2012 Kia Sportage Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 1%of 392 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 5,274miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the visibility of the 2012 Kia Sportage, 1% of the 392 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 5,274 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was waiting at a stop light when I heard a huge pop sound almost like a firecracker and when I turned around to see what it was my entire back window was completely shattered. There was no rock or any object like that to be found anywhere so I have no idea what caused it, maybe pressure or an air bubble? It seemed like a default in the window to me but of course it's not covered under warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #10495354, filed 2013-01, 4,850 miles“Driving to work in july 2013 I heard a loud pop sound and looked around and noticed nothing out of the ordinary about 10 seconds later my panoramic sunroof shattered. I thought maybe something was kicked up from a truck in front of me and hit the roof so I filed a claim with my insurance company. Luckily it was taken care of. Now its march 2014 and I had the same think happen, I heard a loud pop looked around and saw nothing until the next day. My windshield was cracked and the panel of glass between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof shattered. …”
NHTSA complaint #10568550, filed 2014-03, 29,000 miles“Its approx 57 degrees out. 6:30 am this morning went outside to start car came, back 10 minutes later to go to work and found a crack (which wasn't there when I started the car) from bottom left corner up to the top. On my way to work another crack started in the middle of the windshield. My car is 9 weeks old, no accident, no chips. When I called the car dealer they said call my insurance company it should be covered. I told them that I felt they should take care of it. They told me no. What will happen in the dead of winter?”
NHTSA complaint #10474447, filed 2012-09, 5,699 miles“Driving at approx. 35 MPH, exiting the 405 s freeway in socal on the brookhurst n exit ramp, heard a loud pop. Checking the front windshield, I see a long 13 inch crack in the glass at the top right hand corner, beginning at the edge of the windshield where it's connected to the car body frame and extending left toward the center of the windshield. After parking the car, I inspect the crack, which is completely smooth, indicating that it was not possible for a rock to have chipped or gouged the glass to start the crack. …”
NHTSA complaint #10424659, filed 2011-09, 500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10109855Mar 21, 2017TSB: DEFOGGING LOGIC ? NORMAL OPERATION, DISABLING, AND ENABLING - Starting with 2010MY, all Kia vehicles, except Rio (JB), incorporate a defogging logic to prevent the interior…
- 10090713Mar 22, 2013Tsb: windshield washer pump inlet filter replacement - this bulletin provides information relating to possible foreign debris accumulation on the windshield washer pump inlet…
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 4 | 7% |
| 2024 | 12 | 16% |
| 2023 | 13 | 7% |
| 2022 | 5 | 11% |
| 2021 | 3 | 6% |
| 2020 | 5 | 3% |
| 2018 | 5 | 3% |
| 2017 | 9 | 2% |
| 2016 | 4 | 3% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% |
| 2014 | 7 | 6% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 8 | 7% |
| 2005 | 3 | 4% |
| 2002 | 15 | 6% |
| 2001 | 17 | 7% |
| 2000 | 24 | 8% |
| 1999 | 27 | 10% |
| 1998 | 27 | 9% |
| 1997 | 9 | 5% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
| 1995 | 7 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Sportage
328 complaintsElectrical system
29 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology