[AutoDaily] November 5th, MOLIT(Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport) conducted a hearing about flaw of panorama sunroof in Sejong government building.This hearing started from Renault Samsung Motor at 9 am, and then Hyundai-Kia motor, Audi-Volkswagen Korea, and Toyota Korea the persons interested attended in the morning. Continuing BMW Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Stuttgart Sport Car(Porsche), Nissan Korea, Ford Korea, and Chrysler Korea is in the line in the afternoon.
Researchers from MOLIT and Korea Transportation Safety Authority had completed investigation into the problem of panorama sunroof flaw targeted to all domestic production and sale of import brand last October.
Prior to decision recall service, this hearing is process of express their situation or explanatory statement for each company about findings on inquiry.
After self-investigation and the hearing, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will make a final decision whether they recall or not.
Panorama sunroof installed vehicles are approx 400 thousands units - Sonata, Granduer, Tucson, Santa Fe (Hyundai Motor), K5, K7 Sorento R, Sportage R (Kia Motor), SM5 (Renault Samsung Motor), etc. Including foreign brand like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Toyota, they are 500~600 thousands units.
The issue of panorama sunroof flaw was raised by certain of car communities since last year. The Declaration of Car-Manufacturing Defect runs by MOLIT and Korea Consumer Agency have received the scores of reports this year. For this reason, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport had investigated all kind of car model installed panorama sunroof since last August.
Most of problem models get out from Webasto from Germany or Webasto Korea products. According to the survey results, they found that the structural faults were damaged by impact on driving, because the tempered glass did not meet the safety standards.
The person from Korea Transportation Safety Authority said there are many corrective measures from replacement panorama sunroof itself to spraying coating material or window tinting for reinforcement. Depending on degree of defect, the way of recall response can be changed.
Like this large scale of panorama sunroof flaw was never brought up before in the world, if the recall start, it may influence vehicles sold in other country
As the price of installing panorama sunroof is from 500 thousands to millions, when the recall service is confirmed, the expense of compensation is estimated a considerable number. Therefore, the persons concerned prepare a countermeasure, and some Europe brands seek the plan which is head office and government level.
By Lee Sangwon, Shin Seungyoung.
(Translate by Lee Yeseul)