Dealership won't repair my rattling sunroof, what are my next options?

[Duox]

Hey all,

I've got a 2019 GT1. Originally, I wasn't having an issue with the sunroof. Over 8,000 miles however, noises have developed in the sunroof.

The issues are most prevalent in temperature change, and when it is cold out. You will always hear a noise at 65+mph/100kph. On some days, it is worse than others, that it is clearly audible at other times. It's a clatter-ing sound. Either metal or glass.

I take it to the dealership, to get it looked at along with my popping radio. I do a ride-along with the dealership staff, and he noticed both issues. However, it being a warm day, the roof rattle was not as prevalent but still present.

We leave it at the dealership for 6 hours, and they come back to tell me there's nothing they can do, and they filed an issue with Kia corporate. I was pretty upset at the time, but it felt pretty hopeless. They mentioned I can swing by any time it gets worse, and that "we have time to work it out over the life of the warranty", which granted is long, but to go tens of thousands of miles with the issue just to wait for the issue to get worse is ridiculous in my mind.

What do I do next? I saw some wrap felt around a piece of metal in the sunroof frame. Others using seal lubricant. I want to make sure I'm trying the right thing before I embark on a homebrew solution.

 

[cncBilly]

Hey all,

I've got a 2019 GT1. Originally, I wasn't having an issue with the sunroof. Over 8,000 miles however, noises have developed in the sunroof.

The issues are most prevalent in temperature change, and when it is cold out. You will always hear a noise at 65+mph/100kph. On some days, it is worse than others, that it is clearly audible at other times. It's a clatter-ing sound. Either metal or glass.

I take it to the dealership, to get it looked at along with my popping radio. I do a ride-along with the dealership staff, and he noticed both issues. However, it being a warm day, the roof rattle was not as prevalent but still present.

We leave it at the dealership for 6 hours, and they come back to tell me there's nothing they can do, and they filed an issue with Kia corporate. I was pretty upset at the time, but it felt pretty hopeless. They mentioned I can swing by any time it gets worse, and that "we have time to work it out over the life of the warranty", which granted is long, but to go tens of thousands of miles with the issue just to wait for the issue to get worse is ridiculous in my mind.

What do I do next? I saw some wrap felt around a piece of metal in the sunroof frame. Others using seal lubricant. I want to make sure I'm trying the right thing before I embark on a homebrew solution.

There are plenty of posts on the topic. I suggest you read ones from westcoastGT he had the problem and had success having it fixed by the dealer. But not before dodging, or should I say going through a few hoops and barrels. He explains his situation and remedy well worth your time to read. Good luck!

 

[Duox]

There are plenty of posts on the topic. I suggest you read ones from westcoastGT he had the problem and had success having it fixed by the dealer. But not before dodging, or should I say going through a few hoops and barrels. He explains his situation and remedy well worth your time to read. Good luck!

Great. To know where to look, is it a forum post he made, or comments within another thread?

 

[nhcowboy28]

Call the premium hotline. Explain that this is unacceptable. Explain that others have had their entire roof/rail assembly replaced and it solved the problem. Also explain that a loaner is mandatory.

squeaky wheel gets the lube homie.

 

[Duox]

View attachment 37678 Call the premium hotline. Explain that this is unacceptable. Explain that others have had their entire roof/rail assembly replaced and it solved the problem. Also explain that a loaner is mandatory.

squeaky wheel gets the lube homie.

Thanks! I'll go down this path this weekend, after getting a good recording of the roof noise and radio issue so I have permanent evidence to provide.

 

[Duox]

Hey all, following up. I took the car in, but it was the same day COVID shut everything down here. Now things are settling into a new normal, I've got an appointment in Friday. Similarly focused on the sunroof rattle. It happens at 40mph now.

 

[Psilintrage]

Hey all,

I've got a 2019 GT1. Originally, I wasn't having an issue with the sunroof. Over 8,000 miles however, noises have developed in the sunroof.

The issues are most prevalent in temperature change, and when it is cold out. You will always hear a noise at 65+mph/100kph. On some days, it is worse than others, that it is clearly audible at other times. It's a clatter-ing sound. Either metal or glass.

I take it to the dealership, to get it looked at along with my popping radio. I do a ride-along with the dealership staff, and he noticed both issues. However, it being a warm day, the roof rattle was not as prevalent but still present.

We leave it at the dealership for 6 hours, and they come back to tell me there's nothing they can do, and they filed an issue with Kia corporate. I was pretty upset at the time, but it felt pretty hopeless. They mentioned I can swing by any time it gets worse, and that "we have time to work it out over the life of the warranty", which granted is long, but to go tens of thousands of miles with the issue just to wait for the issue to get worse is ridiculous in my mind.

What do I do next? I saw some wrap felt around a piece of metal in the sunroof frame. Others using seal lubricant. I want to make sure I'm trying the right thing before I embark on a homebrew solution.

I had the same issue. Dealership was useless. I found that sunroof is rocking when closed. I took a thick piece of insulation and let sunroof close on it between glass and front rail

 

[runner1]

Check the creak/pop thread for the flat washer Fix. Was instant success for a few folks. 4 washers under the front mounting bolts located under the wind guard

 

[Duox]

Hi all, checking back in. It's been 2 weeks, and the dealership has not pinpointed the cause. So now I'm stuck with an ultimatum to them: give me a timeline you'll have it fixed, or get me a rental. Pretty unacceptable not to have my car after 2 weeks for them fooling around. Also part of me just wants the car back and test solutions myself; it's a waste of my time, but so is the dealership.

 

[Duox]

New update again; after week 2 I said enough waiting. I've been in touch with the Kia premium hotline (thanks for the share) and we have a case created. They acknowledged rattling sunroof is a well-known issue. They said the service dept should call the engineering tech line who can help them diagnose, but no attempt has been made. The Kia customer support can't get in touch with the dealer, and neither can I. After enough time, the case has been escalated to the "Escalations team" so they can get some answers and help me with a rental.
I went into the service dept of the Kia dealership, asking for answers this Saturday. They said managers out, nothing they can do. Claimed no knowledge of any missed calls, which is baffling. They said I could take it back, which at this point is completely unacceptable to have spent all this time for them to not resolve it. Manager will be in Monday, and do I'll go back Monday. I expect to get a rental immediately.

 

[Spaceme17]

Keep on em.

Also, if you are financing the car and they have it for a month or months especially without giving you a loaner or a rental, ask for a re-imbursement for your monthly payment.

I went through an ordeal with Chevy on a 2011 Cruze that needed an engine replacement at 30K miles. They had the car for nearly 3 months total. In addition to them paying for a rental car, they re-imbursed me 2 monthly payments.

 

[runner1]

Again:

Check the creak/pop thread for the flat washer Fix. Was instant success for a few folks. 4 washers under the front mounting bolts located under the wind guard

 

[FitR6]

Keep on em.

Also, if you are financing the car and they have it for a month or months especially without giving you a loaner or a rental, ask for a re-imbursement for your monthly payment.

I went through an ordeal with Chevy on a 2011 Cruze that needed an engine replacement at 30K miles. They had the car for nearly 3 months total. In addition to them paying for a rental car, they re-imbursed me 2 monthly payments.

They have had mine for 6 weeks in total this year for numerous issues including sunroof (they wanted it for longer but I refused) and I pushed Kia Australia for compensation. They ended up giving me 40k and 50k service for free which is around $1200 worth.

 

[Duox]

Update time!

I brought the Kia back from the dealership. They did not fix the car, and they barely looked at it. Since last, the issue got sent to escalations. I also got a rental. Weeks later, they were also unable to get any traction from the dealership. It became evident they just weren't going to do anything. Discussed with escalations guy that our best bet is to cut my losses, whole sunk cost fallacy thing, and either try another dealership or a DIY fix. He said as long as it is non-destructive it shouldn't be a warranty voiding issue. Turned in rental. As I did, the service manager was handling another call that was a customer angry about servers service delays; how fitting. I'm going down the flat washer fix route today.

It's a small thing, but it is very noticeable and the fact that the dealership just left me out to dry is the worst part. No faith in Kia to fulfill warranty requests, because they just don't feel like it I suppose. If they were too busy, they shouldn't have gotten me in for a scheduled appointment.

Anyone have a direct link to a fix method that worked for them?

 

[Duox]

I attempted the washer fix as described by others. It's really straight forward once you see what needs to be adjusted. I put two washers, one each under the front two bolts on each side. I also kept the bug guard off. As before, at 55mph+, the sound remained. Unfortunately, I don't know if any other DIY fix. And the dealership here won't help. Officially SOL.

 

[SKStinger]

Have they looked at your rockers at all? There is new information coming out that loose rocker clips cause vibration that runs up the pillars and makes it sound like the sunroof is rattling. It's a simple fix to push up on the bottom of the rockers all the way along to re-engage the clips. You can do it yourself.

 

[runner1]

I chased a rattle in my sunroof of my Honda for two weeks before I realized that one of the Shield panels under the car was actually rattling at speed, I currently have microfibre cloths randomly shoved all over the underneath of my car and it’s very quiet. There was no way I would have expected the sound to be from the bottom of the car

 

[Duox]

Have they looked at your rockers at all? There is new information coming out that loose rocker clips cause vibration that runs up the pillars and makes it sound like the sunroof is rattling. It's a simple fix to push up on the bottom of the rockers all the way along to re-engage the clips. You can do it yourself.

I have not heard. Where are the rocker clips located, and what do they look like?

 

[Duox]

I chased a rattle in my sunroof of my Honda for two weeks before I realized that one of the Shield panels under the car was actually rattling at speed, I currently have microfibre cloths randomly shoved all over the underneath of my car and it’s very quiet. There was no way I would have expected the sound to be from the bottom of the car

What would you wedge the microfiber towels between to eliminate the rattle?

 

[SKStinger]

I have not heard. Where are the rocker clips located, and what do they look like?

Rattling, Creaking & Interior Noises - Formal Cases with Kia Corporate

I hope that's a rhetorical question. We are all interested to hear the answer from the source... “They don’t matter.” Wtf?

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Post #79