NHTSA Complaint #10704113 — 2010 SCION TC

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A TOWN ROAD IN OUR COMMUNITY ON CAPE COD ON A CLEAR DAY. SUDDENLY WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF US BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD, LIKE AN EXPLOSION. WE PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE SUNROOF OF THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY EXPLODED WITH SHATTERED GLASS STREAMING OFF THE BACK OF THE CAR. THANKFULLY, WE HAD THE CANVAS PART OF THE SUNROOF CLOSED. IF LEFT OPEN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD GLASS COMING DOWN ONTO OUR HEADS AND LAPS. THIS, FOR SURE, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE SOUND ALONE, WAS TERRIFYING! IT SEEMED TO EXPLODE OUTWARD, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SEEMED TO HIT THE ROOF. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING ABOUT TEMPERED GLASS AND REALIZED THAT IT IS NOT SO RARE OF AN OCCURRENCE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE INCLUSIONS OF NICKEL SULFIDE OFTEN FOUND IN TEMPERED GLASS. IT SEEMS THAT NOBODY AT OUR DEALERSHIP HAS EVER HEARD ABOUT THIS. IT APPEARS, AFTER INVESTIGATING CASES ONLINE, THAT IT HAS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN THAN ANYONE REALIZES. IT IS TRULY A HAZARD. WHAT CAN BE DONE? IF YOU LIKE VEHICLES WITH SUNROOFS, DON'T DRIVE WITH THE CANVAS OPEN UNLESS YOU COMPLETELY OPEN THE SUNROOF TO THE AIR. OR, DON'T BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH A SUNROOF. OR, CHANGE THE WAY SUNROOFS ARE MADE??? *TR