2006 Kia Sportage Visibility

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP. SAFETY EQUIPMENT ISSUE AS DRIVERS VISION IS IMPAIRED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THROUGH A SNOW STORM AT NIGHT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WHEN SLUSH STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE WIPERS WERE OPERATING, THEY FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPERS WERE EQUIPPED WITH A CLIP THAT DISCONNECTS TO KEEP THE MOTOR FROM BURNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,800. UPDATED 03-05-08 *BF

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE DURING A STORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BROKE LEAVING ME WITH NO WIPERS THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ABOUT 10 OF THE SAME CARS DURING THE SAME STORM. *JB

THE REAR WIPER ARM OF THE KIA SPORTAGE IS MADE OF WEAK PLASTIC AND CANNOT WITHSTAND GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE FIRST CAR WASH IT WENT THROUGH RIPPED OFF THE WIPER BLADE AND COVER OVER THE INSTALLATION NUT. THE SECOND CAR WASH THEN BROKE THE ARM. THIS RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO CLEAR THE REAR WINDOW OF DIRTY/SNOW/RAIN RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THAT I PAY OVER $100 TO REPAIR AFTER WHICH I MUST HAND WASH THE CAR. *JB