NHTSA Complaint #11102486 — 2013 KIA SORENTO

WHILE ON VACATION IN NEW MEXICO, WE WERE DRIVING ON I-40 WHEN WE HEARD A DEAFENING BOOM AND REALIZED THE SUNROOF HAD SPONTANEOUSLY BURST AND THE ARMATURES AND MECHANISM THAT CONTROL THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE SUNROOF HAD DETACHED FROM THE CAR. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND, BESIDE, OR IN FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WE WERE FOLLOWING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY. WHEN THE GLASS BURST, THE INSIDE SLIDE COVER VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND BEGAN TO OPEN. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAD TO HOLD THE COVER CLOSED WITH OUR HANDS TO AVOID FALLING GLASS UNTIL WE COULD SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. AFTER PULLING INTO A REST STOP A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, IT BEGAN TO RAIN. WE HAD TO DRIVE 13 MILES TO THE NEAREST TOWN, WHILE HOLDING THE INSIDE COVER CLOSED WITH OUR HANDS, IN ORDER TO BUY SUPPLIES TO SECURE THE SUNROOF OPENING. WHEN I CALLED THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP IN ALBUQUERQUE (130 MILES AWAY), THEY INFORMED ME THEY DIDN'T REPAIR GLASS DAMAGE AND I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT AN AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE SINCE GONE THROUGH MY PERSONAL CAR INSURANCE AGENT TO HAVE THE SUNROOF REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A SHOP AWAITING REPAIR.