2017 Kia Sportage: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Aug 25, 2026 · NY

I have a 2017 Kia Sportage with a recurring door latch problem. Several years ago, the driver’s door developed a problem where it would not open properly from the outside. Kia repaired the driver’s door latch under warranty extension WTY020. The passenger door has now developed the exact same problem. It will not open from the outside, although it can still be opened from inside. A Kia dealership diagnosed the problem as a failed door latch. Kia’s WTY020 warranty extension was created for this known latch problem and provided 10 years/unlimited mileage coverage based on the vehicle’s original in-service date. Kia says my coverage expired approximately one month before this passenger-side latch failed. I requested goodwill assistance from Kia because this is the same known defect that was previously repaired on my vehicle. Kia denied the request, reconsidered it after I challenged the decision, and ultimately denied it again as a final decision. Kia also refused partial assistance. I paid $224 for the diagnostic. The dealership’s repair estimate is $761.17, including the diagnostic fee. I am reporting this because the same latch defect has now occurred on both sides of my vehicle. A passenger door that cannot be opened from the outside may present a safety concern. I am asking the federal safety agency to document this complaint and consider whether this recurring door-latch problem warrants further investigation.

Filed Nov 2, 2024 · Body · CO

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.

Filed Jun 10, 2024 · Body · AZ

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.

Filed Mar 27, 2023 · Body · VA

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.

Filed Jan 14, 2023 · Electrical · GA

The door lock on the driver's side stopped working. Door would not open from the outside: not with the key fob or with the key inserted in the lock. If the car was locked and then unlocked with the key fob, the only way to open the driver's side door was to get in the car through the passenger's side and open the driver's side door with the door handle. You could THEN pull the driver's side door closed and exit the car from the passenger's side, walk around the car, and the driver's side door would be unlocked. This is VERY unsafe because if I, as a woman, am threatened in a parking lot and cannot enter the car quickly, I could be at risk. I took it to a Kia dealer to have this fixed, but they wanted me to leave the car for 2-3 weeks just to diagnose (not fix) it! RIDICULOUS. Contacted another Kia dealer who would not even look at the car unless we had purchased it from them. I had it fixed independently. OEM latch assembly was replaced. Horrible service from Kia. There should be a recall on this.

Filed Mar 3, 2021 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · CA

The drivers side rear door will not unlock. Not manually or electronically. This started 2 months ago and the roseville, ca kia service dept. Walnuts to charge for repairs. I feel that this is a safety issue that they should repair at no cost to the buyer.

Filed Oct 26, 2020 · Body, Electrical · 55,000 miles · FL

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 federal safety agency website, and it needs to be addressed by kia.

Filed Oct 30, 2019 · Body · 60,700 miles · NY

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