NHTSA Complaint #10910889 — 2011 KIA SPORTAGE

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER KIA SPORTAGE ON I-25 JUST NORTH OF CASTLE ROCK AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD GUNSHOT NOISE AND SHE NOTICED THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. SHE IS SURE THAT SHE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING STRIKE THE VEHICLE. THE SUNROOF INTERIOR SHADE WAS CLOSED SO GLASS DID NOT FALL DIRECTLY ON HER. SHE WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED. SHE WAS VERY UPSET THINKING ABOUT HOW IF THE SUNSHIELD HAD BEEN OPEN SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURIED. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT SEE ANY POINT WHERE ROAD MATTER HAD STRUCK AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE JUST EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THIS WAS NOT A HOT OR COLD DAY. IN COLORADO IN SEPTEMBER THE ROADS ARE AT THEIR BEST, WITHOUT SAND FROM THE WINTER SEASON. I REMOVED THE LOOSE GLASS AND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $1,200 TO $1,500 TO FIX. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPENED A CLAIM FOR WARRANTY. THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO KIA WARRANTY THEY WERE 99.9% SURE IT WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS BEYOND THE FACT IT EXPLODED. KIA DENIED THE WARRANTY CLAIM BASED IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS. THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEN CALLED ME AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE RAILING SYSTEM TOO AND SO NOW IT WOULD BE $5,500 TO FIX. I WAS AWARE OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE EXPLODING SUNROOFS IN KIAS LIKE MINE. I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING IT FIXED AND NOW FIND MYSELF HAVING TO RENT A VEHICLE AS I ATTEMPT TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND MY WIFE IS AFRAID THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND LOOK TO HAVE SAFETY OFFICIALS LOOK INTO THESE SITUATIONS. AFTER EDUCATING MYSELF MORE ABOUT THIS I HAVE FOUND THAT THE SUNROOF IS NOW THINNER AND NOT MADE WITH THE SAME STANDARDS AS IN THE PAST.