NHTSA Complaint #11501072 — 2022 KIA SORENTO

On January 4, 2023, the windshield cracked without any outside force (no rocks, vandalism, etc.) it began underneath the passenger wiper moved upward and curved toward the drivers side. As I drove the following days, the crack grew and eventually splintered in a third direction, also with no outside forces. The stress of the crack formed a bubble-like crack in the middle of where it splintered. By the time I was able to get it to the dealership, the bubble was more of a hole. It is no longer available for inspection because it is at the dealership to be repaired. It effected my visibility and with how quickly and easily it spread I felt I was in danger of the windshield cracking to the point of breaking out completely at any time which could have caused an accident. The dealership denied the defect claiming the hole that was produced where the crack splintered was the origin and was caused by a rock. I explained and provided an earlier photo showing the stress bubble, but they still denied the claim. It was inspected at the dealership but pictures are forwarded to an outside source who makes the decision whether it is a defect of damage. There were no warning signs this would happen, no objects hit my windshield, I saw it happen as I was driving. It has been raining steadily and I believe the defect is near the installation point of the wipers which caused the crack.