NHTSA Complaint #10692832 — 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM FROM MY VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY CRACKLING SOUND. MY SUNROOF SHATTERED AS WELL AS THE FIXED PIECE BETWEEN MY WINDSHIELD AND MOVING PANE OF SUNROOF. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD AN OBJECT STRUCK THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST PANE OF GLASS HAD A 1 IN DIAMETER HOLE WITH A STARBURST PATTERN AND THE SECOND PANE HAD VERY LITTLE VISIBLE DAMAGE TO IT OTHER THAN THE HUNDREDS OF CRACKS IN IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHY THE FIRST PANE OF GLASS THAT IS ANGLED OUTWARD TO THE ROAD IS NOT MADE OF SAFETY GLASS OR METAL AND WAS CONSTRUCTED OF TEMPERED GLASS. I WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD MY BLIND CLOSED AND THAT THE GLASS DID NOT SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE ANY OF THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME. AS I TOLD THE GENTLEMEN AT THE DEALERSHIP, IF ROAD DEBRIS HITS MY VEHICLE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE A THIRD OF MY ROOF. ROCKS HAVE HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND CHIPPED IT, BUT FOR A ROCK TO HIT MY VEHICLE AND CAUSE SUCH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IS POOR DESIGN OR QUALITY OF MANUFACTURING. *TR