What causes sunroof glass to explode?
Because a glass sunroof is under a lot of compression, air pressure or temperature changes can all contribute to pressure on the glass. All it takes is one microscopic imperfection and time to allow the problem to reach a level where the glass explodes. Previous unrelated investigations found nickel sulfide crystals in shattered glass.
Can sunroofs explode while parked?
Hyundai drivers report glass raining down on them after their sunroofs suddenly shattered while cruising down the highway at 70 mph, as well as reports of sunroofs that exploded while the vehicles were parked and unattended. The thought of glass exploding above your head might seem absurd, but it can occur to any make and model of vehicle.
What causes a sunroof to shatter?
Other Reasons Sunroofs Shatter. Kelley says there are other reasons sunroofs might shatter, such as a small rocks or pieces of debris that can chip the glass. If the glass is tempered, sudden changes in temperature can cause the glass to expand and contract and cause the chip or crack to grow or shatter completely.
What happened to Hyundai sunroofs that exploded?
Hyundai drivers report glass raining down on them after their sunroofs suddenly shattered while cruising down the highway at 70 mph, as well as reports of sunroofs that exploded while the vehicles were parked and unattended.
What causes a sunroof to explode?
Manufacturers believe that the exploding sunroofs are caused by environmental factors, like changes in the temperature or debris hitting the glass. But drivers who have had their sunroofs explode are maintaining that it was a random occurrence due to a safety defect or poor engineering.
Is it safe to drive with a shattered sunroof?
Is it Safe to Drive with a Broken Sunroof? This question, unlike the previous question, has a definite and straightforward answer. The answer is no; it is not safe to drive with a broken sunroof.
How does a moonroof shatter?
According to Global News, the issue could be from contaminants inside the glass, which cause the glass to shatter due to “internal stress caused by high temperatures.” Consumer Reports reported that the moonroofs are susceptible to damage because the glass bends and warps over time as the car goes over bumps and dips.
Do all sunroofs leak eventually?
False. Some sunroofs do indeed leak. However, good quality sunroofs do not.
What is sunroof glass made of?
Sunroofs usually are made of either tempered or laminated glass, which both have pros and cons. Tempered glass is made by heating and cooling a piece of standard glass in a tempering furnace.
Does a sunroof add value to a car?
Buying a new car equipped with a sunroof typically adds $500-$2000 to the price of the car depending on the make and model. A certain amount of the extra value stays with the car and will come in handy when it's time to sell.
Are moon roofs safe?
According to the New York law firm of Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, closed moonroofs caused around 230 deaths and 500 injuries every year between 2002 and 2012. Bodily ejection through closed and open sunroofs were responsible for 300 deaths and 1,400 injuries yearly from 1997 to 2008, the firm claims.
Is a sunroof covered under warranty?
Bumper-to-bumper extended warranty coverage plans generally cover the following vehicle components: Audio, communication, and entertainment systems. Heating and air conditioning. Electrical (power seats, sunroofs, heated seats)
Does insurance cover sunroof?
Most types of damage to the sunroof or to the car from the sunroof will need comprehensive auto coverage. This type of policy protects the vehicle's value from non-accident related damage. This coverage can provide extensive protection to most components of the vehicle.
How do you permanently seal a sunroof?
0:144:04Sealed Up! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo scotch tape this is a pretty much to mask around the edges of the sunroof. And the plug itself.MoreSo scotch tape this is a pretty much to mask around the edges of the sunroof. And the plug itself. So you could lay the silicone on pretty much like flawlessly.
Can I drive with my sunroof open?
The takeaway - there's no harm in opening a sunroof, but it's only for the wind to pass in and out, not you.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking sunroof?
Sunroof repair and replacement are simple but can be expensive if damaged. The average cost of a sunroof repair is between $400 and $800 depending on what pieces need to be corrected. The national average for a new sunroof ranges from $600 to $1,000.
How do you temporarily cover a broken sunroof?
Temporarily Fix Your SunroofIf the entire pane of sunroof glass has caved in, you can start by covering the hole left behind by taping stiff cardboard in its place.If your sunroof is cracked or leaking, you can temporarily fix it by duct-taping a plastic bag under it to limit the amount of water that entered your car.
How can I temporarily fix my sunroof?
0:272:21How To: Repair a Leaky Sunroof - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere could be up to four of them and they'd be located in the corners of the sunroof opening. TheyMoreThere could be up to four of them and they'd be located in the corners of the sunroof opening. They lead to tubes that carry liquid through the windshield frame to the bottom of the vehicle. Pour.
How do you fix a cracked sunroof?
Regardless of whether you noticed the sunroof glass crack at home or glass shattered during a drive, you need to contact an auto company to mend the damage. While tempered glass breaks into pieces that are less likely to damage car occupants, it cannot be fixed; a new sunroof must replace the old broken one.
Can a sunroof break glass?
Today's large sunroofs make it more likely that an airborne projectile, like a piece of ice, gravel, rock, or other debris, will be kicked up by another vehicle and hit and damage your sunroof. All glass (including sunroofs) can break on impact. However, it's also possible for an impact to simply damage the glass.
Why does my sunroof shatter?
A sunroof is made with tempered glass that is designed to break into small pieces for safety. Any imperfection in the glass--whether caused by a bad batch of glass or a scratch from a rock--can cause the glass to shatter when under pressure.
Why does the sunroof pressure come from the sun?
Because a glass sunroof is under a lot of compression, air pressure or temperature changes can all contribute to pressure on the glass.
What happened to the sunroof on a 2012 Hyundai Veloster?
Hyundai drivers report glass raining down on them after their sunroofs suddenly shattered while cruising down the highway at 70 mph, as well as reports of sunroofs that exploded while the vehicles were parked and unattended.
What cars have a problem with the S40?
While the government investigates Hyundai over the problem and Volvo must answer to Alexandra about her S40, CarComplaints.com has heard about the problem for years from drivers of the Honda Accord, Audi Q5, Mazda CX-9, Chrysler 300M, Honda CR-V, and many other vehicles.
Is the sunroof always pointed toward the sky?
The story is always the same. Whether the incident occurred when the vehicle was parked or traveling at highway speeds, the remaining glass structure is always pointed toward the sky. Owners must then face the task of convincing the dealership and manufacturer that the sunroof wasn’t hit from the outside, a battle that can lead to expensive repairs and denial of insurance or warranty coverage.
Can glass explode above your head?
The thought of glass exploding above your head might seem absurd, but it can occur to any make and model of vehicle .
Can glass explode?
In fact, all types of glass products can explode, including ovenware, patio tables, even glass balconies. It’s occurred for years and the problem has grown in vehicles because more cars come standard with a sunroof/moonroof, something that was once considered a luxury option.
What happened to the sunroof in 2017?
January 16, 2017. Car owners who complain to their dealership about their shattered sunroof are almost always told that it was a flying stone that broke the glass and are advised to make an insurance claim. It’s been described as a shotgun blast out of a clear blue sky that has startled and traumatized drivers and passengers alike.
What causes a glass panel to explode?
Binding of the glass in its frame, causing new stresses as the glass expands and contracts due to thermal changes or deflects due to wind, can result in enough force to trigger the tempered glass panel to release its stored energy, resulting in a spontaneous explosion.
Why did BMW blame us for the roof damage?
No surprise.... BMW blamed us for damaging the roof because apparently that is the only way this failure could have happened. They have refused to cover it under warranty, and advised us to transfer the responsibility of the repair to our insurance company.
Can tempered glass accumulate?
Experts talk about a “memory” that tempered glass can accumulate. Minor damage during installation, such as nicked or chipped edges, can later develop into larger breaks normally radiating from the defect.
Does tempered glass break?
Tempered glass has been breaking spontaneously for many years, not only in cars, but also in myriad other applications such as shower stalls, oven doors and massive condominium windows.
Can you touch a sunroof?
What makes the sunroof incidents different is that roof glass is seldom touched by anyone and they’re largely immune to flying stones. And with growing online evidence pointing to sunroofs shattering unprovoked, consumers are demanding that manufacturers own up to defective glass.
Is glass a manufacturing defect?
In addition, contaminants in the glass are a well-documented manufacturing defect.
Why are sunroofs explosions?
While there is much debate over the prevailing cause for sunroof explosions, there is generally agreement on this: Current regulatory standards haven’t kept pace with the size or design innovations in panoramic sunroofs. Basically, this means that some sunroofs are underengineered.
Which auto companies have sunroof leaks?
Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota have dealt with various sunroof fixes, including leaks, in this way. Consumer Reports has identified about a dozen class-action lawsuits in the U.S. involving shattered sunroofs, finding complaints against Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Volkswagen, among others.
How many sunroof explosions did Lincoln MKTs have?
A limo company from Long Island, N.Y., for example, told NHTSA in August of 2014 that it had suffered five sunroof explosions—all within its 18-vehicle fleet of 2014 Lincoln MKTs, made by Ford. One was parked in the company’s lot when it exploded.
What does Fiat Chrysler say about safety?
Fiat Chrysler told us that “safety is paramount” and that it continually monitors “the performance of our vehicles in the field.” Many of the other automaker responses echoed that theme.
Why are glass roofs more susceptible to impacts?
That makes them more susceptible to impacts, even from very small objects, Vandal says, because they present a more vertical surface for an offending object to strike.
Why are skylights so seductive?
There’s a seductive quality about them, perhaps because they connect people to the outdoors in the same way skylights do in homes.
Is an exploding sunroof a freak occurrence?
An exploding sunroof might sound like a freak occurrence, but a Consumer Reports investigation has found that it’s not. These incidents have happened in every month of the year in every part of the country, in vehicles from all over the world; they have occurred on interstates, on country roads, and even while parked in driveways.
Why does a sunroof explode?
When CarComplaints.com asked four top university engineering professors what makes sunroofs explode, they said that imperfections in tempered glass will cause it to shatter under pressure.
What is the lawsuit against Nissan for exploding sunroof?
A Nissan exploding sunroof lawsuit alleges 2008-present Nissan and Infiniti models with factory-installed sunroofs made of tempered glass are at risk of the sunroof glass exploding without warning, leaving occupants a bundle of nerves if the glass shatters while driving.
Can a Nissan sunroof explode?
A lawsuit alleges that all of Nissan's factory-installed sunroofs (panoramic or otherwise) can explode without warning. This includes any vehicle since 2008.
Does Nissan have a sunroof?
Lawsuits accuse the automaker of using a flawed tempering process for their glass. These days it's hard to find a car without a sunroof, so it's no surprise that there's more complaints about sunroofs than ever before.
Why does my sunroof explode?
The reason why this phenomenon has been called an explosion is due to the loud “bang” that the glass makes when it shatters. According to Global News, the issue could be from contaminants inside the glass, which cause the glass to shatter due to “internal stress caused by high temperatures.”
Why does my moonroof shatter?
According to Global News, the issue could be from contaminants inside the glass, which cause the glass to shatter due to “internal stress caused by high temperatures.”. Consumer Reports reported that the moonroofs are susceptible to damage because the glass bends and warps over time as the car goes over bumps and dips.
How many people died from sunroof explosions?
Among all of the complaints of exploding sunroofs, there have been 36 reported injuries from them. Fortunately, none of them are too serious and there are no reported deaths. The only main cause for concern is that moonroofs are now getting much larger, which could result in even more “explosions” in the future. And if a massive panoramic moonroof exploded, there’s no guaranteeing that there wouldn’t be any greater injuries.
What cars have sunroofs?
By now, you could be wondering about your own car’s sunroof. Fortunately, Global News listed the cars with the most complaints of exploding sunroofs. The top 10 are as follows: 1 Hyundai Santa Fe: 37 complaints 2 Nissan Murano: 19 3 BMW 3 Series: 13 4 Kia Sorento: 10 5 Mazda3: 9 6 Toyota RAV4: 9 7 Nissan Rogue: 9 8 Ford Focus: 8 9 Ford Edge: 6 10 Hyundai Elantra: 6
How many injuries have there been from sunroofs?
Among all of the complaints of exploding sunroofs, there have been 36 reported injuries from them.
When will sunroofs be available in cars?
on January 30, 2021. Having a sunroof in your car is an open-air luxury that used to actually be an option in new cars. Nowadays, it seems like every car, even in its base form, now comes with a moonroof and what’s even better is that many automakers are incorporating panoramic moonroofs in many of their models.
Which vehicles have sunroof explosions?
Consumer Reports, which writes that these sunroof explosions “have happened in every month of the year in every part of the country, in vehicles from all over the world” and on every type of road, found that the most common vehicles included in the 859 complaints to NHTSA were the Scion tC, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Sorento, Nissan Murano and Kia Optima.
How many sunroofs have been shattered?
While owners of Kia Sorentos have filed at least 43 reports of shattered sunroofs with U.S. regulators, Kia has told NHTSA it has at least 156 Sorento sunroof cases in its own records. Kia Optima owners have filed at least 25 reports with regulators, but the company told NHTSA it is aware of 173 shattered Optima sunroofs.
What happened to the sunroof in a 2016 Jetta?
Canadian news site Global News writes about a couple driving to a doctor’s appointment with their three-month old child, when the sunroof in their 2016 Volkswagen Jetta shattered, showering bits of glass onto their baby, and causing the driver to swerve the car.
Why are glass roofs more susceptible to impacts?
That makes them more susceptible to impacts, even from very small objects, Vandal says, because they present a more vertical surface for an offending object to strike.
Can a chip on the outside of a sunroof cause a sunroof to fail?
Consumer Reports spoke with someone who worked at major automotive glass company PPG, who said even a small chip on the “beveled edge” on the outside of the glass can make the sunroof prone to failure. That source also said thermal shock and loads associated with the twisting of the body as the car hits bumps could contribute to the sunroof “weakening over time.”
Who is the mother of the Nissan Pathfinder that had its sunroof explode?
Earlier this month, Consumer Reports wrote a lengthy article describing this “exploding sunroof” issue in the United States, citing a mother named Heather Savage, whose 2016 Nissan Pathfinder had its sunroof explode with two of her children in the car. Luckily, her shade was rolled forward, and the glass didn’t enter the vehicle.
Is the Sorento under investigation?
Those same vehicles, says Consumer Reports, are under investigation in the U.S., with the nonprofit writing: “NHTSA has been investigating the Sorento for model years 2011 to 2013 since 2013, yet visible progress appears to have slowed since spring of 2016.”
Can sunroofs really explode?
We wish we could say this was a joke, but yes, the glass of sunroofs can suddenly shatter without warning. Understandably, this is a terrifying experience for any driver. In fact, many drivers have called the police, thinking someone shot their sunroof.
What is safety glass?
Sunroofs in modern cars are made of tempered glass, otherwise known as safety glass. However, while this glass is stronger and more resilient than standard glass, it has been revealed in recent years that tempered glass is prone to suddenly and inexplicably exploding. As of yet, it isn’t clear why.
How common is this Issue?
Exploding Lexus sunroofs are still quite uncommon. However, through the use of social media, affected individuals are sharing their pictures and stories. They have access to other Lexus owners with similar situations, meaning that the scale of the issue is starting to become more clear.
What causes tempered glass sunroofs to suddenly shatter?
While there isn’t yet a concrete reason for why these explosions are happening, experts have postulated that tempered glass is able to accumulate a sort of memory of impacts and damage that it has experienced. By damage, we are referring to anything minor, such as small impacts that can happen during installation, such as nicked or chipped edges.
What can a Lexus owner do to avoid an exploding sunroof?
As the problem seems random and hard to predict, the most proactive thing a Lexus owner can do is routine maintenance and specifically ask for sunroof inspections. Your trusted Lexus technician can check the glass for any type of damage and advise you if there is any wear and tear of the safety glass.
