NHTSA Complaint #11030430 — 2014 HYUNDAI VELOSTER

ON 09/23/2017 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A SUNNY DAY, AROUND 80 DEGREES WITH MY SUNROOF CLOSED, AND THE SUNROOF COVER OPEN TO ALLOW THE SUNLIGHT IN. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT A MILE FROM MY EXIT, I HEARD A LOUD BANG THAT STARTLED ME (SOUNDED LIKE GUNSHOT), ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT STUFF HITTING MY HEAD, FACE, AND SHOULDERS. I LOOK UP AND SAW MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WITH SHATTERED GLASS FLYING ALL OVER MY CAR AND REALIZED GLASS IS WHAT WAS HITTING ME FACE AND BODY. LUCKILY, THE SOUND OF THE SUNROOF EXPLODING AND GLASS FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE, I WAS ABLE TO STILL KEEP CONTROL OF MY CAR. I SLOWED DOWN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND PULL INTO A PARKING SO I COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOK IT OVER. I NEVER SAW ANYTHING FLY UP AT MY CAR, OR AT MY CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES CLOSE TO ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AS I LOOKED OVER THE CAR, I SAW HOW BADLY THE THE SUNROOF LOOKED AND GLASS ALL OVER MY CAR SEATS. I PICKED PIECES OF SHATTERED GLASS FROM MY HAIR, SHIRT AND PANTS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO FILE A CLAIM, AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE SUNROOF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT UNTIL THE BODY SHOP WAS OPEN ON MONDAY. I REQUESTED FOR A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT FIRST BEFORE THE AUTO-BODY SHOP BECAUSE MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. A GENTLEMAN FROM DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK PICTURES OF SUNROOF AND SUBMITTED TO HYUNDAI ON 09/26 TO INVESTIGATE THE CLAIM. ON 09/28, THAT SERVICE ADVISOR FROM THE DEALERSHIP LEFT ME A VOICEMAIL THAT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO THAT SERVICE ADVISOR TO OBTAIN A REASON FOR THE CLAIM BEING DENIED. HE SAID HYUNDAI'S INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE CAUSE THE GLASS TO BREAK, BUT I WAS PROVIDED WITH NO REPORT OR ANY OTHER EXPLANATION ON HOW THEY CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION. I SAW SOME 2012 VELOSTERS WERE RECALLED FOR SUNROOFS EXPLODING. IT'S A HUGE LIABILITY.