Case of the exploding moonroof!

[csyria]

Here I am cruising on the highway at around 60mph minding my own business, wife in the passenger seat and both of my kids in the rear..........when all of the sudden I hear what sounded like a gunshot and glass shattering, wife shook up and kids crying cause the bang woke them up, and here I am trying to figure out what a heck just happen, noticing that the pop came over us I held the moon roof shade steady thinking that something heavy was about to drop down out it, put my flashers on and pulled over to the side.

when I got out I noticed that the moon roof glass had a hole in the center, I looked to check in between the shade and the glass for anything that might have cause that loud bang and I couldn't find anything....after inspecting the glass and what was left in the moon roof I realized that the shattered glass that was still intact was angled upwords, when I tried to push it down the glass wasn't moving and showing plenty of resistance..the only conclusion I could come to was that the glass must have been under a lot of pressure and just exploded.

I took the car to service today and tried explain what happened to the rep. he told me that he never heard of such a thing and wasn't sure if it was going to covered by hyundai. After a quick inspection by the dispatcher and an explanation of my theory of what happened he decided to call hyundai and see what they say.

 

[CanukV6]

WOW !!!
Well firstly, I'm very glad nobody was injured and its a good job you had the sunshade pulled over.

I know you say the glass was bowed upwards, but is there any chance that a rock hit caused the glass to shatter and the positive pressure inside the car caused it to bow upwards? If there was a low pressure region above the sunroof due to the airflow coming from the windshield that could also produce a suction effect.

 

[dg_moore]

See, I KNEW there was a good reason not to have a sun/moonroof! I've never liked them and always resented having to pay extra for them when when included in a option package that has something else you want. I wouldn't give a nickle to have one, but there seems to be no choice. I wish you could just order your options Chinese menu style...

 

[jwaters943]

I agree with you dg_moore, but a move to "ala carte" options would increase pricing. Still, I loathe moonroofs. They add a bit of wind noise and cut down on the structural rigidity of the roof and I just cringe at the thought of having a rollover accident w/ one.

To the OP, that's truly weird! I can't imagine the kind of pressure it would take to cause something like this. Enough to shatter the side window glass before the moonroof IMO. I'm likely to believe something hit it in spite of the direction of the shattered glass.

 

[csyria]

WOW !!!
Well firstly, I'm very glad nobody was injured and its a good job you had the sunshade pulled over.

I know you say the glass was bowed upwards, but is there any chance that a rock hit caused the glass to shatter and the positive pressure inside the car caused it to bow upwards? If there was a low pressure region above the sunroof due to the airflow coming from the windshield that could also produce a suction effect.

That was my initial thought but for a rock to make a noise that loud it would have to be extremely big and chances are it would have left a mark some where, in this case there was no marks what so ever, also my brother was driving right behind me when this thing happened and didn't see anything.

 

[csyria]

I can't imagine the kind of pressure it would take to cause something like this. Enough to shatter the side window glass before the moonroof IMO.

the kind of pressure I'm refring to is a defect in either manufacturing or installation...but then again you never know

 

[nearwater]

Wow. First of all, I'm glad that you and your family are all ok.
If something hit the moonroof, then I'd think that it should be sunken in, not lifted upwards.
But at the same time, I can't think of a reason why the moonroof glass would see that much pressure.
Unless there's a clear visible mark of an object hitting the glass, Hyundai should fix it under 'good will'.

Hope you get it taken care of. Good luck.

Dan

 

[danieltoye101@msn.com]

Sounds like road debris, rock etc. Once the breach in the glass occurred the vacum would push the air out or glass outwards. You need to go to your insurance company as that who will likely be responsable for that "act of god" situation

Good luck

 

[ShoNuff]

Here's a wacky theory - if you're absolutely sure nothing hit that roof panel, which I think is the most reasonable explanation (occam's razor). Maybe it "exploded" from pressure being exerted on one side by the sunroof mechanicals. Say, if the pushing arm were just an 1/16 off and the panel (of tempered glass) was actually being squeezed just a bit, it wouldn't take much to make the glass shatter. The negative air pressure could have caused the failed glass to bend upwards.

 

[jwaters943]

the kind of pressure I'm refring to is a defect in either manufacturing or installation...but then again you never know

Okay, gotcha. I had this happen with the windshield on 2 of my cars (a 1999 Acura TL and a 2002 VW Passat). Both times the window cracked from a stress fracture (no rock chips in the area of the crack). In both instances I had to stand my ground, but the manufacturer eventually replaced them both under warranty. I hope Hyundai does the same for you. Keep us posted.

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[ShawShank]

Sounds like road debris, rock etc. Once the breach in the glass occurred the vacum would push the air out or glass outwards. You need to go to your insurance company as that who will likely be responsable for that "act of god" situation

Good luck

I Agree!

 

[nearwater]

Okay, gotcha. I had this happen with the windshield on 2 of my cars (a 1999 Acura TL and a 2002 VW Passat). Both times the window cracked from a stress fracture (no rock chips in the area of the crack). In both instances I had to stand my ground, but the manufacturer eventually replaced them both under warranty.

That puts more credibility towards OP's claim.
It could very well be a manufacturing defect.
OP, you should insist on Hyundai fixing this problem under warranty.

Dan

 

[tjc78]

I have read on other forums about exploding sunroofs. I would think with a little push Hyundai will cover it.

The Genesis is sealed pretty tight. Yesterday was on the highway and my sunroof was in the tilted position, when I closed it both my GF and my ears popped. I would think as others have noted that a defect in the glass could easily cause this.

 

[csyria]

I just got a call from service Hyundai will replace under warranty, he told me they will express mail the moonroof and they'll have tomorrow

 

[flyboy2]

How about a picture?

 

[Sayantsi]

Wow that is crazy. As for how it happened, could be any number of reasons - something hit it and it broke up because of stress, it was just stressed and broke, you were Jersey fist pumping and didn't know it.

I've heard of this happening on the cars with panoramic sunroofs, but they are much larger pieces of glass and more tied to the rigidity of the car.

Glad you're getting it fixed quickly - at least it wasn't raining!

 

[csyria]

Glad you're getting it fixed quickly - at least it wasn't raining!

Raining it was, it's been raining like hell here in NYC Since this happened, however, I did cover the moon roof nice and tight, so at least I can drive the car....so far so good

 

[ImInPA]

It is possible that you were a victim of kids being kids on an overpass. Some time back I read an article about kids dropping stuff off of an overpass onto traffic below. The sun roof is not a stressed member of the vehicle so I would respectfully disagree with the cause being related to some "stress related" defect. Just my two cents.

 

[gperzel]

Hi Guys;
Same thing happened to me last night- heard a crack and then sound like ice breaking up. Of course it's Easter weekend so will have to wait till Monday to resolve.
gperzel

- - - Updated - - -

Further info- am driving 2015 Genny Sedan AWD
Incident occurred will driving slowly in our neighborhood- no other vehicles around so stones not possible
gperzel