NHTSA Complaint #10819168 — 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TONIGHT ON A REMOTE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED OUT OF NOWHERE. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 45-50 DEGREES SO I ALSO HAD THE HEATER ON INSIDE. I HAD THE SUNSHADE OPEN BUT THE TILTING PORTION OF THE ROOF CLOSED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEAR ME THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED ANY DEBRIS TO HIT THE ROOF. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LOUDEST BANG, INITIALLY SCARING ME SO BAD I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN GLASS WAS FLYING AROUND EVERYWHERE. IT WAS SO LOUD I THOUGHT AT FIRST I HAD A BLOWOUT FOR SPLIT SECOND UNTIL THEN THE GLASS HIT ME AND THE WIND STARTING COMING IN FROM THE GAPING HOLE IN THE ROOF. IT LITERALLY SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT OR CANNON WENT OFF IN MY CAR. LUCKILY NONE OF THE GLASS INJURED ME AND EVEN MORE LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT WITH ME AS SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE FLYING GLASS. I HAD TO CLOSE THE SUNSHADE AND DRIVE HOME THE REMAINING DISTANCE AT A MUCH SLOWER SPEED BUT LUCKILY DID SO WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES ONCE SAFELY HOME, AND AS YOU CAN SEE IT APPEARS AS IF THE GLASS BUBBLED UP, ALMOST LIKE FROM INSIDE AIR PRESSURE CAUSING THE EXPLOSION. MY FIRST THOUGHTS ARE THAT MAYBE THE COLD AIR OUTSIDE AND WARM AIR INSIDE? IT IS THE FRONT PANEL THAT OPENS THAT HAS THE DAMAGE AND THE REAR PANEL IS FULLY INTACT. THIS WAS AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE THAT I HOPE TO NEVER HAVE HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.