I was driving on a local street when I all of a sudden heard a loud noise come from above. Seconds later, I start hearing some rattling above me. When I am able to pull over, I open the cover to the sun roof and a piece of glass falls. I immediately close the cover again so no more glass can fall into the car. My sun roof imploded and broke everywhere. Thankfully I had the sun roof cover closed…
2012 Kia Forte visibility problems
moderate 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 4 visibility complaints filed for the 2012 Kia Forte, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Kia Forte in our records for visibility problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2012 Kia Forte?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2012 Kia Forte?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 22,574 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Kia/Forte.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.