Was wondering if anyone else has experienced the "exploding" sunroof - a numerically small but with common characteristics complaint in 2013/2014 models.
WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 540 N, 70 MPH, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND LIGHT TRAFFIC WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE WE HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR SOMETYPE OF EXPLOSION. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE A LARGE PIECE OF DARK GLASS FLYING OFF FROM THE TOP OF MY CAR. THE INSIDE SHADE WAS CLOSED, NO GLASS ENTERED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE PULLED OFF AT THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED A LARGE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST SUNROOF. THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE FIRST SUNROOF IS SHATTERED. WE WERE NOT FOLLOWING A VEHICLE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK OR ROAD DEBRIS. THE OTHER PARTS OF THE GLASS ROOF SEEM OK, THIS WAS JUST THE SUNROOF THAT IS OVER THE FRONT SEATS.
The last one is not really sunroof related...just the glass piece of roof before the sunroof:SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON I-35 NORTH. WE HAVE KIDS ON BOARD WHILE THAT HAPPENED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN FIRE WHEN IT HAPPENS. WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE PHOTOS.
CAME OUT TO FIND THAT OVERNIGHT THE PIECE OF GLASS ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND BETWEEN THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED ENTIRE WIDTH OF WINDSHIELD. THERE ARE NO ROCK CHIPS AND CAR WAS NOT MOVING. CAR IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. READING ON THE INTERNET, I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A TENSION FRACTURE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES OF THIS REPORTED FOR THE KIA SORENTO WITH THE SUNROOF ITSELF SHATTERING. (THIS WAS NOT THE SUNROOF, BUT THE GLASS PIECE IN FRONT OF IT.) *TR
This is what i'm saying.Let's put this in perspective here. To date, Kia has sold over 1/2 million Sorento's in North America (Source). Of those, according to the link shared by spacedogg there have been 3 (reported) incidents of sunroof issue's... of those, their doesn't seem to be any reported injuries. So 0.0006% of Sorento's seem to have this issue.
Now, I realize that not all Sorento's sold have the panoramic sunroof, which will throw off the numbers. I also realize that not all "exploding" sunroofs may have been reported... but lets be honest, whose not going to report an exploding sunroof? Even if you increase the reported incidents by a factor of 100 (so 300 reported incidents) and 1/2 the number of Sorento's, you're still looking at 0.12% of Sorento's have this issue.
You have a better chance of dying in an aircraft accident, being struck by lightning, etc. Now couple that with all the other panoramic sunroofs on the market. Lets throw in Hyundai's numbers since I imagine they use the same glass/components as Kia. Now those odds go down even more.
To me, this is the media having a slow news day, and trying to stir something up where it doesn't exist.
Actually the 3 reported incidents I linked to was only for the 2014 KIA Sorentos. There are about 13 reported incidents for previous generation (2011 - 2013) KIA Sorentos and the NHTSA has an ongoing investigation regarding the previous generation. Source: U.S.safety agency eyeballs Kia 'sunroof implosion' But like you said, it is statistically small enough which is why the NHTSA has not required KIA to do a recall.Let's put this in perspective here. To date, Kia has sold over 1/2 million Sorento's in North America (Source). Of those, according to the link shared by spacedogg there have been 3 (reported) incidents of sunroof issue's... of those, their doesn't seem to be any reported injuries. So 0.0006% of Sorento's seem to have this issue.
Mostly due to cost.I wonder why Kia would produce a large panoramic sun roof that is not of a laminated type of glass like the front windshield is. It sure would be a whole lot safer if the sun roof glass was laminated.
"The main issue is that the glass in the structure around the sunroof is being made thinner in vehicles," Phillips said. "The problem is that going with the thinner materials and the thinner metal in the cars, you're getting more movement, so now you're more on the edge of what they used to be, when things were heavier and thicker and more robust," he said.
When it's really hot out and you're not in the car, leave the shade to your sunroof open so heat doesn't build up between the glass and the shade, putting more pressure on the glass. Getting your sunroof tinted on the inside will prevent glass from showering down on you if the sunroof does break.