NHTSA Complaint #10822375 — 2016 HONDA PILOT

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE TOP OF MY CAR. THE SUNROOF GLASS HAD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR I COULD SEE SOME PIECES FLYING. THANKFULLY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FAR AWAY ENOUGH THAT THEY WERE NOT HIT BY THESE GLASS PIECES AND ALSO HAD MY INTERIOR SLIDER CLOSED. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED IF BOTH MY SLIDER WASN'T CLOSED AND/OR THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS CLOSE TO ME. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 MONTHS, I CONTACTED HONDA AND ADVISED THEM OF THE INCIDENT AND BROUGHT IT IN TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. THEY HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT GLASS FOR MY SUNROOF. I'M STILL WAITING FOR IT COME IN. I ALSO WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED SUNROOFS BREAKING OUT OF NOWHERE AND DID COME ACROSS MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IT SEEMS THAT IT MAY BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY WITH NEWER VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILT LIGHTER WITH THINNER METALS AND THINNER GLASS. THE GLASS USED ON SUNROOFS MORE COMMONLY IS TEMPERED GLASS, NOT LAMINATED GLASS. TEMPERED GLASS IS MORE PRONE TO SHATTERING WHEN PRESSURE BUILDS UP INSIDE THE CAR. WHEN I SPOKE TO HONDA CORPORATE AND THE DEALER, NEITHER ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT KIND OF GLASS WAS ON THE SUNROOF BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW. I HOPE THIS MATTER CAN BE FURTHER LOOKED INTO. I HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE THAT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN WORSE.