NHTSA Complaint #11281526 — 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEGINNING TO LEAVE WORK ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019, I NOTICED THE SUNROOF ON MY 2018 VW GOLF WAS SHATTERING AND CRUMBLING AWAY, STARTING TOWARD THE FRONT AND CENTER OF THE SUNROOF. THE INITIAL BREAK MUST HAVE OCCURRED EITHER AS IT WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEGINNING TO DRIVE, AT NO MORE THAN 20MPH, BECAUSE I NOTICED IT ON THE DRIVEWAY LEADING AWAY FROM MY WORKPLACE. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH NO PRECIPITATION AND THERE WAS NO ROAD DEBRIS INVOLVED. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I TRIED TO LIMIT MY USE OF THE CAR (I SECURED A RENTAL CAR THROUGH MY INSURANCE FOR A FEW DAYS) BUT THE AREA OF BROKEN GLASS EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY ANYWAY. TO DATE, VW HAS NOT ACCEPTED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, I AM THE ONLY OWNER, AND IT ONLY HAD ABOUT 20,300 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THEY SUGGESTED I GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE FOR THE REPAIR. THE REPAIR IS IN PROGRESS BUT I AM TOLD BY THE GLASS SHOP THAT IS HANDLING IT THAT ONE OF THE TWO SUNROOF ACTUATORS ACTUALLY APPEARS DAMAGED BY THE FLEXING AND BREAKING OF THE GLASS AND THIS IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE ORIGINAL SUNROOF PANEL.