2013 Kia Optima Visibility Problems

My 2013 Kia Optima sunroof exploded as I was at a stop, about to turn into work. I experienced a pop and had glass falling on me within seconds. There were no recent rock experiences and the road was completely clear. After dealing with the initial clean up, I drove to an auto glass shop to have it professionally removed. The glass was bowed and left with a large hole, almost like it had just exploded due to pressure or a faulty piece. I almost always have my daughter with me and I’m SO grateful she was not in the vehicle. This could have resulted in injury or even a collision due to the terrifying nature of glass shattering above you. My insurance does not cover comp, however I do work for an insurance agent and he did view the damage. No claim can be filed as the repair and replacement for the damage has to come out of pocket.

NHTSA ID

11543317

Incident

Sep 7, 2023

My sunroof exploded as I was driving my car down the road. It made a noise that sounded like a gunshot and I pulled into a parking lot and the whole thing was shattered. The sun roof is less than a year and a half old and there was no chips or cracks in it and nothing had fallen on top or damaged it.

NHTSA ID

11526723

Incident

Jun 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 55 mph during rain, the windshield wiper where violently wiping and there was a burning odor coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11453897

Incident

Feb 22, 2022

Mileage

20,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY APPROX 1306HRS ON MAY19, 2020. I HEARD A POPPED NOISE LIKE A GUN SHOT OR A BLOW OUT TIRE. MY STEERING WHEEL WASN'T WOBBLING SO I LOOKED IN MY REAR MIRROR TO PULL OVER AND SAW BLACK GLASS SLIDING DOWN MY REAR WINDOW . I HEARD AIR COMING FROM MY SUNROOF. I WAS SCARED NERVOUS AND MY ANXIETY WAS ON LEVEL 10. I CALLED SHARONVILLE POLICE NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY OR DO . IT WAS RAINING AND I TRIED TO EXIT THE HWY AT THE NEXT EXIT BUT IT WAS CLOSED . I WAS ONLY 10MINS FRI MY HOUSE I DECIDED TO MAKE IT HOME WHERE I FELT SAFE . I WAS SCARED HEARING THE AIR BLOWING IN THE CAR HOPING THE GLASS WOULDN'T FLY IN THE CAR . I WAS A WRECK TRYING TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE . I MADE IT HOME . I WAS SCARED TO LOOK AT THE SUNROOF . WHEN I DID I WAS SHOCKED IT WAS A BIG ROUND HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNROOF . THE GLASS WAS SO THICK AND I DIDN'T THINK A ROCK COULD BREAK IT . THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED AROUND THE BIG WHOLE . I TOOK PICS AND SENT THEM TO STRAIGHT TO GEICO . I NEVER OPENED THE SUNROOF TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS IN SIDE OF THE SHADE . I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A 500 DEDUCTIBLE DURING THIS CRISIS THAT I DON'T HAVE . GEICO OR JEFF WYLER KIA CAN NOT TELL ME IF THEY FOUND ANY OBJECT IN MY SUNROOF THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSE THE GLASS TO BREAK. IT'S A THICK PIECE OF GLASS . I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR . IF I DIDN'T CLOSE THE SHADE BEFORE I LEFT HOME TO GET PREPARED FOR MY SURGERY THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD HAVE SHATTERED IN THE VEHICLE . I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR . I'M A WRECK . *TR

NHTSA ID

11325586

Incident

May 19, 2020

Mileage

14,000 mi

OIL IS COMPLETELY EMPTY BEFORE 1000 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. HAVE SWITCHED TO SYNTHETIC OIL AND USED ADDITIVES. NOTHING HAS HELPED AND I AM ADDING AT LEAST 6-8 QUARTS FOR 3000 MILES. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE HORRIBLE. I CAN NOT SEE 10 FEET PASS MY FRONT END AT NIGHT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEW BULBS DO NOT HELP. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT KIA COULD CARE LESS. NOT ONLY CAN I NOT SEE BUT I'M DRIVING A DEATH TRAP THAT WILL MOST LIKELY CATCH FIRE LIKE THOUSANDS OF THE 2013 HAVE ALREADY. HOW DO THESE CAR COMPANIES GET AWAY WITH THIS?

NHTSA ID

11193745

Incident

Apr 4, 2019

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A PEBBLE STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A MINOR CRACK. UPON TRYING THE CLEAN THE AREA, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD WAS STARTING TO DETACH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA ID

11011614

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

24,000 mi

MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS SO LOUD, ALMOST LIKE A GUNSHOT. A SMALL AMOUNT OF GLASS ENTERED THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, SOUTHWARD, NEAR THE OSCEOLA EXIT ON I 55. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGN OR EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE GLASS. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND THE TEMPERATURE IN OSCEOLA TODAY WAS A HIGH OF 76 AND LOW OF 68 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

NHTSA ID

10970621

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10923961

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE ROOF WAS OPEN AND THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND APPROACHING 70*.

NHTSA ID

10850059

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

Mileage

23,000 mi

2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN IT RAINED, THE WINDSHIELD BECAME HAZY. THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER VISITED THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE WINDSHIELD HAD SOME SPOTTING AND IT WAS NORMAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10816104

Incident

Nov 14, 2014

AT A 4 WAY STOP, (STOP SIGNS ONLY) THE CAR TO MY LEFT WAS COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY THE SIDE MIRROR AND WINDOW HOUSING. STREET LIGHTS ABSORBED HIS HEADLIGHTS, CAR WAS DARK BLUE. AFTER LOOKING BOTH WAYS I LET OFF THE GAS TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO SEE A DARK OBJECT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I BRAKE BUT WE MADE CONTACT SCRAPING THE PAINT FROM MY BUMPER. I WILL SAY I JUST MOVED HERE FROM A LARGER TOWN THAT ONLY HAD STOP LIGHTS SO I HAD NOT NOTICED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I AM 5'2" TALL WHICH ALSO PUTS MY EYE LEVEL DIRECTLY LINE OF SIGHT WITH THE SIDE MIRROR. IT'S A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648545

Incident

Oct 17, 2014

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE FRACTURED GLASS PENETRATED THE VEHICLE INTERIOR HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ID

10610656

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, HE HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE SUN ROOF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,369. UPDATED 06/12/14 UPDATED 07/15/14 MA UPDATED 07/18/2014*JS

NHTSA ID

10587006

Incident

May 6, 2014

Mileage

15,369 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ONE EVENING FROM WORK. THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME BUT SEVERAL BEHIND ME. I HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND HAD JUST STARTED TO SPEED UP AND THERE WAS A 'BIG BOOM/EXPLOSION', I HAD SERIOUSLY THOUGHT IT WAS A GUN SHOT. THEN REALIZED IT WAS MY SUNROOF. I PULLED OVER TO EXAMINE THE SUNROOF AND COUNTED MY BLESSINGS THE SUN VISOR COVERING WAS CLOSED, OTHERWISE COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH MORE SERIOUS. I COULD TELL BY THE WAY THE GLASS WAS PUSHED UPWARD THAT NOTHING HAD HIT IT. BUT IT WAS SHATTERED IN MANY, MANY PIECES. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND LEFT IT IN THEIR HANDS. IT TOOK OVER TWO WEEKS TO GET IT BACK (BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION). I JUST HOPE THEY FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING IN THESE KIA'S AND GET IT RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SEVERELY INJURED OR CAUSES INJURY TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE FRIGHT IT CAN CAUSE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567162

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EXPLODED OUT WARDS RAINING BROKEN GLASS DOWN ON MY HEARD. THE CAR WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT AND NO CARS WERE AHEAD OF ME ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CREAKING NOISE AND THEN A VIOLENT EXPLOSION LEAVING AN UP TURNED CRATER IN THE GLASS ROOF. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS WITH ANY SUNROOFS DISPUTE THE RECALL ON SIMILAR ROOFS ON OTHER KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566798

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

14,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ABOUT 7:30AM ON MY WAY TO WORK, BEAUTIFUL DAY PROBABLY ABOUT 60 DEGREES AT THE TIME. MY SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT BLAST. IT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME, I AM LUCKY I DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING HIT MY CAR THAT IS WHY I THOUGHT THIS WAS REALLY STRANGE. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT THE DEALER AND OF COURSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. I WENT ON LINE AND WHAT DO I FINE? THIS HAS HAPPENED QUIT A BIT. I AM NOW WAITING ON KIA'S ENGINEERS TO LET ME KNOW IF KIA IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE DAMAGES. MY CAR ISN'T EVEN A YEAR OLD. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE NOW, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN? I NEED SOME HELP IN GETTING THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565575

Incident

Feb 24, 2014

Mileage

8,100 mi

DRIVING ALONG ON A MAIN ROAD, BUT NOT A HIGHWAY, AT ABOUT 45 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A MASSIVE EXPLOSION. MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT ME, IT WAS JUST RANDOM. THANK GOD IT WAS CLOSED OR THE GLASS WOULD HAVE SHATTERED ALL OVER ME. AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT IT'S NOT COVERED AND WAS MY FAULT! THE CAR IS 4 MONTHS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559764

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

4,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE MORNING TO WORK WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, A LOUD SOUND LIKE A BOMB OR EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN MY CAR, THEN GLASS FROM MY SUNROOF FELL DOWN. MY SUN ROOF ON MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EXPLODED. THE MINUTE THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED UP BECAUSE I COULD HEAR AND FEEL AIR FROM UP ABOVE. MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED IN TINY PIECES. THE NOISE BY ITSELF WAS SO STARTLING AND FRIGHTENING THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I WOULD HAVE REACTED TO THE SOUND SOMEHOW WHILE DRIVING. ONCE PULLED OVER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE GLASS SHATTERED OUT AND UP NOT DOWNWARD SO IT WAS FAIRLY APPARENT NOTHING LANDED ON TOP OF MY ROOF TO CAUSE THIS. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE. HOWEVER, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE NOW RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET THIS ISSUE AND FROM WHAT I AM READING ON LINE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. I HOPE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS BEFORE THIS CAUSES A REAL TRAGEDY TO SOMEONE'S LIFE! PLEASE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10515141

Incident

Jun 4, 2013

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,100. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514355

Incident

May 29, 2013

Mileage

9,100 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN OUT OF NOWHERE, MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED!!! WHEN I CALLED KIA, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AERODYNAMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SUNROOF TO JUST SHATTER AND THAT A ROCK OR A BIRD HAD TO HAVE HIT IT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE AERODYNAMICS HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT IT JUST SHATTERED BUT, WHATEVER. NOTHING HIT IT, IT JUST SHATTERED. IT WAS THE CRAZIEST, SCARIEST FEELING EVER. I FEEL LIKE THAT THEY THINK I'M JUST MAKING IT UP SO THAT I CAN GET THEM TO PAY FOR IT. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! BOTH MY GIRLS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND LUCKILY MY YOUNGEST ONLY GOT A SMALL CUT ON HER LEG. THEY NEED TO FIND THE PROBLEM!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10510236

Incident

Apr 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RESULTS OF THE INSPECTION WERE INCONCLUSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503661

Incident

Mar 5, 2013

Mileage

12,000 mi