2014 Cayenne GTS Sunroof exploded

[GTSWade]

Good evening everyone,

 

I'm new at using forums so excuse me if I am not posting in the correct location but I really need some advice and assistance.

I live just outside of Waco, TX and last Thursday as I was driving my son to school down I-35 we hear a loud boom, almost like a gun went off. My son looks up and see and hears the glass has broken on the sunroof (not the entire panaoramic just the front part). There were no cars around us, nothing hit us nor did we hit the sunroof from within, it basically self exploded like it was under immense pressure as the glass went up instead of down. Thankfully the suncreen netting caught some of the glass but there was damage to the body/paint on the rear section of the roof. I was warm in our garage 75 degrees +/- but the outside temps were low 40's high 30's that morning then the sun came out in force so not sure that had anything to do with it, cabin pressure, etc. Now here is the issue. I call Park Place Porsche in Dallas where we bought our last 3 Cayenne's they send a tow truck to pick it up that morning, do not hear from them until 7pm tonight and I am not happy. They are telling me since their service tech manager cannot figure out how this happened they will not warranty it....REALLY? So they can deny warranty because they can't explain it? Now I am set to call and talk to the service manager  and/or the head of the dealership because I'm not buying it, I've done my research over the weekend and this has become a big issue with sunroofs over the years and it's not an unknown thing (even though they are playing dumb). What can I do?

 

[JFP in PA]

Good evening everyone,

 

I'm new at using forums so excuse me if I am not posting in the correct location but I really need some advice and assistance.

I live just outside of Waco, TX and last Thursday as I was driving my son to school down I-35 we hear a loud boom, almost like a gun went off. My son looks up and see and hears the glass has broken on the sunroof (not the entire panaoramic just the front part). There were no cars around us, nothing hit us nor did we hit the sunroof from within, it basically self exploded like it was under immense pressure as the glass went up instead of down. Thankfully the suncreen netting caught some of the glass but there was damage to the body/paint on the rear section of the roof. I was warm in our garage 75 degrees +/- but the outside temps were low 40's high 30's that morning then the sun came out in force so not sure that had anything to do with it, cabin pressure, etc. Now here is the issue. I call Park Place Porsche in Dallas where we bought our last 3 Cayenne's they send a tow truck to pick it up that morning, do not hear from them until 7pm tonight and I am not happy. They are telling me since their service tech manager cannot figure out how this happened they will not warranty it....REALLY? So they can deny warranty because they can't explain it? Now I am set to call and talk to the service manager  and/or the head of the dealership because I'm not buying it, I've done my research over the weekend and this has become a big issue with sunroofs over the years and it's not an unknown thing (even though they are playing dumb). What can I do?

 

First of all, welcome to RennTech :welcome:

This is probably not a very common occurrence, so your service manager is going to need to contact PCNA, who may want to send someone out to look at the vehicle.  Obviously, all this is going to take some time.  You always have the option to go over their heads and contact PCNA directly as well.  A word of advice in all this:  It is fine to be firm, but not to let the dialog get to the point where bridges are being burned.  It may be a warranty issue, or it may not.  In any case, your insurance should also cover it as well.  Good luck.

[GSpence2]

wow! sorry this happened to you, but actually it is a fairly common problem. Maybe not with Porsche's but certainly with other makes. I'm in the insurance industry and have seen this problem several times, particularly with Ford & Land Rover pano-roofs. There is also at least one complaint at http://www.safercar.gov/  about a Cayenne's pano-roof self destructing. I would present this info to the dealer and Porsche NA for further investigation and resolution

[GSpence2]

http://www.wsfa.com/story/28945992/danger-ahead-exploding-sunroofs-a-surprisingly-common-problem

[GTSWade]

UPDATE.  Finally got to speak to the GM at Park Place in Dallas and he has agreed to cover the damage, however he is stating that there is no visibile paint and body damage but will take another look due to my urging. I will have to pay for the car rental but insurance is covering all but $10 day and I can live with that.  What helped was a very detailed email to him the night before along with pictures and links like posted above of this happening to other vehicles and he was genuinely concerned and wanted to help.

 

BTW when did car rentals become so gross and nasty?

Edited November 25, 2015 by GTSWade

[GTSWade]

Few pics I took with my Nikon D810

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82871252@N05/23007152810/in/datetaken/

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82871252@N05/23302946405/in/datetaken/

[JFP in PA]

UPDATE.  Finally got to speak to the GM at Park Place in Dallas and he has agreed to cover the damage, however he is stating that there is no visibile paint and body damage but will take another look due to my urging. I will have to pay for the car rental but insurance is covering all but $10 day and I can live with that.  What helped was a very detailed email to him the night before along with pictures and links like posted above of this happening to other vehicles and he was genuinely concerned and wanted to help.

 

BTW when did car rentals become so gross and nasty?

 

Glad it worked out for you.

 

Rental cars are cars without an owner to care about them that are cleaned & cared foir by minimum wage workers, which is why we caution potental buyers to beware.

[GSpence2]

red tailed hawk?

 

glad the dealer stepped up for you