H Kia ανακαλεί 65.347 Sorento επειδή μπορεί να θρυμματιστεί η ηλιοροφή

Η National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ολοκλήρωσε την έρευνα της σε 65.000 KIA Sorento εξαιτίας παραπόνων από ιδιοκτήτες πως η ηλιοροφή μπορεί να θρυμματιστεί αναίτια και απρόσμενα.

Τελικά ο οργανισμός ασφαλείας των Η.Π.Α ανακοίνωσε την ανάκληση των 65.347 Kia Sorento παραγωγής 2011-2013, αφού όπως έδειξε η έρευνά της υπήρχαν 95 περιστατικά, στα οποία η ηλιοροφή έσπασε κατά τη διάρκεια απότομων φρεναρισμάτων. Η KIA

διεξάγει τη δική της έρευνα για το θέμα, με παρόμοιο πρόβλημα να αντιμετώπισε και το Veloster της «αδερφής» Hyundai.

Δελτίο Τύπου

ODI RESUME

Investigation: EA 14-002Prompted by: PE13-035, Consumer ComplaintsDate Opened: 05/12/2014Investigator: Emily ReichardReviewer: Scott YonApprover: Frank BorrisSubject: Spontaneous Sunroof Breakage

MANUFACTURER & PRODUCT INFORMATIONManufacturer: Kia Motors CorporationProducts: 2011-2013 Kia SorentoPopulation: 65,347Problem Description: The sunroof may spontaneously shatter while the vehicle is in motion or stationary.

FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY

ODI

Manufacturer

Total

Complaints:

26

123

95**

Crashes/Fires:

0

0

0

Injury Incidents:

4

14

14**

Number of Injuries:

6

16

18**

Fatality Incidents:

0

0

0

Other*:

0

101

86

*Description of Other: Warranty and goodwill claims for sunroof replacement, total indicates unique vehicles involved.** Total eliminates duplicates received by ODI and manufacturer.

ACTION / SUMMARY INFORMATION

Action: An Engineering Analysis has been opened.

Summary:On October 21, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-035 in order to further examine claims that the sunroof would spontaneously break on 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles. The majority of these claims occurred while the vehicle was in motion. Glass shattering while driving may distract the driver, and the resulting glass particles which enter the passenger compartment may injure occupants.

To date, ODI has received a total of 26 reports of sunroof breakage on the subject vehicles. Of those, 24 occurred while the vehicle was in motion. There were also four (4) injury incident reports for minor cuts/scratches.

Kia submitted a total of 123 field incidents related to sunroof breakage in response to ODI’s information request. Of this number, ODI identified 78 unique vehicle identification numbers (VINs), with 9 matching ODI complaint vehicles. Sixty of the submitted reports occurred while the vehicle was in motion. Fourteen (14) of the submitted reports alleged minor cuts/scratches from falling glass. Kia also submitted a total of 101 warranty and goodwill claims for sunroof replacement, of which 86 unique VINs were identified.

Kia stated in its response that their field inspections identified only one potential cause for the sunroof breakage – external impacts from rocks or other foreign objects encountered while the vehicle was in motion. In the other instances, no evidence of a defect was found, however, Kia’s inspection results were inconclusive as to a cause for the breakage. Kia advises that the Sorento sunroofs also have a greater surface area than many other vehicles, potentially making them more susceptible to road debris strikes. While ODI recognizes that the Sorento may be more at risk due to its larger impact area, the rate of ODI reported incidents is concerning. Thus, the investigation has been upgraded to further analyze the scope, frequency, and consequence of these failures.

The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10345933, 10410440, 10432904, 10453957, 10466987, 10478778, 10492886, 10502219, 10508983, 10514388, 10531972, 10534883, 10553341, 10555931, 10556212, 10562460, 10562516, 10563779, 10564555, 10567351, 10568629, 10572959, 10575487, 10583122, 10583626, 10584650

Kia Statement:

Model(s): 2011-2013 Sorento Vehicle Population: 65,347 Component: Panoramic sunroof

Kia Motors America (KMA) is aware that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded its evaluation of the 2011-2013 Kia Sorento panoramic sunroof from a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to an Engineering Analysis (EA). KMA places a priority on vehicle safety and has been evaluating the performance of the sunroof as part of ongoing vehicle monitoring activities conducted as a standard practice on all Kia models. KMA initiated discussions with NHTSA on this issue before the PE was opened and is continuing to cooperate with NHTSA in its investigation. To date, only debris and hail have been identified as the cause of sunroof breakage in product investigations, supporting the conclusion that the sunroof is appropriately designed and suffers from no defect trend. KMA will continue to thoroughly investigate and research this issue and will continue to share its findings with NHTSA.

Sorento owners are encouraged to contact Kia Consumer Affairs at 800-333-4542 with any questions or concerns related to this matter.