NHTSA Complaint #11010668 — 2005 HONDA ACCORD

WE LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AREA. ONE RECENT WEEKEND, MY WIFE AND I WERE IN MY 2005 HONDA ACCORD DRIVING ON AN UNOCCUPIED ROAD (LIGHT WEEKEND TRAFFIC AND NO ONE WITHIN 1000 YARDS). MY WIFE AND I HEARD A HUGE EXPLOSION. WE WERE IN MOTION AT THE TIME AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR, BUT WE KNEW IT WAS POWERFUL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSION, WE HEARD A RUSH OF AIR AND WHEN OPENING THE SUNROOF COVER (MOVED BACKWARDS), WE WERE RAINED WITH BROKEN GLASS PARTICLES (ANYWHERE FROM 1MM TO 1INCH). THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED AND THE PIECES WERE VERY DANGEROUS. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE COVER THAT CAUGHT MOST OF DEBRIS. HAD WE HAD THAT OPEN, IT'D HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC RESULT. WE DO NOT FEEL ANYTHING CONTACTED THE ROOF AND CAN ONLY SURMISE THAT EITHER A MAJOR PRESSURE CHANGE OCCURRED, A SIGNIFICANT TEMP CHANGE OCCURRED, OR A STRUCTURAL CHANGE CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO EXPLODE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENTS AND IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THE SUNROOF WAS FUNCTIONAL PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, BUT USED VERY LITTLE. I HAD TO ORDER ANOTHER SUNROOF AND CUT MYSELF SERIOUSLY WHILE TRYING TO INSTALL THIS UNIT.