2017 Kia Sorento: sunroof shattered

Filed Jun 2, 2026 · AZ

Sunroof/Moonroof After a stop light, while driving at less than 30mph, sunroof/moonroof exploded outwards. There were no surrounding cars in front or beside or in other lane direction. It was not hot or cold out. Evening time. No weather issues. If the fabric shade screen had not been closed all the glass would have fallen all over driver. There was no warning of any kind. Glass just exploded outward into a point like a mountain peak. Then glass started falling inwards into car. Took to dealership, had insurance company evaluate for repairs, insurance approved repairs performed by dealership. Dealership service writers said this has happened on other kia's.

Filed Dec 2, 2025 · Visibility · 41,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was a loud booming sound coming from the vehicle. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, it was discovered that the front panel glass sunroof had shattered inward. The contact stated that there was no impact with the vehicle to cause the failure. The vehicle was later repaired at the local auto body repair shop. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 41,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 6, 2023 · Visibility · CA

The front half of the panoramic sunroof “exploded” while driving on freeway. Partly cloudy cool day nothing to cause a big circle of glass to blow up. We had the inner lining closed at the time so the shattered glass did not hit us. No warning whatsoever. Did call ins. co. but did not file a report as nobody injured and unknown cause.I do have 2 pictures of it.

Filed Dec 6, 2022 · Visibility · CA

2nd rear section (non-movable portion) of Panoramic glass shattered while driving. No road debris is possible due to roof rack being on car which would prevent road debris or falling material. It simply shattered like temperature differential shatter.

Filed Apr 29, 2022 · CA

Sunroof portion of moonroof exploded while driving on the freeway. We heard a sonic boom inside our car and the sunroof window shattered glass up and outward spraying glass out onto the freeway and into the fabric ceiling liner.

Filed Jul 26, 2021 · Visibility · VA

While driving home I heard an extremely loud pop. I was almost home so I didn't pull over to investigate. As I arrive at my house I received a text message. I parked my Sorento and checked my phone. As I sat there which was about 2-3 minutes I heard another extremely loud pop and that is when the glass of my sunroof started shattering. I immediately got out of my car and looked up and noticed my sunroof looked as if it exploded upwards. Luckily I had the sun shade closed or glass would have fallen in the car and on me. I googled sunroofs exploding and found several claims, a class action law suit (in progress) and a TV news investigation regarding Kia sunroof exploding while driving. My car is at the dealership currently and I haven't heard anything yet regarding the cause but from the conversation I had with the service advisor it doesn't seen to be an issue to KIA although there has been hundreds of reports filed. I believe it is a manufacturing defect. I have pictures and video of what appears to be the initial crack (the first loud pop) and the hole it caused (the second loud pop). There is no way an object caused the explosion and if so how can we explain the second pop while I was parked. It is ironic that others have reported the same incident occurring and the photos are very similar in all cases. Something has to be done before a child or adult is seriously injured. I guess the right person/people have yet to be affected by this. It is a serious safety concern. My video would not load but I'm happy to send it as an attachment via email.

Filed Aug 24, 2020 · 44,100 miles · CA

I was driving down the freeway, which was well paved, no construction in the area and no semi-trucks nearby. I was in the middle lane traveling at 70 MPH, when I heard a loud explosion which sounded like a gun shot. The sound was so loud, I thought I was rear ended by another vehicle traveling at a high speed. Frightened, I glanced at my rearview mirror and seen my rear window was intact. This is when I seen pieces of glass flying back towards the car behind me. I finally realized that it was my sunroof that had exploded. I slowed down and moved over to the slow lane. The driver that was behind me, pulled alongside me in disbelief as to what had just occurred. After realizing I was ok, he continued on his way. I pulled off an exit and parked on a street and photographed the shattered sunroof. It was in that moment I was thankful my wife and kids were not in the car with me or that I was utilizing the sunroof. If this was the case, the glass could have caused several injuries or LED to a multiple vehicle crash on the freeway due to the glass falling down on top of me. After taking several photographs, I called my insurance company who stated I could file a claim or see if the dealership would take care of the issue. I drove to the dealership I purchased the vehicle at, and explained the traumatic event that had just occurred. The kia dealership just informed me there was nothing they could do and compared it to me driving off the lot and running over a nail with my tire. This response was very frustrating and I explained to them this was an issue that is commonly reported online. Again, I was told there was nothing they could do and for me to file a claim with my insurance. This was a scary situation to experience and I would like to see a recall of this vehicle to fix the issue or inform consumers before it happens so it does not cause any future injuries or deaths.

Filed Feb 24, 2020 · 12,000 miles · NC

We were driving on the highway from nc to va and the sunroof exploded. We pulled over because we were unsure what cause such a loud noise only to see the sunroof shattered. It was clear nothing had caused it and it just exploded on its own. We immediately took pictures, contacted kia and filed our claim with them. They've finally come back saying that since they can't ascertain the cause of the damage to the sunroof they're can't take responsibility.

Filed Jan 21, 2020 · Body · 44,000 miles · CO

My panoramic sunroof exploded while I was driving on the interstate for no apparent reason. No impact; I saw nothing, witnesses behind me say nothing hit me, I wasn't under an overpass, I wasn't following anyone closely. Driving straight at about 75mph.

Filed Jan 20, 2019 · Body · 1 miles · VA

I own a 2017 kia sorento and experienced an exploding sunroof while driving no more than 20 MPH on 1/4/19. I was turning right from a side road onto a larger main road and just starting to accelerate when I heard a loud bang. I though my car backfired. As I looked towards the back of the car, I saw pieces of glass on the back seat and realized that my panoramic sunroof had exploded upwards there are large pieces of glass angled upward, with stress fractures all along the edges.

Filed Jan 11, 2019 · Visibility · 42,000 miles · VT

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 kia sorento. While driving approximately 60 MPH, an explosion was heard. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and the contact noticed that the sun roof exploded. The glass cover was shattered, but did not completely collapse. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to bert ogden mission mazda (956‑271‑6076, located at 2309 e expressway 83, mission, tx 78572) where it was diagnosed that a rock may have struck the sun roof. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Filed Oct 12, 2018 · 61,000 miles · WA

I was driving down the highway, sunny day today. I had my 6 month old baby in his car seat, when I heard a huge explosion. At first I didn't know what happened. I looked up and the sunroof had exploded. It sounded like when glass is put into a fire then explodes. My son was covered in tiny pieces of glass. I looked online and discovered this has happen to around 150 other drivers since 2012, but kia has issued no recall or warned its drivers. The explosion alone was enough to cause an accident, and my son could have been seriously injured. I hope kia will take responsibility so nothing like this happens to anyone else.