Exploding Sunroofs!

114 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 9:22 PM

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#67 of 114 2010 Kia Forte by nett2002

Mar 15, 2011 (2:52 pm)

I had this happen to my car Saturday morning. Clear roads, newly paved in the last year so no bumps all of a sudden we heard a boom and my sunroof was gone. Pulled over to make sure my kids who luckily where sleeping where ok, and contacted my Dealer. Took it in and just got a call they will not cover. The reason because it is shattered. Nothing hit it, there where no cars around and no over passes. It just exploded. I opened a claim with Kia expecting them to honor their 100,000 mile 10 year warranty. They said it will take 48-72 hours for a review. Not happy with Kia, especially since this seems to becoming an issue with sunroofs, from what I am reading.

#68 of 114 Exploding sunroof 2011 Hyundai Sonata by heidij

Mar 19, 2011 (9:48 am)

Yesterday, my husband and I were driving our 2011 Hyundai Sonata on the interstate at 65 mph when we were jolted by a loud explosion that sounded like a shotgun blast over the top of us. We immediately pulled off the road where we found our sunroof shattered. It appeared that the glass had buckled upward in the middle. The weather was clear, 78 degrees, no bumps, and no trucks around us. It just happened. We immediately took it to our dealer. They said it wasn't covered under the warranty. It seems like the glass was defective and Hyundai should cover it. They said "no". The paint on the roof behind the sunroof and top of the trunk was damaged from the flying shards. I have a $250 deductible, so I'm not happy about this. I would be interested to know where the glass in these sunroofs is manufactured. Any attorneys interested in looking at this?

#69 of 114 Re: Me Too! [spannell] by winky80

Mar 21, 2011 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: spannell (Apr 07, 2010 10:41 am)
I have a 2010 subaru legacy. Today while driving in light snow on the highway my sunroof exploded. SO scary!!! Until now I never heard of such a phenomenon. I called my insurance co. & they'll cover the glass under comprehensive BUT if damage is done to the track I'll have to pay the deductable. I called Subaru to have it fixed & they referred me to a local glass place. Being the first production of a new legacy generation, I researched any known issuse's. What was your end result???

#70 of 114 Re: Me too! - exploding sunroof! by heidij

Mar 21, 2011 (6:01 pm)

I'm still waiting for my insurance adjuster. My car is still at the dealership. I will have to rent a car for at least a week. I hope that those people who experience this "exploding sunroof" phenomenon post it on car forums such as this one. Perhaps the glass manufacturer or car company will only take notice when someone get seriously hurt or even killed.

#71 of 114 Re: Exploding sunroof 2011 Hyundai Sonata [heidij] by nett2002

Mar 23, 2011 (11:07 am)

Replying to: heidij (Mar 19, 2011 9:48 am)
Hyundai's & Kia's are made by same company I believe. Did you call corp & place a claim? I am still waiting on mine to be resolved now they are telling me 6-8 weeks not the original 48-72 hours.

#72 of 114 Re: Exploding sunroof 2011 Hyundai Sonata [nett2002] by thornt4

Apr 09, 2011 (8:49 am)

Replying to: nett2002 (Mar 23, 2011 11:07 am)
This JUST happened to me last night! I have a 2011 Kia Sorento..driving along, heard pop (sounded like gun shot), glass fell around me and the one side of metal frame fell in car too. Tried calling Customer service; not open on Saturday! Have you gotten any more news for Kia??

#73 of 114 Me too! Exploding Sunroof! Crazy, right?! by mcelestino

Apr 22, 2011 (11:14 am)

There I was…April 17, 6:30 PM. 72 degrees – late afternoon in Los Angeles…70 MPH – and then, BAM!!! Sounded like a gunshot to the roof of my car followed by the whooshing sound of wind above my head. Thankfully my car was NOT the target of some random shooting (…hey, it could happen). Instead, my sunroof had just… exploded! Yep. E X P L O D E D. Weird, right? Cause unknown; I’m comforted somewhat by learning from these postings that I’m not alone in this experience. Thanks to you all here. So – this happens.
 
Not due to dramatic changes in temperature; not for too tight of an installation; not sure about anything in particular that could cause this freakish event. I’m just wondering what the common denominator is with those of us – I mean, what was “true” about the sunroofs of our respective cars? Do all of us have retractable power roofs? Similar construction and installation? What could possibly be causing this and what is it exactly that might keep this from reoccurring in the future? I’d love to know this one.
 
BTW, this is a very expensive repair (2007 E350) especially since at 70 mph the aerodynamics of shattered tempered glass efficiently chops away at those beautiful deep layers of black lacquered paint. (Ouch…)

#74 of 114 2011 Hyandai Sonota by evie510514

Jun 09, 2011 (5:11 pm)

Today my wife was driving on I-55, normal speed. It was clear, about 90 degrees, so she had the sunshade closed. She heard a loud pop, opened the shade to find the moonroof gone, with shattered glass pointing upward. It was after 5pm when it happened so I couldn't get in touch with anyone. She had the state police do a report. I will be trying the dealership first. I wish everyone that this happens to would post their experience. This seems like a defect to me. I will update when I find out how this will be handled.

#75 of 114 2012 Ford Focus by mylilmule

Jun 16, 2011 (5:43 am)

I have had my 2012 Focus HB for about 5 weeks. Within the first week my sunroof stopped working. I took it to the dealer and they said that it was just stuck and they fixed it. Well, fast forward 4 weeks and I'm driving down the interstate at 70mph. It's about 95 degrees outside, the windows are up(all tinted by the way), A/C on, music up, sunroof shade closed. I'm almost at my exit when the shotgun blast happens. Scared the crap out of me!! I pull over to find my sunroof had exploded. All of the edges were pointing outward so I knew nothing had hit it. I took some pics before I touched it and then called the dealer. They told me to bring it in before they could say if they were going to cover it or not. I'm still not sure if they are going to cover it, will find out today I guess, but I've never had this happen with any cars I've had. I've actually never even heard of this happening before. Now I'm wondering if the original issue of being "stuck" was the cause of this! Crazy stuff!!!

#76 of 114 Hyundai Sonata 2011 by jennases

Jun 30, 2011 (7:32 pm)

This happened to me today!!! I was on I-10 and had just pulled out of the Welcome Center, driven a few miles and "BOOM!!" I immediately contacted Roadside Assistance and they drove my car to the nearest dealership. I am having to stay in a hotel as I am out of town and wondering what will happen. The dealership indicated that this doesn't just happen and they are not sure how they are going to handle it. I am glad to know I am not the only one this has happened to.
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