KIA SPORTAGE (2017) recall — Trailer Hitches
Kia recalls 2017 Sportage vehicles with faulty trailer hitch wiring that may cause trailer brake lights to stay on, confusing other drivers and increasing crash risk. Owners must contact Kia for free replacement.
Use caution until it’s fixed
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Kia is recalling certain 2017 Sportage vehicles with a trailer hitch wiring harness that may cause trailer brake lights to stay illuminated. This can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk. Affected vehicles were made between December 10, 2015 and August 26, 2016. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1226134-kia-sportage-2017-trailer-brake-lights-stay-on-causing-crash.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1226134-kia-sportage-2017-trailer-brake-lights-stay-on-causing-crash · Updated October 8, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #16V862000
Cite this page
“Kia Sportage 2017: Trailer brake lights stay on causing crash risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 8, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1226134-kia-sportage-2017-trailer-brake-lights-stay-on-causing-crash. Based on NHTSA recall #16V862000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=16V862000).
Why it’s dangerous
The trailer brake lights may stay illuminated due to a malfunction in the tow hitch module. This can confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash when the trailer is being used.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2017 Kia Sportage vehicles made between December 10, 2015 and August 26, 2016 are affected. Drivers using these vehicles with trailer hitches are most at risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2017 Sportage was made between December 10, 2015 and August 26, 2016. The vehicle has a trailer hitch wiring harness that may cause brake lights to stay on.
- Brand
Kia- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Kia
Call Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 to schedule a free replacement of the trailer tow hitch harness.
What NHTSA says to do
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.
Questions people ask
How do I know if my vehicle is affected?
Your 2017 Sportage was made between December 10, 2015 and August 26, 2016. Check if your vehicle has a trailer hitch wiring harness that may cause brake lights to stay illuminated.
What should I do if I have the affected vehicle?
Kia will notify you and replace the trailer tow hitch harness for free. Contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 to schedule the replacement.
Is this recall dangerous?
Yes, the trailer brake lights may stay illuminated, confusing other drivers and increasing crash risk. However, the hazard does not cause immediate injury or death in normal use.
Contact Kia
We’ve drafted a message you can send Kia to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 16V862000 — Kia Kia Hello, I own a Kia that is covered by recall 16V862000 from Kia. The official recall notice states: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
Similar recalls
Keep exploring
From people who’ve dealt with this
Experiences, tips, and questions from readers. Every comment is reviewed before it appears.
No comments yet — be the first to share your experience.
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #16V862000 (November 30, 2016)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 8, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.