2012 Kia Sorento Wipers & Visibility Problems

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANORAMIC MOON ROOF BECAME SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOON ROOF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTHING HIT THE GLASS TO CAUSE IT TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE VINE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/08/14*LJ THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A CUT FROM THE GLASS. UPDATED 01/09/14

PLEASE MAKE BLIND SPOT SCORES PART OF VEHICLE SAFETY RATINGS. IT NEEDS TO BE AN ACTUAL SCORE. MOST TERRIFYING TEST DRIVE OF MY LIFE. 2012 KIA SORENTO WAS MY DREAM CAR. I HAD BUILT IT ONLINE 10 TIMES & WALKED IN -SPECS IN HAND- READY TO BUY. THE TEST DRIVE TO ME WAS A FORMALITY. THAT CHANGED DURING THE TEST DRIVE. NEW SUVS ARE ADDING HUGE PILLARS TO THE REAR OF VEHICLES, SHRINKING REAR THIRD WINDOWS, SHRINKING REAR TRUNK DOOR WINDOWS, PUSHING DRIVER SEATS TIGHTLY UP AGAINST THE DRIVER DOOR- TO SHRINK THE CAR AND BOOST GAS MILEAGE. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY ARE PURSUING "QUIETNESS" & PART OF THAT IS SHRINKING THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS. ADD THIS ALL UP & YOU CAN HIDE A SEMI IN THE BLIND SPOT OF THIS CAR. IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A WINDOWLESS CARGO VAN W/O THE BIG CARGO VAN MIRRORS. THE MIRROR ARE SMALL LIKE WHAT BELONGS ON AN ECONOMY CAR. YES, MY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WAS WELL ADJUSTED TO ONLY SHOW A SLIVER OF THE VEHICLE. I JUST COULDN'T SEE. AS I CONTINUED SUV SHOPPING, I FOUND THIS NEW DESIGN IN MANY NEW SUVS. GIGANTIC BLIND SPOTS ARE NOW THE NEW DESIGN. I COULDN'T SEE TO CHANGE INTO THE LEFT LANE. WHEN I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER MY FACE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE WINDOW, ALL I COULD SEE BEHIND ME WERE THE SEPARATING PILLARS. CHANGING LANES WAS A GUESS. I DID NOT BUY MY DREAM CAR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I REALIZED THERE IS A NEW HIGHLY DANGEROUS DESIGN TREND IN MANY SUVS THAT NEEDS MONITORED. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THE SEVERITY OF THIS RISK AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. WE NEED A VISIBILITY RATING SCORE ON THE LABEL OF VEHICLES. I WALKED AWAY FROM DREAM CAR. BELLS AND WHISTLES DON'T MATTER IF YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED CONSUMER REPORTS AND REQUESTED A REPORT THAT SHOWS WHICH SUVS HAVE THE BEST VISIBILITY AND THEY HAD NOTHING ON THE TOPIC. IT IS NOT EVEN MONITORED. HOW CAN THIS DANGER BE BEING INSTALLED IN SO MANY VEHICLES AND GO UNCHECKED BY THE WHOLE SAFETY INDUSTRY? *TR