NHTSA Complaint #11111377 — 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOT ATTRIBUTED TO IMPACT FROM FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS. CONDITIONS INDICATE THAT THERMAL SHOCK HAS LIKELY EXPOSED DEFECTS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND OTHER VEHICLES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SIMILAR INCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN A PARKING LOT FOR 1.75 HOURS. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS RECORDED AT 92 DEGREES (F). UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ENGAGED AND THE INTERNAL AIR TEMPERATURE WAS SET AT 68 DEGREES (F). APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND WAS HEARD. THE SUNROOF COVER WAS CLOSED. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED HOWEVER LARGELY INTACT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT IS CLEARLY DISCERNIBLE THAT THE GLASS IS NOW PROTRUDING OUTWARD BEYOND THE ROOFLINE AS A RESULT OF THE EXPLOSIVE ACTION.