NHTSA Issues Recall on 2012 Hyundai Veloster for Exploding Sunroofs
December 19, 2012

by Casey Neeley, cneeley@glass.com

A voluntary recall on certain model year 2012 Hyundai Veloster vehicles has been issued through the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the recall, the panoramic sunroof assembly is in question for possible weakening during factory installation.

According to the issued recall, "If the assembly was weakened at the factory, the panoramic glass panel may break while the vehicle is in motion leading to personal injury or a vehicle crash."

An estimated 13,500 vehicles manufactured between November 1, 2011 and April 17, 2012 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will be affected by the recall. In an exclusive interview with glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR™ magazine, Jim Trainor, product public relations senior group manager for Hyundai Motor America, says the defect has been determined to have occurred during the installation process.

"There was an intermittent malfunction with the assembly and loading robot and occasionally there was contact with the robot loading arm and the sunroof glass," says Trainor. "That contact in some cases caused damage to the glass which is what lead to the fracture of that glass in the field."

"I think it's interesting to note we've seen 80 cases, about half of them are while the vehicle is in motion," he adds. "Only about 0.4 percent of Velosters will see this occur."

Trainor says Hankuk Sekurit manufactures the sunroof. Hyundai will begin notifying owners of the recall in January 2013.

NHTSA opened an investigation into the sunroofs this past October after receiving numerous complaints from consumers stating the vehicle sunroof had spontaneously exploded.

In the most recent complaint filed with NHTSA on December 5, one consumer said, "My car was park[ed] at my work[']s parking lot and it was around 37 degrees F outside. I went to my car to get something out of my trunk. When I close[d] my trunk I heard a splash after the trunk closed. I thought I splash[ed] some water but I then saw and realize[d] that something is not right on my roof. I took a closer look and saw that my sunroof ha[d] blown up."

Anther consumer reported on November 12, "I drove my car home on Saturday and didn't move it on Sunday, however at night I went to move it in front of my others cars, and I was shocked by the scene ... the sunroof was totally exploded. I think this is a ma[j]or defect and could be dangerous."

On September 26, another consumer said she was driving when "all of a sudden there was a loud bang like a gunshot and [she] heard something raining down on [her] car. [She] looked in the mirror and saw glass flying everywhere." An eyewitness to this particular incident reported that "the glass in the sunroof blew straight [upward] like a Coke exploding."

All of the consumer complaints issued for incidents that occurred while driving note that the sunroof did not shatter from impact of road debris or other items.

While no accidents have been cited resulting from the sunroof defect, several consumers did report minor injuries sustained from the breakage.

On July 16, a consumer said, "The explosion spread shattered glass around six feet around the car and driveway ... I have a small cut from the shattered glass."

"The [driver] sustained injuries to the left foot and right arm. The passenger in the front seat was also injured on the arms and face," said another consumer in a complaint dated October 1.

Hyundai is encouraging owners to return the car to the Hyundai dealer for inspection and replacement.

This story is an original story by AGRR™ magazine/glassBYTEs.com™. Subscribe to AGRR™ Magazine.
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