Sunroofs have become a popular feature in cars. The natural sunlight and nice views make them appealing to car buyers. Recently though, instances of sunroofs breaking into thousands of sharp pieces and harming passengers have been reported.

Why Are Sunroofs Shattering?

vehicle sunroofUnfortunately, experts can’t pinpoint exactly why this is happening. Because exploding sunroofs are becoming more prevalent, there have been a few theories behind why it’s happening now. One argument is that material quality and safety standards aren’t up to date with the changes in the industry. Due to the way they are designed, glass size, coatings applied, and the materials being used can all contribute to this glass shattering danger.

“One problem is that modern designs are more three-dimensional and often involve bending glass to the curvature of the roof,” notes Rob Vandal, senior director of research and development with Guardian Glass.

Cars at Risk

According to Global News, there have been 351 recorded complaints of sunroofs shattering since 2000. They determined that these 10 models had the most incidents of sunroofs shattering:

  1. Hyundai Santa Fe
  2. Nissan Murano
  3. BMW 3 Series
  4. Kia Sorento
  5. Mazda Mazda3
  6. Toyota RAV4
  7. Nissan Rogue
  8. Ford Focus
  9. Ford Edge
  10. Hyundai Elantra

Consumer Reports notes that exploding sunroofs happen once a month in the US. So, if you do own one of these panoramic sunroof-equipped vehicles, take a closer look at it. If you notice any cracks, take it to a dealer to get repaired.

Bottom Line

It’s extremely rare for a sunroof to shatter, but it's still something to keep an eye out for. If you want a car but your credit is holding you back, Auto Credit Express wants to help.

We work with a nationwide network of special finance dealers who have the lenders available to help people in a variety of problem credit situations. Let us point you in the direction of a local dealer who can help. Getting started is a snap, just fill out our free, no-obligation auto loan request form.