Kia Windshield and Auto Glass Replacement

The Kia owner's manual lists a front glass heater on the climate control panel, marked if equipped. Kia calls it a front glass heater and shows its button beside the windshield defogger and the rear window defroster. That tells you something useful. Some Kias have a heated front glass, and some do not, and a replacement windshield has to match.

We cannot tell from the outside which one yours is, and we do not guess. That is the whole reason a Kia windshield estimate starts with your VIN. One vehicle can have up to about 15 windshield versions depending on its option package, and the VIN tells us which windshield your Kia left the factory with. From there we can quote OEM, OEE (original equipment equivalent) or aftermarket glass, and if your first choice is not available, we have a fallback.

Now the camera. Kia's manual covers Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with a front view camera. It says never to install accessories or stickers on the front windshield near the camera, and to keep the front view camera dry. It also says that when the front windshield where the camera sits is covered with foreign material such as snow or rain, detecting performance can drop and the system can be limited or disabled.

The manual then says that if the detecting sensors have been replaced or repaired, have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer. We follow the same thinking. We replace the glass. We do not do camera calibration, and when a Kia needs it, we refer you to the Kia dealer. Kia sends owners there, the third-party tools reach the vehicle's computer through a back door that has caused system problems, dealers keep their equipment and access to themselves, and makers want the work done in a controlled indoor space.

A Kia windshield can also pick up a chip on any commute. A chip repair is a flat $85 for up to 3 chips on the same windshield, with mobile service included. If the chip is near the camera or has spread to a crack, we will say honestly whether it can be repaired. We also replace Kia door, quarter and back glass.