NHTSA Complaint #10384062 — 2007 SCION TC

I OWN A 2007 SCION TC AND I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON A BUSINESS DISTRICT STREET IN THE CITY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD GUNSHOT-TYPE SOUND AND THE SOUND OF BROKEN GLASS ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND SAW THAT THE FRONT SECTION OF THE GLASS PANORAMIC ROOF HAD SHATTERED AND SOME OF THE METAL PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY WERE KNOCKED OUT OF PLACE. THE WIND DEFLECTOR WAS ALSO IN THE UP POSITION AND PARTS OF THAT ASSEMBLY LOOKED TO BE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AS WELL, ALTHOUGH THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN COMPLETELY CLOSED AT THE TIME. THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE AN IMPACT TO THE ROOF GLASS BY ANY OBJECT, AND UPON INSPECTION THE SHATTERED GLASS LOOKED AS IF IT HAD EXPLODED UPWARD AND THE EDGES OF THE GLASS HAD CRACKED AND BROKEN AWAY AS IF UNDER STRESS FROM THE OUTER EDGES. WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. MANAGER (SERVICE OR GENERAL, NOT SURE) DECLARES NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY: PURCHASED 4+ YRS AGO BUT ONLY 22,500 MI AT TIME OF INCIDENT. CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE WITH THIS DAMAGE SO I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE, WHO DECLARES THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED GLASS BREAKAGE (I.E. WINDSHIELD) SO I MUST PAY $500 DEDUCTIBLE TOWARD $892 FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THIS IS EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR GLASS DEFECT AND CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS REIMBURSE ME AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS (MY DEDUCTIBLE AND THE PORTION PAID BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY INCLUDING THE RENTAL CAR WHILE MY CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE TO ME). HONESTLY, I WOULD PREFER IF THIS WERE CAUSED SIMPLY BY IMPACT WITH AN OBJECT, BECAUSE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I DON'T KNOW THAT WILL FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR ANY MORE OR CONFIDENT THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, PERHAPS RESULTING IN MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR EVEN INJURY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY WITH MY CONCERNS, WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. *TR