Diagsheet

2023 Kia Sportage · symptom sheet

Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails

  • 32owner reports
  • 40,000median miles
  • 3involved a crash

Newest report Jun 11, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

98 of the 187 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 32 of those describe infotainment. Only brake wear is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 32 reports

17
9
3
4

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (24 reports), the camera (9 reports) and the software (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2023 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

23V-298Apr 26, 2023
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Risk and remedy
Risk: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
22V-651Aug 29, 2022
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge.

Risk and remedy
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the alternator battery positive terminal nut, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC248.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Sportage

RQ02-013opened Oct 18, 2002
Electrical · model years 1997 to 1999

Engine stalling post-recall. Closed sep 2, 2003, led to recall 99V-325.

NHTSA summary
RQ02-013 WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF RECALL 99V-325, WHICH INVOLVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS (HARNESS).VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL POPULATION HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT TREND.THE MAJORITY OF RECALL REMEDY FAILURES IDENTIFIED WERE REPAIRED WITHIN ONE DAY OF THE INITIAL WORK.SUBSEQUENT FAILURE EXPERIENCE IS MINIMAL (249/55,548 VEHICLES REMEDIED).FIELD DATA SHOW NO INDICATION OF AN ONGOING CONCERN: OF 627 POST-RECALL STALLING-RELATED WIRE HARNESS WARRANTY REPAIRS, ONLY SEVEN OCCURRED IN 2003.CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS SALESHAVE DECLINED SINCE 2001.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWELVE POTENTIALLY RELEVANT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS SINCE 2001.UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED.THE RECALL QUERY IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.
PE02-002opened Jan 9, 2002
Visibility · model years 1999

Windshield wiper. Closed aug 7, 2002.

NHTSA summary
PE00-026opened Jul 10, 2000
Electrical · model years 2000

Incorrect battery jump-start. Closed jul 31, 2000, led to recall 00V-205.

NHTSA summary
ALLEGE BATTETY MAY EXPLODE IF OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO JUMP-STATE THE VEHICLE BY FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL DIAGRAM
SQ99-021opened Jun 30, 1999
Electrical · model years 1997

Check engine light stays on. Closed feb 2, 2000, led to recall 99V-325.

NHTSA summary
A monthly Technical Times published by Kia and distributed to dealer technicians identifying a wiring harness problem that could cause connectors C123 and C124 to pull apart slightly during engine load changes.This could lead to erratic or tempory loss
PE99-033opened May 6, 1999
Visibility · model years 1998

Windshield wiper. Closed oct 21, 1999, led to recall 99V-271.

NHTSA summary
ALLEGED WINDSHIELD WIPER BECOMES INOPERATIVE WHEN THE WIPER ARM AND PIVOT SEPARATE

None of these investigations covers the 2023 model year.

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

322
823
924
725
526

What owners wrote

“When driving the cluster screen goes black and remains black until like 24hours later when buttons on the screens reappear. When it happens the odometer reading, speed reading does not appear. This issue started happening when I passed 40000 miles on the vechile”

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · 40,000 miles

“After starting the vehicle, backup camera and infotainment screen would not work. Car shut off and would not restart with “check system” message. Vehicle had to be towed.”

Filed Dec 5, 2024

“The rear cross traffic system does not alert driver when objects are approaching or when backing close to objects. There is no flashing warnings on the camera or alarms to notify driver.”

Filed Sep 25, 2024

“On 05/13/24, the infotainment screen blanked out and the brake lights warning indicator appeared twice on the instrument panel while driving. This happened on two separate occasions.”

Filed May 15, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 3 of 32 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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