who said I don't have to pay a dime out of pocket, because I'm covered under Kia's Corporate Warranty (10yr/100,000 miles). Did the 1st test which is an oil change then they seal the drain plug, dip stick and oil cap and tell you to drive 1,000 miles then bring back in to see how much oil I burned.....guess what Mt car burned TWO quarts of oil in 1,000 miles. The te h pulled out the dip stick and there was NO OIL on the dip stick. Well I'm approved for step 2- Top End Engine cleaning. So corporate had to give the A-OK which I was approved for. So did the cleaning, did another oil change, sealed everything back up and drive another 1,000 miles. Well I'm almost at the end of the 1,000 miles....so gotta see if this cleaning did anything or if my car is still burning a large amount of oil........to be continued......

- akmarquez88, Buena Park, Ca, US

problem #6

Oct 012021

Sportage LX 2.4L Gdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car was consuming 1 quart oil every gas fillup (every approx 300-400 miles). This was not covered by original manufacturer warranty, and also not covered by extended warranty. Solution was to pay $6k for engine replacement. This was a class action lawsuit against Kia/Hyundai, because it's caused by faulty piston rings from 2012 to 2019, and they would not cover original vehicle owners still under original warranty. We bought used, learned of the problem, and paid for the repair. It was awful.

- Edward H., Ashland, US

problem #5

Jun 162021

Sportage EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

I have a 2017 Kia Sportage EX, purchased in March 2016. It never had an engine oil consumption until around 55,000 mile when I took it for its 3000 mile oil change and they told me it was 2 quarts low. At the 58,000 mile oil change, I was 1 1/2 quarts low after I added 2 quarts after 2,000 miles. Now I am at 60,000 and I just added 2 quarts and have another roughly 1,200 miles until my next oil change. This means 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 quarts of oil between oil changes. This is an issue on a car with low miles.

- Paul G., Livermore, CA, US

problem #4

Jan 192022

Sportage LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I love the Korean line of vehicles, been driving them 9 years now, but I am really disappointed in their handling of the cars with Theta II motors. Bought the Sportage with 37,000 miles and got free oil changes, never exceeding the mileage for the next oil change. Started using oil around 55,000 miles, and now at 68,000 it drinks a quart in 1000 miles, I am waiting for them to get a loaner to do an intake cleaning, which I doubt will solve the problem. I've been looking into trading it off but, with current prices I just don't seem to want to pay. It's had the knock sensor update so I have a lifetime warranty for engine failure, apparently drinking oil isn't considered failure. This issue is still a work in progress. My other suv, a Tucson with the 1.6T, has no issues yet, it's at 47,000, but I don't expect to have any since it's not in the Theta II family.

- Craig K., Auburn, US

problem #3

May 152019

Sportage LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,500 miles

I bought 2017 model Kia Sportage in 2016 September. The first problems starts at 9500 miles. I was driving car when it suddenly stopped in middle of the road. It takes 30 mins to start again - I was shocked what happened to a new car.

Its happen 4 times until now. Minor problems were every month I have to change break light on both sides, I told at service centre about this problems and they ask to change both my light plugs of break light. It cost $90 each but it was no more than 3 months and problems starts again and until now. After 65000 miles, my engine oil starts leaking or burning, I don't know. When I change oil synthetic high milage after 600 miles I have to refill 1 quarter every 200 miles until now.

I said this problems at Kia service centre - they told me charge was $3500. Kia warranty didn't work on oil leak problems so that over time I always refill engine oil this car. I financed this car and I have to pay 2 years 6 months due balance.

- Hiralal G., Corona, US

problem #2

Feb 252020

Sportage EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,300 miles

Truthfully I was very happy about my Sportage until last month. I made an appointment at the dealer to change the oil because it was almost due. We went to Orange Co. from San Diego about 110 miles but decided not to take the Sportage because I did not want to go over the mileage for the oil change. Going to work on Tuesday the 25 of February, I noticed the oil light came on but did not stay on and it did it every time I braked. Got to work and the manual said to check oil. I did. There was no oil on the dip stick! The day before I bought oil to take to the dealer (I take my own oil) so started adding oil and guess what, 4 quarts of oil went in.

I then called KIA headquarters and the gave me a case number and told me to take the vehicle to the dealer after work. I did what they said and after a week with the mechanic sending videos that the Kia tech requested, I got my car yesterday. the 4th of March because KIA headquarters said nothing was wrong. 5000 miles from the last oil change and nothing is wrong! Wow!! There was no oil leak found. My garage and where I park at work is clean and no sign of oil. The vehicle does not smoke.

- pedregalf, San Diego, US

problem #1

Sep 012018

Sportage LX 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

Since September of 2018 we have been having an issue with a new 2017 Sportage with 2.4 four cylinder that is using excessive engine oil.

Our local dealer has ran a couple of consumption test and this last time it was over a quart low and agreed something was wrong however Kia corporate is saying this is considered normal oil usage???

Why have a 10year 100k warranty if your not going to honor it. We bought our car new and it only has 26,000 miles and we have been taking it in to the dealership for all required oil changes. Needing over a quart of oil between oil changes is not normal

Update from Aug 27, 2019: Since Kia still says the oil use is normal (over a quart between dealer oil changes) and doesn't seem to want to honor their warranty, we have contacted the BBB on this issue.

This is our first and last Kia vehicle.

- Scott F., Valdese, US

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