*POP* goes the sunroof

[Suburbazine]

Got in the car this morning, started playing some music. Heard static. Turned off the radio. Still heard static. Turned off the car. Heard it still. Got out of car and closed the door. POP!

My rear sunroof glass was shattering. Shattering slowly due to the anti shatter tint applied, but still slowly shattering. 15 minutes later and it's STILL making noise while being held together.

 

[kaigoss69]

They usually go in a much more dramatic fashion than that! I wish you luck getting this covered under warranty, if you still have it, but your insurance should pick it up.

 

[Suburbazine]

They usually go in a much more dramatic fashion than that! I wish you luck getting this covered under warranty, if you still have it, but your insurance should pick it up.

There is some glass on the ground around the car. Most of it is still together.

 

[Bourbonncigars]

Well that sucks.

When I got mine I discussed the sunroof issue with the dealer. He said they've had one that he knows of who happened to be a good repeat customer. She said they were going down the road and she thought someone shot at them. I guess if it has to happen then slowly while you're parked is the way to go. Except for the feeling of helplessness as it cracks...

 

[sudipsarkar]

I heard Hyundai extended the warranty on the sunroof to 10 years.

 

[Whitey]

Wow. Not exactly the way you want to start your day, Sub...sorry for your headache.

Makes me wanna run out and get the sunroof tinted as a deterrent just in case.

Keep us posted, as I'm highly curious about how the dealer is going to handle this.

 

[EdP]

Wow. Not exactly the way you want to start your day, Sub...sorry for your headache.

Makes me wanna run out and get the sunroof tinted as a deterrent just in case.

Keep us posted, as I'm highly curious about how the dealer is going to handle this.

I did not see anything definite, but there was some talk that a tint can make it worse. It causes heat to build up in the glass. I have no idea if it does.

It would seem to make some sense, given the problems, to put even a clear covering to help prevent glass particles all over if it does crack.

 

[Whitey]

I did not see anything definite, but there was some talk that a tint can make it worse. It causes heat to build up in the glass. I have no idea if it does.

Very good point, Ed.

I found the following with just a very quick search, but will obviously need to do a deeper dive to really know for sure:

Sunroof Shattering

Ok, let’s look at the big one. The common belief that tinting the sunroof will cause it to shatter is a myth.

All the windows around you, sides, windshield, and rear windows or hatch are composed of laminated glass. Laminated glass is a shatterproof glass designed to mesh or web on impact, creating rounded edges to prevent injury in the event of a crash. Sunroofs are composed of tempered glass that will shatter. It is designed to be more rigid than laminated glass, dispersing heat over its surface, thereby holding its shape in extreme climate conditions.

The problems occur not when it is tinted, but when pressure is applied. A good example is a recent recall by two major manufacturers. Why? The sunroofs were shattering when stressed. The natural reflex of the frame of the car taking a sharp curve or a sudden stop was putting enough stress of the sunroof to break the glass, tinted or not.

The final verdict is that sunroof tinting is not the culprit. The manufacturer’s choice of glass is.

They do go on to state: "If you have the wrong tint for your climate, though, you are causing more harm than good. Darker tints retain more heat, which may be fine in the cooler, northern region. Lighter or silver hues are more desirable to those in the more scorching environment."

 

[Suburbazine]

I did not see anything definite, but there was some talk that a tint can make it worse. It causes heat to build up in the glass. I have no idea if it does.

It would seem to make some sense, given the problems, to put even a clear covering to help prevent glass particles all over if it does crack.

According to the panoramic roof lawsuit, the problem is aggravated by the factory tint. I just added 35% shatterproof film to the inside.

 

[Whitey]

Interesting read about this: Exploding Sunroofs: Danger Overhead

I'll be adding some shatterproof tint to the list, just as Sub intelligently did above - that could have ended in a much greater mess otherwise.

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[Markymark]

It all sounds hideously expensive to repair. And it's hard to drive your car like that. Any estimates yet?

 

[Suburbazine]

It all sounds hideously expensive to repair. And it's hard to drive your car like that. Any estimates yet?

It's under either Hyundai extended warranty or under dealer extended warranty. Most out of pocket I'll have to pay is $50.

I did hear that this sunroof section goes for about $3k.

 

[Suburbazine]

Hyundai corporate offered to warranty it, but declined to offer either a loaner, rental or reimbursement for a rental. And I've got a class action lawyer ready to show them the shiny side of the paddle if they refuse to honor the terms of the class action settlement regarding the pano roofs breaking, settled July 25th.

Dealership says glass has to be shipped by boat from S. Korea, will be here in 2 weeks.

 

[EdP]

Hyundai corporate offered to warranty it, but declined to offer either a loaner, rental or reimbursement for a rental. And I've got a class action lawyer ready to show them the shiny side of the paddle if they refuse to honor the terms of the class action settlement regarding the pano roofs breaking, settled July 25th.

Dealership says glass has to be shipped by boat from S. Korea, will be here in 2 weeks.

Maybe your insurance will cover a rental?

You can always duct tape one of those blue tarps over the top

 

[Suburbazine]

Maybe your insurance will cover a rental?

You can always duct tape one of those blue tarps over the top

I'm just paying for it out of pocket and will get reimbursed later.

Insurance offered to pay for the rental if I filed a claim, extended warranty offered to comp the rental once the dealer actually starts to service the other problems besides the sunroof.

 

[Suburbazine]

3 weeks later, Hyundai has finished replacing the roof. Wound up outsourcing it to a specialist shop since apparently the old roof was bound up in the ceiling. Get the car back to the dealership, dealership lawn care service chucks a golfball sized rock through the back glass.

They put me in a loaner Equus, which promptly keels over in my garage with some CANbus issue.

 

[EdP]

3 weeks later, Hyundai has finished replacing the roof. Wound up outsourcing it to a specialist shop since apparently the old roof was bound up in the ceiling. Get the car back to the dealership, dealership lawn care service chucks a golfball sized rock through the back glass.

They put me in a loaner Equus, which promptly keels over in my garage with some CANbus issue.

Maybe you can just get their Uber account and call it a week. Or two.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

3 weeks later, Hyundai has finished replacing the roof. Wound up outsourcing it to a specialist shop since apparently the old roof was bound up in the ceiling. Get the car back to the dealership, dealership lawn care service chucks a golfball sized rock through the back glass.

They put me in a loaner Equus, which promptly keels over in my garage with some CANbus issue.

Took same amount of time to replace the pano on my 2018 each time, been replaced twice now within 14 months of ownership. first time it was for the sunroof part separating from the frame, the second time is was the rear glass separating from the frame then cracking when I went down a steep driveway at an angle. The verdict was the adhesive used to secure the rear pano glass was the improper type and it softened in 100° + heat. Both times the installation/repair was outsourced to a glass shop.


Hyundai isn't the only one with the issue, as I have heard from other owners and read online, Honda, Lexus, MBZ, and even Tesla, have all had similar issues.

pano roof's while being a "cool" idea, are not a practical or functional Idea, too much body flex and strain on the glass, especially since most of the roads in the US are so crappy.

 

[Markymark]

Took same amount of time to replace the pano on my 2018 each time, been replaced twice now within 14 months of ownership. first time it was for the sunroof part separating from the frame, the second time is was the rear glass separating from the frame then cracking when I went down a steep driveway at a angle. The verdict was the adhesive used to secure the rear pano glass was the improper type and it softened in 100° + heat. Both times the installation/repair was outsourced to a glass shop.


Hyundai isn't the only one with the issue, as I have heard from other owners and read online, Honda, Lexus, MBZ, and even Tesla, have all had similar issues.

pano roof's while being a "cool" idea, are not a practical or functional Idea, too much body flex and strain on the glass, especially since most of the roads in the US are so crappy.

It sure sounds like these pano roofs are disasters waiting to happen. Even more reason to watch the road like a hawk and avoid potholes, etc. Because I believe the low profile tires are more susceptible to damage than your average tire.

On the bright side, at least you have your car back. My Genesis has been in the shop for almost 5 weeks.

 

[Bourbonncigars]

My driveway is on an incline. When I pull in and the front two wheels are at a different angle than the back two, the roof creaks and pops. I clinch my teeth and brace myself each time.