What 875 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

This morning the panoramic sunroof on our 2012 Kia Sorrento spontaneously exploded. Shattered and chunks of safety glass came down on us. My son and I sustained superficial injuries (I sustained laceration over left eye and on left hand) - he has a lump on the right side of his skull. When we pulled over the glass was also on the rear portion of the roof. Nothing struck the vehicle. There was no vehicle/truck in front of us for potential debris. Open sky above. It sounded like a gunshot before the glass exploded over us.

NHTSA ODI 11589072

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS JUST ON, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN HIT FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ON. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL. AND BACK WIND SHIELD WASHER FLUID IS NOT COMING OUT. WHEN I NOTICED THESE ISSUES MY CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11404713

I HAVE FAULTY AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE WHY IS THERE NO RECALL VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN WRECKED. AIRBAG WERE NEVER DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITHOUT AIRBAG REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ON THE DASH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILS INSPECTION. IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSE DEATH IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11349534

MY WINDSHIELD-WASHING SYSTEM IS NOT SPRAYING WATER ONTO EITHER THE WINDSHIELD OR THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED ME THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ORIGINAL MESH IN THE PUMP FILTER SCREEN IS SO FINE THAT IT BECOMES CLOGGED BY WASHER FLUID. A NEW, COARSER MESH IS AVAILABLE, AT A REPLACEMENT COST TO ME OF APPROXIMATELY $185. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. THE PART IS NOT DEFECTIVE, BROKEN, OR WORN-OUT. INSTEAD, IT WAS NOT SUITED TO CARRYING OUT ITS PURPOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE SITUATION IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF FAULTY DESIGN. I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THE INABILITY TO CLEAN MY WINDSHIELD ON-THE-MOVE WHEN NECESSARY IS WITHOUT QUESTION A SAFETY CONCERN. IT IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE AT NIGHT, BUT IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM AT OTHER TIMES. FOR THE MOMENT, I MUST CARRY CLEANING SUPPLIES AND MUST SOMETIMES STOP THE VEHICLE TO CLEAN THE GLASS SO THAT I MAY SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THIS TOO ENTAILS THE RISK OF BEING STRUCK IF, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THE SCREEN. BUT MANY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF PROBLEM THAT SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11267265

PANORAMIC SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED / SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. *DT CUTS TO HAND ON STEERING WHEEL FROM FALLING GLASS. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11243288

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND GLASS FELL ONTO THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO PETE'S CAR SMART KIA (4701 S SONCY ROAD, AMARILLO, TX 79119) FOR REPAIRS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11152026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GLASS PARTICLES FELL ONTO THE PASSENGERS. THERE WERE MINOR SCRAPES, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,414.

NHTSA ODI 11090390

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF/MOONROOF EXPLODED FOR NO REASON AND DROPPED GLASS DOWN ON ME AND ALSO A MEAL BAR SWUNG DOWN AND HIT ME ON THE SIDE OF MY HEAD. FORTUNATELY IT WAS EARLY MORNING AND NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND ME, OR THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. NOTHIN HIT THE ROOF PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION, A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I HAVE CUTS ON MY HANDS AND A WELT WHERE MY HEAD WAS HIT. *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 11062786

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SUN ROOF INADVERTENTLY EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (EVANSVILLE KIA AT (812) 473-0215, 4000 E DIVISION ST, EVANSVILLE, IN 47715). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11041803

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON A NICE DAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. HAD NO WARNING . LUCKILY I HAD THE INSIDE COVER CLOSED SO WE DIDN'T HAVE GLASS RAINING DOWN . BUT IT WAS QUITE THE EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11019516

THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT IMPACTED IT, RATHER IT BROKE ALL BY ITSELF. IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND GLASS BEGAN TO TRICKLE INTO THE CAR INTERIOR.

NHTSA ODI 10990760

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10943707

CAMERA MALFUNCTIONING. ORIGINALLY TOOK VEHICLE IN WITH CAMERA PROBLEMS IN 09/2013. SERVICE CHECK COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. HAVE HAD SAME ISSUES WITH CAMERA WORKING AND NOT WORKING OFF AND ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN FOR SAME ISSUE WITH CAMERA. TOLD AT FIRST BY SERVICE TECH. OUR WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED ON ITEM. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 60,550. INFORMED THEM WE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. HAD TO GO HOME AND BRING IN PROOF OF WARRANTY TO SERVICE DEPT. WHICH I DID THEN WAS TOLD I HAD TO TAKE IT TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. FOR REPLACEMENT PART. MATT CASTRUSSI IN DAYTON, OHIO (DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO WHERE I LIVE) WOULD NOT REPLACE PART. HAD TO TAKE IT TO KIA OF DAYTON, OHIO FOR REPLACEMENT PART.

NHTSA ODI 10776437

DRIVING ON A TWO LANE STATE HIGHWAY IN MINNESOTA (HWY 55) ON A SUNNY, 60 DEGREE DAY, I HEARD AN EXPLOSION ON THE SUN ROOF DIRECTLY OVER MY HEAD. AS I GLANCED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME SLOWING DOWN AND DEBRIS FLYING TOWARD THAT CAR. THERE WAS CRACKING AND THE SOUNDS OF DEBRIS HITTING MY CAR, LUCKILY THE INTERIOR COVER WAS ON SO THE GLASS DID NOT GET INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND FOUND THE SUN ROOF GLASS ENTIRELY SHATTERED, MANY PIECES HAVING BLOWN OFF AND SOME HANGING ON TO THE SIDE RAILS. I DON'T RECALL HEARING ANY ROCK OR OBJECT HITTING THE SUN ROOF BEFORE THE EXPLOSION SO AM WONDERING IF THE GLASS WAS FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705737

I WAS TRAVELING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE SUNROOF WAS FULLY CLOSED AND HAD IMPLODED WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. GLASS HAD FALLEN ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER RESULTING IN MINOR LACERATIONS. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE VISIBLE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS SUCH AS ROCKS WERE FOUND IN THE VEHICLE. ... UPDATED 03/19/15*BF UPDATED 6/19/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI 10689999

DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 70 IN COLORADO AN HOUR WEST OF DENVER. THE REAR SUNROOF SHATTERED INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO INJURIES. CAR TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10670206

ON FRIDAY, OCT 17, 2014 I DROVE OVER 600 MILES WITH MY SON TO AN EVENT AND RETURNED HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. THE CAR WAS PARKED NEXT TO OUR HOUSE IN OUR DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME. IT WAS VERY STRANGE AS NOTHING HAD FALLEN ON THE CAR AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO CAUSE. WHEN I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP THEY INITIALLY DENIED KNOWING OF ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH SUNROOFS SHATTERING. AFTER I GOOGLE - RESEARCHED IT AND TALKED TO THEM ON MONDAY, OCT 20, THEY THEN SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT AND I SHOULD JUST SUBMIT IT AS A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAVE 100 % GLASS COVERAGE BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT AND COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG PROBLEM IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHEN MY SON & I WERE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10649446

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-85 NORTH OUTSIDE OF DURHAM, NC. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND OR IN FRONT OF US FOR AT LEAST 1/4 MILE. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN WIND NOISE. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10632804

WHILE DRIVING OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT IT. IT JUST SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME BUT THE SUNROOF SLIDING SHADE WAS OPEN...UPDATED 08-26-14 *BF UPDATED 8/29/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10626138

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH. SUNROOF EXPLODED, OR SHATTERED, I SHOULD SAY. NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. NOTHING ABOVE ME. IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS HIT BY ANY DEBRIS OR OBJECT. SIMPLY, OUT OF THE BLUE, SHATTERED.. UPDATED 08-20-14 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10619260

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,127.

NHTSA ODI 10597677

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT. WHEN I LOOKED BACK, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A BULGE IN THE GLASS GOING UPWARD LIKE THE GLASS EXPLODED, NOT IMPLODED AS IT WOULD IF SOMETHING STRUCK IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10583626

THE MOONROOF (STATIONARY SUNROOF THAT DOES NOT OPEN) OVER THE 2ND ROW SEAT EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM A ROCK OR ANY OTHER DEBRIS. THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT SOUND AND GLASS SHOT OUT THE TOP AND FELL DOWN INTO THE CAR. IT FRACTURED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES...UPDATED 04-29-14 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10562516

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT A ROCK HIT THE GLASS AND CAUSED IT TO EXPLODE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10559627

THIS PAST FRIDAY AT ABOUT 2 PM I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SORENTO DOWN HIGHWAY 50 WHEN SUDDENLY AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON MY SUNROOF VIOLENTLY EXPLODED. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE AT THAT MOMENT WHAT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED. WHEN I CLIMBED UP TO LOOK I FOUND THAT THE FRONT PORTION OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I LOOKED THROUGH THE GLASS BUT FOUND NO ROCK OR ANY OTHER KIND OF OBJECT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. FORTUNATELY THE SUNROOF SHADE WAS CLOSED OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN GLASS. I CALLED THE KIA SERVICE DEPT. WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MGR. I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE TOLD ME A ROCK MUST HAVE FLOWN UP AND HIT IT. NOW I FIND THAT HIGHLY UNLIKELY. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, 57 DEGREES AND VISIBILITY WAS GREAT. I WAS ON AN OPEN STRETCH OF ROAD DOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WASN'T ANY BUILDINGS ON EITHER SIDE OF ROAD AND ONLY A FEW CARS SCATTERED IN FRONT AND BEHIND ME. I?M PRETTY FOCUSED WHEN I DRIVE SO I THINK IF SOMETHING WOULD HAVE FLOWN UP IN FRONT OF ME THAT COULD HAVE COME DOWN AND SMASHED MY SUNROOF IN I?M ALMOST CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE SEEN IT. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THIS HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I THEN ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER MY BASIC 5 YEAR/ 60,000 MILE WARRANTY AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT. SO NOW I?M STUCK PAYING A $500 DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY INSURANCE TO COVER THE DAMAGE. YOUR AGENCY REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS ISN'T FAIR TO CONSUMERS LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT TO ME AT LEAST SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO WITHDRAW HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 01/14/13

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