A Houston man says he’s lucky no one was injured after his sunroof suddenly shattered while he was driving.
It is common enough that there is a name for it: “spontaneous sunroof breakage," and Todd Hazel says it happened to him just months after he purchased a new BMW 701 I.
“I heard a loud 'bang!' It was startling!" Hazel said. "I had to look up, because it sounded like something from the sky fell down and tore my whole roof up. As I was driving, all I heard was chunks of glass after the explosion from the sunroof just flying back.”
He’s not the only victim of spontaneous sunroof breakage, as more than 400 complaints have been filed nationwide regarding various manufacturers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“I don't feel secure,” Hazel said. “Every time I get in this car, I don't know what's going to happen.”
No one seems to know for sure what causes the breakage, but there are some theories. For example, vehicles are more airtight than ever, which puts more pressure on the glass. Also, glass is manufactured to be thinner and lighter nowadays. And high temperatures can play a factor, which we have plenty of in Texas.
“I just want other people to be aware of what's going on," Hazel said.
Hazel says BMW fixed the sunroof for free, but he’s stuck with the $1,200 bill for body repair that he says was sustained as the shards of glass whizzed off his car. It's omething he’s not too happy about.
“Clearly the problems I'm having, I'd rather just get rid of that and get me something else," Hazel said.
Manufacturers that have issued recalls over the past several years because of shattering sunroofs include:
2012 Hyundai Veloster manufactured from July 4, 2011, through October 31, 2011 (issued February 2013)
2012 Hyundai Veloster manufactured from November 1, 2011, through April 17, 2012 (issued December 2012)
2013-2014 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles, manufactured March 12, 2013, through July 15, 2013 (issued October 2013)