2017 KIA SPORTAGE Engine Problems

Kia Sportage has had serious oil consumption issues for 3 years. And recently is loosing pressure in cylinder 2 as a result of excessive carbon build up on valves and head from oil burning in the combustion chamber.

"I am reporting a catastrophic engine failure (rod knock/bearing failure) in my 2017 Kia Sportage, consistent with the Theta II GDI defect. The failure caused a sudden loss of motive power while in traffic, creating a significant safety risk. Furthermore, I am reporting Bill Dodge Kia (Westbrook, ME) for safety negligence. On September 26, 2023 (at 83,611 miles), this vehicle was in their service bay for brake work. Despite the vehicle being under an active HECU Fire Risk Recall (SC206) and requiring the KSDS Product Improvement Campaign, the dealership failed to perform these safety updates or disclose them to me. When confronted, dealership management (Alex Pinto, Bob Colton, and Patrick Demers) explicitly stated it was 'not their responsibility' to inform customers of known defects or active recalls. This practice left me driving a vehicle with a known fire risk and a documented engine defect for over two years without my...

On 1/10 about 1.5 hour driving out of town later engine started idling low. Pulled over, replaced spark plugs and engine coil and still idling rough. Took vehicle for diagnostics of a broken head in the valve. I drive a 2.4L engine 2017 Kia Sportage LX AWD. only 114K miles. Quoted thousands and thousands, more than care worth to repair.

On 11/21/2025, while operating my vehicle, I experienced a critical engine failure. The engine failed a compression test, with readings as follows: Cylinder 1: 125 PSI Cylinder 2: 60 PSI Cylinder 3: 25 PSI Cylinder 4: 3 PSI As a result, the engine had no compression in multiple cylinders, preventing the vehicle from starting. The vehicle exhibited [smoke, stalling, or other observable symptoms]. This failure appears consistent with known issues in the Theta 2 GDI engines, including risk of engine failure or fire. I had not received notification of any required software updates or recalls relevant to this issue. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this with the dealer, including [dates of service attempts], the dealer refused to cover a replacement engine under warranty. Impact on Safety: The sudden engine failure rendered the vehicle inoperable and posed a significant safety risk due to the potential for stalling or fire while driving....

On November 2, while driving my 10-year-old son to a soccer game, the vehicle suffered a sudden loss of power at road speed. The vehicle's failure to provide a "limp-home mode" or any sensor warnings prior to stalling created a significant life-safety risk for my son and me as we had to coast across traffic to a safe location where the car stalled. •No Warning Indicators: There were no prior "Check Engine" lights, oil pressure warnings, or temperature fluctuations. •Hazardous Failure Mode: The vehicle stalled completely in active traffic. I was forced to perform an emergency maneuver, coasting across lanes of traffic to reach a safe shoulder. •Outcome: The vehicle was towed to Ourisman Kia of Bethesda, where service technicians diagnosed "severe internal engine failure."

October 2, 2025 no oil in engine. car has always had regular oil maintenance. Dealer put almost four quarts of oil in car to start an Oil Consumption Test of 1,000 miles. November 22, 2025 driving about 70 miles an hour, on the 241 Toll Road car loses powder, speed dropped to about 20 miles an hour. I was able to make it to the highway shoulder where the engine struggled to stay running. I cut the engine off and it would not start again. Had to be towed to Covina Kia. Still had over three hundred miles before the 1,000 mile test. Last oil change July 9, 2025 at Covina Kia. I bought my 2017 Kia Sportage in October 2016 brand new. I'm the only one to drive it. I have always taken it back to dealer for servicing. All my oil changes were done with the dealer and...

My wife was driving home from work on 10-15-2025 when the car started to lose power and started shaking, vibrating really bad. She got off the exit and at the red light and it died. She called me crying and scared. She started the car back up to try to get the car home and she said the car is vibrating and shaking really bad and I’m so scared and it died again in traffic. I told her to pull over and I would come get her and she did make it home. I look at the car and found it had a misfire on cylinder 2. Cylinder 2 had NO COMPRESSION. I did take it to Kia and they confirmed the diagnosis. Here is where the problem lies. The technician that scanned my car purposely miss diagnosed it. He wrote it only had burnt valves and cylinder. He never...

My Kia engine has failed and Kia is refusing to submit or honor my engine replacement claim under the known engine defect class action/recall. The dealer told me that the claim cannot be submitted because a prior owner did not receive the KSDS (Knock Sensor Detection System) software update. Kia then changed their reasoning and stated the engine failure was “for another reason,” but still refuses to provide documentation or allow the claim to be processed. I was left without a vehicle, charged excessive diagnostic fees, and stranded in dangerous winter weather conditions (around -30°F wind chills). The dealership refuses to send the engine claim to Kia, stating the “missing KSDS update” as the justification, even though the engine failure was unrelated to that software and the recall states that Kia must prove the update’s absence caused the failure before denying coverage. Kia’s refusal has resulted in an unexpected repair...

Car shut off middle of driving. mechanic said engine is seized, and no oil in engine. car has always had regular oil maintenance. there is a class action lawsuit against kia for oil starvation and engines seizing, (theta II sc147). last oil change was ~4,500 miles ago. all indications suggests my engine also suffered the same manufacturer defect as claimed in the lawsuit. Balise Kia in West Springfield MA refuses to do the inspection of the engine without proof of every single oil change since i purchased the vehicle in 2016, which is an impossible request. Corporate also stated that it is the dealership's discretion to demand oil receipts, even though I offered to print credit card statements instead, and I purchased a car fax report that has them listed beginning in 2019, but unfortunately none reported before then. I provided them with receipts of no oil changes missed since...

While driving on the parkway with my child and younger cousin in the vehicle, the car unexpectedly began to decelerate without warning. I safely pulled over to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. When attempting to restart it, the engine would not crank or turn on. Moments later, smoke began to appear from under the hood. Additionally, the engine, battery, and oil warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. This incident created a dangerous situation and raised serious safety concerns regarding the reliability of the vehicle.

I was sold a Kia sportage 2017 in February. I was told this vehicle has no after market parts. After my vehicle catching fire and seizing on me June 26th of this year so 4 months after buying the vehicle. It was discovered that an after market starter is indeed in this vehicle with loose wiring. I could have lost my life on my way home. The dealership has been nothing but a pain since this experience I have encountered. My insurance was involved but was told I need to bring this issue to Kia. Contacted Demontround Kia multiple times was never helped once. Contacted Kia customer care. I have a claims agent who has been no help whatsoever. I was told to get my car towed to West side Kia, which they have been rude from the start and have been no help. They actually want me to come...

Blind spot warning,safety belt warning etc.

2017 Kia Sportage while driving on the highway, the vehical starting losing power and shaking, it lost power and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the same diagnostic test information was provided. The Kia dealer said that the engine needed to be replaced, but since it was not the rod, but only the #4 cylinder it would not be under the extended warranty. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and we were denied extended coverage. In addition to this, the electrical system has been failing and the windows would not roll up, this was fixed before the engine failure, but the drivers side door still does not unlock...

Car started having issues with retaining oil and was blowing oil out of the oil fil cap, oil changes were being performed every 3 weeks due to continued oil loss without cause. Car started shaking while driving on the highway, check engine light started flashing and car lost all power. Car was towed from highway to KIA authorized dealer where they performed a full engine replacement, replaced serpentine belt, oil filter and air filters. Picked up vehicle from dealership approx. 2 weeks later, engine was still blowing oil out of oil fill cap and entire vehicle smelled like used oil. Dealership also refilled engine with wrong type of oil upon replacement of engine. Car requires 5W-20, dealership put in 5W-30 instead of correct oil.

On October 16, 2025 my car lost ability to accelerate while driving on highway. Just as the car was losing motive power the engine light came on. Car was then towed to a mechanic. After looking at the car the mechanic reported that the engine had seized and I would need a new engine. The mechanic was able to get the engine moving. The week before I had put oil in the car as I noticed it was going through oil faster.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle drove 2 MPH for approximately 2 minutes and was jerking abnormally. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The check engine and the brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where it was purchased. The dealer replaced an unknown sensor; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,983.

Car starting shaking violently while on the highway. Daughter pulled over and parked car on side of road. Had to have car towed as it would not restart. Engine failure.

Blown engine P1236 knock sensor circuit

I have documented oil consumption issue since 65,000 miles. Every time I got an oil change after that, I would have very low oil. When I told Kia, they told me that the engine would have to "blow up" for anything to be done. This all occurred before my 100,000 mile powertrain was expired. On July 2, 2025, my car began shaking and jumping while I was driving and any time I had the brake on at a red light. I took it to Midas for a diagnostic test and they said that 3 out of the 4 cylinders were misfiring. They told me to take it immediately to Kia. When I took it, they said they would do a diagnostic test. They said that one of the cylinders were misfiring and that I would need a new engine. At this time I was at approximately 113,;000 miles. I opened...

We had to take the car to a mechanic to have the engine replaced because it started making a loud noise and then stopped running. They advised us that because it has less than 150,000 miles, it should be covered by KIA. We spoke to KIA and they told us that because we missed 2 recalls that we were never notified about it would not be covered. If the recalls would have been done, they would cover the damages. We purchased the car a couple of years ago from my sister in law who got it when my father in law passed away in 2019. I checked with her and she never received the recalls and we never received them. Therefore, since neither of us knew about the recalls they were not done. I spoke to someone at NHTSA and they advised me to file a complaint. They don't have...

The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, she observed black smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway and switch the vehicle off. After a visual inspection, she observed flames within the engine compartment emanating from a source unknown to the contact. Local emergency service arrived and was able to extinguish the fire, later attributing the fire to an unspecified equipment failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 149,000.

Engine light came on flashing on the dash. Went to O’reily auto shop to get it checked and their scanner discovered P1326 code, “knocking sensor” and oil light came on and flashing as well. The motor oil was replaced about a month ago. Checked the oil dip stick and it was below the first dot.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the failure occurred while traveling across two States. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the residence of the contact's brother while waiting for a scheduled appointment with the dealer. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact was informed that the second unknown software update was part of an unknown special program. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled and then lost motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the same diagnostic test information was provided. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000. The VIN was not available.

Burning oil. Having to put a quart of oil every 1-2weeks with less then 500 miles used. Local dealer won’t do anything about it.

Oil change completed on 6/19/2025 Noticed oil leaking 3-4 days after change. Performance Plus, came to my work and inspected oil leakage. They stated the leak was coming from the oil pressure switch. I had the engine recall completed less than a year ago. Is this something that's still under warranty?

I was driving down the hiway and my vehicle just shut down without warning. Kia will fix for $12,000 . This is unfair I feel it should be fixed this happened almost a years ago and still nothing!

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was continually checking the engine oil level. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the oil level was extremely low while receiving an oil change. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

The car is going through oil at a ridiculous rate. I have checked and it is not leaking. It is causing poor acceleration and driving performance. I make sure there is also oil in there but I should not have to do it as often as I do.

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine failed while driving ([XXX])—specifically, the engine seized and became inoperable while driving on the interstate. Yes, the engine is still available for inspection upon request. (Currently at the dealership - due to overheating while driving (after engine had been replaced on 3/26/2025) 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? On [XXX], the engine failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion, causing a sudden loss of power and steering assist. This placed me and other drivers at serious risk, especially since it happened on the interstate and I was unable to maneuver or accelerate safely. On [XXX], the engine overheated in severe, bumper to bumper traffic. The owner’s safety was put at risk due to the high volume of traffic and little options to pull over....

On August 17, 2024, my 2017 Kia Sportage suddenly lost power on the highway. The check engine light came on seconds before the engine seized completely. I was able to pull into the breakdown lane because I was already in the exit lane. It was a very frightening moment and could have been dangerous if I had been in a different lane or in heavier traffic. Component that Failed: The engine seized. The dealership found burned holes in the valves of cylinders 2 and 4. The vehicle is still in my possession and available for inspection. Safety Risk: Sudden loss of power on a highway placed me and others at risk of a serious accident at high speeds. Confirmed by Dealer: The dealer confirmed valve damage and misfire codes. Root cause was not confirmed. Inspected: The vehicle was not fully inspected by an authorized Kia dealer. Kia observed burned valves...

I have had this car not even two years and until 8 months ago I never had issues but now it has been burning/draining the engine oil like crazy. I mean every three days I have to put about 4 quarts with how bad it goes. I've already checked for leaks and anything burning from the exhaust and there's nothing. I've called Kia and they want me to pay $200 just for them to diagnose it and not fix anything. It puts me and my sisters safety on the line because it jerks whenever it is low and then whenever it is idle. This hasn't been recreated/replicated by a dealer as I don't have the funds for them to check. There aren't any warning lights or sensors telling me anything. It's gotten to a point where I'm just not sure what else to do and I've done research where in...

Kia when producing the engine left metal shavings that they didn't blow out. This lead them to put a KSDS sensor in. The sensor just let's you know of a catastrophic engine failure. It did not fix the problem. This is leading to engine failures and kia finding loop holes to not replace them. This is kia neglect not the consumer. They are finding ways to blame the consumer for maintenance records to deny an engine replacement.

My Kia engine is blown.Kia engine rod bearing failed due to metal shavings when they made the engine. They didn't blow the shavings out.They are stating it's my fault do to lack of maintenance records they will not replace my engine. This is there loophole in the lawsuit to deny people of there claims.

I own a 2017 Kia Sportage, and I recently experienced a malfunction indicator engine light turning on. Upon diagnosis by Kia Russ Darrow at Odana Rd Madison, WI , the vehicle displayed DTC P001000 – ‘A (Intake)’ Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1). They have noticed oil leakage around the E-CVVT motor plug area. It pointed to camshaft position sensor malfunction and Kia service say what the vehicle needs is a CVVT cover and seals/gaskets relating to the variable valve timing on the camshaft as it’s throwing the camshaft sensor circuit “high” voltage Kia has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) SA305, which acknowledges a similar problem in earlier production models of the same vehicle (built from December 10, 2015 – September 12, 2016). However, my vehicle was manufactured in January 2017, and Kia has not yet included it in the affected range. Despite this, I am experiencing the exact same...

9 weeks ago, my daughter was driving my car with my [XXX] grandson. While she was driving it, it went into limp mode on her. She was close to home, thank goodness. There were no warning signs prior to the limp mode. We had it towed to Columbia Ford Kia in Columbia, CT. They found there was no compression and a burnt exhaust valve which these vehicles are notorious for. The 100,000 mile Kia warranty claims it won’t be covered due to normal wear and tear. When we purchased the car, we bought the extended warranty. Currently, the dealership is breaking down the engine to find the reason for the burnt exhaust valve. Then an inspector from the extended warranty will decide if it is covered. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Component/System Failure: Multiple issues have occurred with the vehicle, starting with the windows not functioning shortly after purchase. The most severe issue occurred when the engine failed completely, causing it to shut down in the middle of a busy intersection during rush hour. This left the car non-functional and posed significant safety risks. In addition, the fuel system consistently becomes contaminated, despite following proper fuel maintenance practices like using high-quality fuel and regularly using a system cleaner. Is the Component Available for Inspection Upon Request? It's important to confirm whether the damaged components (like the engine or fuel system parts) are available for inspection by a dealer, an independent service center, or the manufacturer. If you haven't already, request documentation or access to the faulty components so that experts can inspect them and provide insight into what went wrong. Safety Risk: The engine failure in the middle of a busy...

See file for details

I bought a 2017 Kia Sportage with a salvage title at auction on [XXX] for my wife, [XXX]. It had 57,463 miles on the engine. Before it reached the 60,000-mile warranty limit (only for non-salvage title vehicles), it showed error code P1326 and went into limp mode which makes the vehicle drive at a very slow speed to avoid damage to the engine. For an explanation of limp mode, go to the web address below: [XXX] Despite my wife's Kia Sportage NOT being under warranty, the vehicle's electronic system takes control and slows the vehicle making it unsafe for continued driving. Despite the KIA manufacturer no longer having a financial interest in a non-warranted vehicle, their electronics system prevents me from managing or using my vehicle. The dealerships will not do any repairs or bypass the control system and their only solution is an expensive engine replacement. 1. The Kia...

January 9, 2025 I bought a new 2017 KIA Sportage from Bob Bell KIA-Glen Burnie July of 2017. All oil changes have been performed up-to-date and regularly as advised. When Bob Bell-Glen Burnie no longer serviced KIA, I started taking my vehicle to KIA-Eastern Avenue (Baltimore). The oil consumption issue started during the time I was taking my vehicle to KIA-Eastern Avenue for services. Throughout this entire process, I received mixed messages from KIA-Eastern Avenue, JBA KIA-Glen Burnie, and Johnson KIA-Annapolis about how often to change the oil. Depending on which Advisor at each dealership I spoke with – one would say change the oil every three thousand miles another would say every five thousand miles. As of late, one of the Advisors (Johnson KIA-Annapolis) even told me over the phone that I should change the oil every 2500 miles as that is what he does for his car –...

excessive engine oil consumption, 2 quarts every 1,000 miles. which prompts me to change spark plugs every 10,000 miles because they get so fouled up. this has been going on since 55,000 miles and now have 80,000 miles, it started with .5 quart and now it is up to 2 quarts.

High oil consumption and engine noise and metal residue with each engine oil change

The engine consumes oil excessively, oil changes have been done at dealer well before service intervals since brand new and it consumes oil to the point we add oil within a week of oil change. Engine seals have very minor seepage but no active drips or leaks. The oil consumption has lead to weak engine internals were I am now experiencing a cylinder 2 misfire, burnt exhaust valve, among other issues and the dealership will not stand behind the class action lawsuit and extended warranty over this engine, quoting me over $7k for an engine that was defective and poorly built from factory.

On November 8, 2024 a large oil leak was noticed where the Kia Sportage had been parked. When the oil was checked it was empty. There had been no warning lights prior to this occurring and I have always provided maintenance to this vehicle. The car was towed by AAA to a local Kia dealership the next day. Their technician found "leaking severe due to oil pressure switch shooting oil through the main wiring harness and to the injector harness". The repair cost was estimated at $6,148.94. I was told that my warranty would not cover this expense even though I have only 70,875 miles. I have not received a notice from Kia indicating a recall or advising that I will receive extended warranty coverage. Research has shown that many Kia vehicles and others have had this same Oil pressure switch problem. This malfunction is extremely dangerous since I drive...

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 70-75 MPH for two hours, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was vibrating and then failed to exceed 45 MPH. While starting the vehicle the following day, the check engine warning light was still illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that vehicle was driving on three spark plugs. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while attempting to stop at a red light, the vehicle lost motive power and shut off at the light. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was informed by another motorist nearby that there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact exited the vehicle, raised the hood, and became aware that the smoke was coming from the top of the engine. The contact stated that a motorist disconnected the battery to prevent a possible fire. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a hole in a piston, and cylinder #3 had failed. The dealer determined the vehicle did not have the correct fault code or failed to cover the repair for a rod bearing failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about a settlement claim the contact had filed and informed the contact there was no warranty coverage or coverage under the settlement claim on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

Engine has slowed itself for years, even while pressing gas pedal, the mph and engine would sound like it revved up then go dark on me while coming to an uncontrolled stop.

Engine seized on my way to work on July 26,2024. Oil consumption, riding rough.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle was jerking while shifting between gear. The contact also stated that the vehicle lunged forward while accelerating and was vibrating while decelerating. The contact stated that there was a loud clicking sound coming from the dashboard. The contact stated there was a burning odor coming from the vents. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the engine was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that several miles away after picking up the vehicle from the local dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated and the failures recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,598.