2023 Kia Sportage Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 7%of 194 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the visibility of the 2023 Kia Sportage, 7% of the 194 complaints for this model year.
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.
“When traveling over the mountain when the sun is coming up or going down and it hits the windshield at an angle the wires for the heated windshield creates a rainbow across the windshield making the driver unable to tell where the lanes are or if there are vehicles in front of or merging. This has happened to me on 3 different occasions. I have not noticed it after the sun is already up. Just rising and setting.”
NHTSA complaint #11488141, filed 2022-10“After owning our car for about a year when we started noticing abnormal pitting and chips in our windshield. I inquired to the dealership I bought it from and they said it was normal. Consequently the pits, chips and cracks got worse at an alarming rate. I took pictures from when the worst crack started and from February 2025 to August 2025 the crack has spread to 3/4 of my windshield. The windshield also rattles and whistles where the beginning of the crack is.”
NHTSA complaint #11684978, filed 2025-09“Driving down the highway with my two kids and little brother in the back seat leaving vacation. Nobody is in front of us and we are not under an overpass. We all hear what we thought was a shotgun being shot at us. It ended up being the panoramic sunroof, quite literally exploding on my brand new vehicle. (mileage was at 3450 when it happened). The glass is pointing outwards NOT inwards. absolutely NOTHING hit my vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11467505, filed 2022-06“I had gotten my windshield replaced by safelite last year. On a cold day while driving to work, I went to adjust my rearview mirror and the rearview mirror came off from the windshield. It completely detached. I was adjusting it as I would any other time I adjusted the rear view mirror. This obviously left me in a lurch because I had to go to work. So I drove without a rear view mirror until I could get a replacement after the work day. This is obviously a dangerous situation to be in. I reached out to safelite because they have a lifetime warranty. …”
NHTSA complaint #11740567, filed 2026-05“I have had several problems with the windshield of my Kia Sportage. First off, it has a terrible glare or distortion while driving at night. I think it has to do with the elements inside the windshield. Secondly, the windshield cracks with even the slightest hit from anything on the road. I have had my car for 5 months and have received 6 chips to my windshield. Two of them happened when another vehicle was driving the opposite direction down the road. Three of them happened when I didn’t have a car or anything anywhere around me. …”
NHTSA complaint #11518123, filed 2023-04Visibility (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 2023 Kia Sportage
50 complaintsElectrical system
46 complaintsEngine
38 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsForward collision avoidance
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsLane departure
8 complaintsSeats
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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