Sidebar is CarPlay not responding since 18.2

i have an iPhone 16 Pro Max and have been having issues with the sidebar on CarPlay since updating to 18.2 (now 18.3) and it’s still ongoing.

I have a Kia Picanto GT Line 2022 and CarPlay had worked perfectly before the update.

i’ve been in touch with Apple who said to get in touch with Kia, I’ve been in touch with Kia who have done a reboot and updated my head unit. Nothing worked. I’ve gone back to Apple and I’ve gone through all the steps:

restarting phone

unpairing and forgetting phone and car

doing a hard reset on the phone and on the car (via the pin hole reset button)

I’ve cleared network settings

But still… the sidebar on CarPlay still is unresponsive (the three recently used icons and the menu button).

when I come out of CarPlay - that section of the screen responds, but as soon as I’m in CarPlay - it doesn’t. The rest of CarPlay works but just that sidebar!

if anyone could help, you will save my sanity!!

thank you in advance!