NHTSA Complaint #11208450 — 2014 SCION TC

I HAD AN INCIDENT OF SPONTANEOUS GLASS BREAKAGE OF THE MOONROOF ON MY 2014 SCION TC. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WAS IN A PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE IGNITION OFF. I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND SIMILAR TO THE SOUND OF A GUN SHOT. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE GLASS MOONROOF LOCATED BEHIND THE SUNROOF EXPLODING/SHATTERING. I WAS NOT DRIVING AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT THAT OCCURRED. THE EVENT WAS SPONTANEOUS AND HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. BEING THAT I WAS STATIONARY THE GLASS IN THE MIDDLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY FALL IN AND THE OUTSIDE EDGES HAD SHATTERED AND WHERE FORCEFULLY THROWN ON TO THE CAR AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE MIDDLE WAS ODDLY BALLOONED/DOMED IN THE MIDDLE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS 2 MILES AWAY AND FROM THAT SHORT DRIVE THE CENTER OF THE GLASS BEGAN TO CAVE IN AND ALLOW GLASS TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY ABOVE WHERE PASSAGES SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE BACKSEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED OUR DIRECTLY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WAS INJURED BY THIS. THROUGH FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT TEMPERED GLASS CAN SPONTANEOUSLY BREAK. SOME OF THE CAUSES OF THIS TO HAPPEN INCLUDE BINDING OF THE GLASS IN THE FRAME, CAUSING STRESSES TO DEVELOP AS THE GLASS EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS DUE TO THERMAL CHANGES OR DEFLECTS DUE TO WIND. INTERNAL DEFECTS WITHIN THE GLASS SUCH AS NICKEL SULFIDE INCLUSIONS. DAMAGES ACCRUED DURING INSTALLATION. THERMAL STRESSES IN THE GLASS AND INADEQUATE GLASS THICKNESS TO RESIST WIND LOAD. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER CLAIMS INCLUDING SCION TC'S AND THE MOONROOF BREAKING AND RISK OF SHOWERING GLASS ON TOP OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND HAVE PUSHED IT OFF TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE GLASS SHOP AND COLLISION CENTER BELIEVE ITS FROM THE STRESS LOAD THE FRAME PUTS ON THE GLASS THAT CAUSED THIS SPONTANEOUS BREAK.