RoadVitals

2017 Kia Sportage Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest Sep 9, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 398 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Sep 9, 2025

I need a recall on the paint for the 2017 Sportage Burnished Copper KIA. I've seen many others this color with the same paint fading issue. I contacted KIA and was basically told warranty expired.

NHTSA ID
11686062
Incident
Jul 2, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Aug 15, 2025

My 2017 Sportage is Burnish Copper. I've seen at least 2 other cars (same color) with discoloring paint. I've tried reporting this to Kia dealer to no avail. This is a defeat in paint which is now fading in certain areas of my car and I don't think I should have to pay to have it repainted. This should be a recall issue.

NHTSA ID
11680826
Incident
Aug 15, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Nov 2, 2024

The back passenger door behind the driver's seat will not open from the outside or the inside. The driver's door handle (outside) must be pulled several times before the door will open. I had the handle replaced (driver's door) but now must pull 3 times before opening. Vehicle is available for inspection at Phil Long KIA Colorado Springs There was not an accident before this started.

NHTSA ID
11623247
Incident
Jul 17, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jun 18, 2024

The front panel of the sunroof spontaneously exploded as I was driving down the interstate. There were no vehicles in front of me, and clear skies above me. No rock or debris hit my vehicle to cause this. Had my interior sunroof cover not been closed, glass shards would have fallen onto my baby in the car seat, and myself in the front seat! Not to mention the horrible gun shot/bomb like noise that was so disorienting while driving. There were no warnings or signs that this would happen. Terrifying! Thank goodness the cover was closed and there were no vehicles near me!

NHTSA ID
11595102
Incident
Jun 15, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jun 10, 2024

The rear passenger door will not open. This is a safety concern should we need to exit the vehicle rapidly in an accident. Other KIA Sportage vehicles are on the recall, but for some reason, my VIN model is not on the list for recall.

NHTSA ID
11593538
Incident
Jan 1, 2024
Body & structureEngine
Filed Nov 2, 2023
Fire reported

My daughter and I were driving home from my brother's house, when we stopped by McDonald's to grab food, we noticed our car smoking really bad. I had her pull away from the drive-thru and into the empty parking lot. We got out just seconds before the car burst into flames from underneath the hood of the car.

NHTSA ID
11553266
Incident
Oct 29, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Mar 27, 2023

Rear doors are randomly not able to be opened from outside or inside door handles. Multiple clicks of drivers door unlock / lock will sometimes (30-50 clicks) will allow the door to open from the inside handle. Once opened from the inside door handle the outside handle will work until the door is relocked. The locking mechanism clicks ( sounds like other doors ) removal of the door panel did not reveal any clips broken or cables disconnected. It appears the lock solenoid is not traveling far enough. The left rear door is out least used door. If this happens to the right side rear door, passengers would be stuck inside as the door won’t open from the inside or outside. This could ( would ) create an extreme safety hazard. We are reluctant to use the vehicle with more than 2 people due to the potential of trapping someone as one door already failed.

NHTSA ID
11513965
Incident
Dec 27, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Nov 11, 2022

The passenger door behind the driver seat suddenly would not open from either inside or outside the vehicle. The faulty lock makes it difficult to reach a child or pet in that seat quickly, as we have to go around the car to get to them through the other passenger door. Therefore, we don't consider the seat behind the driver safe, given the extra time needed to unlatch the seat belt and retrieve the passenger sitting there.

NHTSA ID
11493239
Incident
Nov 11, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Aug 4, 2022

The passenger door behind the driver's seat will not open, which limits access to the rear passenger compartment should there be an emergency. No lights indicate this problem. We have tried all the troubleshooting instructions from the manufacturer's manual. Furthermore, many Kia owners report this same issue via social media forums Examples: https://www.reddit.com/r/CarRepair/comments/gcict7/2017_kia_sportage_rear_door_stuck_shut/ https://www.kia-forums.com/threads/i-locked-the-rear-door-and-it-wont-open-at-all.357185/#post-2094581

NHTSA ID
11477507
Incident
Apr 6, 2022
Body & structure
Filed May 25, 2022

My rear driver side door hatch malfunctioned and had a mechanical fail as confirmed by Auffenberg KIA, he stated “he see’s this all the time”, in O’Fallon, IL. I can not open the door from the inside or outside. Child lock is not active. Just a mechanical fail. This is not safe! What if there had been a car accident and my children needed to vacate the car! There were no warning lamps or other symptoms.

NHTSA ID
11466043
Incident
May 25, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Apr 9, 2021
Fire reported

THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING DRIVEN. AS SOON AS IT WAS PARKED IT STARTED SMOKING AND WITHIN MINUTES IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND TOTALLY DESTROYED

NHTSA ID
11407196
Incident
Apr 3, 2020
Mileage
71,776 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 13, 2021

PASSENGER DOOR WILL ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE IF THE DOOR UNLOCKS FROM BEING PUT IN PARK. IF I UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE CAR OR THE KEY FOB THE EXTERNAL PASSENGER HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID
11402804
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
Mileage
88,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 26, 2020

2017 KIA SPORTAGE BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM NEITHER THE INSIDE NOR THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY AUTISTIC SON WHO MUST CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR FROM THE BACK SEAT THROUGH THE FRONT SEAT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE POSTED ON HERE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY KIA.

NHTSA ID
11366566
Incident
Oct 2, 2020
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2020

BOTH SECOND ROW (PASSENGER) WINDOWS NO LONGER OPEN.

NHTSA ID
11355067
Incident
Jan 15, 2020
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Aug 4, 2020

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PROVOCATION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FILED COMPLAINTS SITING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE ON THE NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID
11343364
Incident
Jul 3, 2020
Mileage
58,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 30, 2019

WITH 60,700 MILES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS, BUT WILL NOT OPEN. DEALERSHIP STATED I WAS OVER WARRANTY BY 700 MILES. I EXPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT THIS SHOULD BE TREATED AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, REAR OCCUPANTS CAN NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE

NHTSA ID
11277144
Incident
Oct 26, 2019
Mileage
60,700 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 16, 2019

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM NOTICED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR. CURRENTLY 56,600 MILES ON VEHICLE. 'PARTS ON ORDER' FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM LIKE THIS THEY HAVE SEEN.

NHTSA ID
11255756
Incident
Jul 8, 2019
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2019

FRONT DRIVER HANDLE DO NOT OPEN THE CAR. IF YOU LOCK THE CAR AND UNLOCK, YOU CAN NOT OPEN DRIVER DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. I TRIED DOOR ADJUSTMENT AND DIDN'T WORK. IT COULD BE OPEN FROM INSIDE. THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD. IT IS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPEN FROM OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID
11242513
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 14, 2019
1 injury reported

2017 KIA SPORTAGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNHEALTHY AIRBORNE MOLD IN VEHICLES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL BECOMING SICK DUE TO THE DOOR PADS BEING MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS *JS

NHTSA ID
11207754
Incident
Mar 21, 2019
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed May 9, 2019
1 injury reported

2017 KIA SPORTAGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND AIRBORNE MOLD WITHIN CABIN. *AS THE CONSUMER WAS GETTING SICK FROM THE SUBSTANCE FORMING ON THE DASHBOARD AND HAD TO RECIEVE MEDICAL ATTENTION FROM URGENT CARE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SLIP WITHOUT ANY ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*JS

NHTSA ID
11206714
Incident
May 9, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Jan 29, 2019

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY- DRIVING UNDER A UNDERPASS. THE SCREEN TO THE PANORAMIC ROOF WAS BACK BUT THE SUNROOF ITSELF WAS CLOSED- THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE GLASS TO THE MOVING PART OF THE SUNROOF SHATTERED FALLING INTO THE CAR. ALL THAT REMAINED WAS A SMALL GLASS OUTLINE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE ROOF.

NHTSA ID
11172726
Incident
Jan 29, 2019
Mileage
62,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Jul 9, 2018
Crash reported3 injuries reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, RESULTING IN MY SUV BEING TOTALED. I WAS STATIONARY IN THE DOUBLE TURNING LANE OF A CITY STREET. THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS PUSHED NEARLY INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM END TO END, HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS DOING ABOUT 45-50MPH AND HER AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY ALTHOUGH SHE HAD SIDE IMPACT/DAMAGE. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I HAVE A CONCUSSION RESULTING IN MEMORY LOSS AND PAINFUL SWELLING BEHIND MY EYE. I AM ALSO BEING TREATED FOR MULTIPLE BACK INJURIES. MY 17M OLD WAS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL BUT WAS IN HIS REAR FACING CAR SEAT, NOT YET SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11110355
Incident
Jun 29, 2018
Mileage
26,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 25, 2018

WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY, WE HEARD A LOAD "BANG" NOISE FROM THE ROOF ABOVE US. WE HAD NOT SEEN ANY PROJECTILE FLYING TOWARDS US PRIOR TO THE NOISE. WE FOUND OUT WHEN WE STOPPED TO LOOK THAT THE TINTED GLASS PIECE THAT STRETCHES ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE CAR AND IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE SUNROOF, HAD SHATTERED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE CAR FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. IT LOOKS LIKE A JAGGED CREVICE AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE.

NHTSA ID
11074870
Incident
Feb 21, 2018
Mileage
5,400 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 15, 2017
1 injury reported

ON 8/30/17 I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY SUNROOOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES AND VERY FEW CARS AROUND ME SO NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF TO CAUSE THE EXPLOSION. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. NORMALLY THIS SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY IS VERY BUSY AND HAD I BEEN TRAVELING DURING COMMUTING TIMES THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. I HAD A FEW CUTS AND THROBBING EARS FOR TWO DAYS DUE TO THE BUFFETING WIND WHEN THE ROOF OPENED UP. SHARDS OF GLASS COVERED THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND I AM STILL FINDING GLASS EVEN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE CAR. THE SUNROOF WAS REPAIRED AFTER LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH KIA HEADQUARTERS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK ONE MONTH LATER BUT NOW I KEEP THE SHADE CLOSED AND PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I PAID EXTRA FOR THIS FEATURE AND NOW WILL NOT USE IT. BILL DODGE KIA IN WESTBROOK MAINE PROMISED TO SEND ME THE REPAIR RECORD BUT HAVE NOT DONE SO TO DATE.

NHTSA ID
11033456
Incident
Aug 30, 2017
Mileage
9,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .