PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Kia Sportage brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Kia Sportage have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Sportage | 24 |
| 2014 Sportage | 22 |
| 2015 Sportage | 29 |
| 2016 Sportage | 33 |
| 2017 Sportage (this page) | 18 |
| 2018 Sportage | 8 |
| 2019 Sportage | 4 |
| 2020 Sportage | 10 |
3fires
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB - SERVICE ACTION: HECU BOLTS INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT OR HECU ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SA287) - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and/or replace the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module mounting bolts or replace the HECU assembly depending on the inspection results on some 2017MY Sportage (QL) vehicles, produced from October 29, 2016 through November 21, 2016, and on some 2017MY Cadenza (YG) vehicles, produced from October 29, 2016 through December 2, 2016, which may exhibit damaged module mounting bolt heads. Vehicles within the production date range listed above may exhibit an illumination of the ABS/ESC warning lamp.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Two owners experienced catastrophic engine fires while driving, both vehicles covered under NHTSA Campaign 21V137000 for brake hydraulic defects. One fire occurred at 93,703 miles after stalling and warning lights; the driver exited as flames engulfed the car. The second happened at 30 mph when the brake pedal became unresponsive and smoke came from the front end. Both vehicles were destroyed.
Several owners received recall notices for the same campaign but couldn't get the repair completed—dealers confirmed parts were not available, and owners reported Kia exceeded reasonable timeframes for the fix. That parts shortage lasted long enough to generate multiple separate complaints.
Other brake failures included a master cylinder that sank the pedal to the floor at just 810 miles, and front calipers that lock up without warning even at 10 mph, sometimes recurring after recent brake service. One vehicle's ABS and traction control lights illuminate randomly during highway driving, triggering unwanted downhill brake control that limits engine RPM; restarting clears the lights temporarily. Another reported full-vehicle vibration at 75 mph from a passenger-side brake catch with no fault code.
ABS sensor faults are common, with warning lights for traction control, hill-start assist, and ABS illuminating at various mileages. One owner also reported rapid oil consumption unrelated to brakes but discovered during brake service.
Same Kia Sportage brakes reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire linked to brake recall
Vehicle caught fire during driving, with stalling, smoke, and flames. Two separate incidents where vehicles became fully engulfed. Both vehicles were under NHTSA Campaign 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). In one case, brake pedal became unresponsive before fire. Vehicles were destroyed.
When: 93,703 miles; mileage not available on second incident
Symptoms owners cite: stalling; smoke from engine compartment; flames from hood; check engine light; warning lights on dashboard; brake pedal unresponsive before fire
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles destroyed by fire; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); owner in one case stated never received recall notice
Recall part unavailability
Multiple owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) but the required repair part was not available from the dealer. Owners reported the manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for repair completion. Several complaints note 'parts distribution disconnect.'
When: Upon recall notification; no active failures reported
Symptoms owners cite: unable to complete recall repair; part backordered
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts unavailable; repair not completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V137000 and 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); manufacturer and dealers notified but unable to supply parts
Brake pedal failure to floor
Brake pedal sank to the floor with no braking response when driver attempted to stop at a red light. Vehicle coasted through intersection. Brake master cylinder replaced.
When: 810 miles
Symptoms owners cite: brake pedal sinks to floor; no braking response; vehicle coasts
Repairs/costs cited: Brake master cylinder replaced
Brake caliper lock-up
Front brake calipers lock up without warning even at low speeds (10 mph), recurring after recent brake line and caliper replacement. Brake system sensor suspected faulty; no diagnostic trouble code generated.
When: Post-repair; 1 month after initial brake work
Symptoms owners cite: caliper lock-up at low speed; no warning light or code; happens repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Brake line replaced; caliper replaced; issue recurred
ABS and traction control warning lights
ABS, Traction Control, and Hill Start Assist warning lights illuminate intermittently during driving at various speeds. Unknown sensor identified as cause by independent mechanic. Vehicle not repaired. One vehicle also had check engine light blinking, later diagnosed with engine failure (unrelated to brake system).
When: 81,000 miles; 84,000 miles on another instance
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illumination; Traction Control light; Hill Start Assist light; check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown sensor replacement needed; not completed
Traction Control and downhill brake control malfunction while highway driving
Traction Control System and downhill brake control activate unexpectedly while driving 70-85 mph on highway, with no actual road hazard present. Vehicle feels like it hit a bump, then TCS and downhill brake control limit RPMs. Both warning lights remain on and require vehicle restart to clear, though issue recurs during highway driving.
When: Repeating; occurred 4 times in one day
Symptoms owners cite: unexpected TCS activation; unexpected downhill brake control activation; TCS light remains on; DBC light remains on; RPM limiting; lights clear only after engine restart
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired at the time of complaint
Front brake caliper lockup with vibration at highway speed
Entire vehicle shakes at 75 mph due to front passenger side brake system catching. No diagnostic code generated. Owner suspects faulty ABS module after ruling out brake lines and calipers.
When: Highway driving at 75 mph
Symptoms owners cite: passenger side brake catch; full vehicle vibration; no diagnostic code
Repairs/costs cited: Suspected ABS module failure
Brake noise
Brakes making unusual, strange noise not heard on other vehicles.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: unusual brake noise
ABS system failure
ABS system failing on 2017 Kia Sportage. Limited additional details provided in narrative.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: ABS system failure
Engine oil consumption and sensor fault
Vehicle consumed engine oil rapidly (all oil depleted by 2,000 miles after service addition). Separate issue: unknown sensor failure causing ABS, Traction Control, and Hill Start Assist lights. Independent mechanic identified sensor as needing replacement.
When: 81,000 miles; oil consumed within 2,000 miles of addition
Symptoms owners cite: rapid oil consumption; no oil in engine; ABS light; Traction Control light; Hill Start Assist light
Repairs/costs cited: Oil added; sensor replacement recommended but not completed
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2017 Kia Sportage?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2017 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 89,685 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Kia/Sportage.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.