Our 2022 Sportage backup camera screen has gone completely blank creating an immediate rear visibility safety hazard that violates federal back up camera standards. The manual indicated fuse is still functional and the infotainment reset does not resolve the issue. The entire system remains nonfunctioning.
Kia Sportage backup camera problems
13 of the 4,730 owner complaints about the Kia Sportage describe backup camera failure, most of them for the 2023 model year.
- owner complaints
- 13
- worst model year
- 2023
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20251
- 20236
- 20221
- 20211
- 20181
- 20161
- 20132
Often reported together
Screen failure 3Warning lights 1Transmission failure 1Lane assist 1Key fob 1Headlights 1Door locks 1Battery drain 1
What owners say
The infotainment center screen in my 2021 Kia Sportage is DELAMINATING. The uv gel adhesive that holds the screen is failing. This is a known widespread safety issue as many controls are handled through the infotainment touch screen as well as the screen displaying the back up camera visability. You should force Kia to fix this problem past 3 years /36000 miles! Please advise me.
I have had this truck to kia in clearwater 4 x for panel going black. No lights, air comes on and off by itself. No back up camera. This has been happening on this truck since I bought it. The mgr. Wade thinks I am crazy. There is a recall for the panel but not for my truck, why? No one will fix this truck. I am very disapointed with kia. I had a soul and traded up for these same reasons. 3 batteies in 4 months. Is there any recourse? [xxx] [xxx] I [xxx] ant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Incident Date: [XXX] Vehicle: 2023 Kia Sportage Component(s): Power Train (Automatic Transmission Shifter), Electrical System (Instrument Cluster/Display), Back Over Prevention (Rearview Camera) Description of Incident: On [XXX], while performing a low-speed maneuver in Pittsburgh, PA, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic Shift-by-Wire (SBW) logic failure resulting in a collision. After shifting the rotary gear selector from Reverse to Drive, the transmission failed to engage the selected gear and remained in Reverse without any auditory or haptic warning to the driver. Simultaneously, the Rear View Monitor (RVM) experienced a "system hang," continuing to display the rear camera feed and blocking the instrument cluster’s gear-position indicator. Due to this dual failure—unintended gear retention and display latency—the vehicle traveled in an unintended direction (Reverse) while I attempted to accelerate forward, leading to a property damage accident. Post-Incident Documentation: The vehicle was presented to Performance Kia (Moosic, PA) on 12/19/25. Technician #957 confirmed the software logic was corrupted and performed a "Clear and Relearn of Adaptive Values" to reset the Transmission Control Module (TCM). This diagnostic confirms that the vehicle was operating with failed control logic. Safety Risk: The failure of the Shift-by-Wire system to accurately execute gear changes, combined with the instrument cluster's failure to provide real-time gear position as required by FMVSS No. 102, creates an unreasonable risk of collision and injury. I was never notified of Recall SC270 or SC275, which address similar software and hydraulic failures in this model year. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While backing up, the vehicle’s rear camera and sensors failed to alert me to a low object. There was no audible warning, and the object was below rear window visibility. This resulted in a dent to the trunk. The camera system typically provides audio warnings, but it was silent during this event. I am concerned this could indicate a defect in the backup safety system. There have been similar recalls put out for other Kia models in this year which concerns me even more that I had this issue and that my car does not have a recall out.
The infotainment screen continues to blank out. The backup camera, media, navigation, or radio won’t work when the infotainment system is blank.
which disables the backup camera, Tge The entire infotainment screen is blank, therefore, I am unable to view objects on camera in reverse. This has been an ongoing issue since purchasing the vehicle. Last week, Kia's service department said the blank screen was due to a dead battery which was replaced, but the issue persists. This is a safety concern that needs to be taken seriously and investigated properly besides blaming it on the battery or test driving the vehicle for a couple of minutes and stating they’re unable to duplicate the problem.
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.
My vehicle intermittently starts with the blind spot warning, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic warning (and rearview camera), defoggers, and AC/heat not functioning. When this happens, the temperature control knobs are hardly visible and the car will flash “Battery Discharge Warning” on the display screen for several seconds. An error code also appears in the Kia App when this issue happens. The error code immediately goes to history error codes so the dealership service center has not yet spent time to investigate the issue. The car has been to the dealership twice and the service advisor has witnessed the issue.
On July 30, 2022 I took my car to Greenway Kia East Orlando due to two traction warning lights that were on. After weeks and months of Kia not knowing what was wrong with the car I was finally told that it was an electrical harness and that my warranty company was non responsive. I decided to call my warranty company and after back and forth they said they would not approve what Kia wanted to do because they needed to fix the initial issue which I believe to be the same. The service manager from Kia, Gina Carpio then told me there was nothing else they could do, so I asked them on December 14th to put my car back together the way that on dropped it off on July 30th so that I can pick it up and take somewhere else. A couple of months prior to this I asked them to do the same, since they couldn’t figure out what was wrong and their response at the time was that they couldn’t release the car to me because it was not safe to drive. Fast forward to December 16, 2022 when I picked up the car after almost five months I noticed that nothing on the console was working, so no ac, heat, defrost, radio, backup camera etc. I also noticed that the drivers side door would not open with the key fob or my hand and it looks like someone try to pry it open. When I told all of this to the service manager, Gina Carpio she didn’t know why anything wasn’t working so she called a tech and also told me she would order the part of my door that was prayed in, even though that isn’t the only issue with the door. So almost five months later I have a car that is in worse condition. I can’t see when it rains or is cold outside and I have to go in through the passenger side to unlock the drivers side door so I can get in.
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on on February 9, 2026.
Recall number 26V046000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- 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
- 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.
Recall number 23V298000 · Recall details
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
- What is wrong
- 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
- 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.
Recall number 22V651000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit.
- Risk
- If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the HECU assembly and the connector cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 28, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC138.
Recall number 16V815000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicle. These vehicles were distributed with owners manuals with an incorrect jump start diagram. The written instructions for jump starting are accurate. However, the diagram depicts the jumper cables attached to the wrong polarity terminals. If the diagram were followed without reference to the instructions, the resulting improper connections could cause the battery to rupture aggressively due to increased internal pressures.
- Risk
- This could cause potential serious injury to bystanders.
- Remedy
- Owners will be provided with an adhesive label with the correct illustration to permanently affix to their respective owners manuals.
Recall number 00V205000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The wires connected to the c123 and c124 connectors can be put under tension by movement of the engine, thus pulling the wires and connectors, loosening them and resulting in a loss of circuit continuity.
- Risk
- This condition can cause engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install spring clips to lock the connectors together. In addition, the dealers will be instructed to solder a splice in the wire harness.
Recall number 99V325000 · Recall details
Questions about the Kia Sportage backup camera
Which Kia Sportage years have backup camera failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2023 (6 complaints), 2013 (2 complaints) and 2016 (1 complaints).
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