NHTSA Complaint #11439309 — 2020 HYUNDAI PALISADE

2020 Hyundai Palisade purchased in May, 2020, amid COVID shutdown, and not driven as much as normal until September, 2020. In February, 2021 was driving along a 4-lane parkway (speed limit 55) and something struck the windshield. All other vehicles were at least 2 car lengths away and the sound of the strike sounded like an insect hitting the windshield. What resulted was a nickel sized, spidery crack on the passenger side, about a third of the way from the top. When Safelite attempted to repair this, it immediately spread out as they applied pressure while installing their equipment. Windshield had to be replaced (Hyundai glass used). August, 2021 car was being driven on 6-lane interstate (65mph) when a large rock struck the lower part of the passenger side of windshield. Large crack resulted which immediately spread across windshield, necessitating another windshield replacement (3rd party glass used). A week later, on 4-lane highway, while 2+ car lengths behind a semi, it sounded as if the car was being sprayed by sand followed by a loud pop. What resulted was a small crack at the edge of the passenger side which quickly spread horizontally until making an upward turn which slowed its progress. After waiting 6 weeks for a replacement (Hyundai glass) to come in, windshield was replaced for 3rd time on 11/2/21. Less than 24 hours later, while driving in traffic on 10-lane section of interstate (60mph), a loud pop occurred resulting in a nickel-sized, spidery chip in about the same location as the first instance. If history holds true, this will probably necessitate another windshield replacement. Having driven all of these same roads for 25+ years, prior to this vehicle, I have only had 2 other windshield chips, both which were repairable. 4 windshield replacements within 9 months is indicative of a design flaw.