Honda Panoramic Moonroof Design May Increase Risk of Shattering

The panoramic moonroof feature on Honda vehicles may not be the luxurious feature customers hope for, and instead may pose a safety risk.

Consumer Heather S. says she was driving her vehicle with two of her five children in the car when she heard a loud, powerful explosion.

“My heart was racing,” Heather said, according to Consumer Reports. “It’s not something you expect to happen when you’re driving.”

Heather originally suspected that one of her tires had blown, but when she pulled over they all looked fine. Then, she looked up at their panoramic moonroof and realized that it had exploded. The only thing that protected her children from the hundreds of bits of glass from the explosion was the shade guard on the panoramic moonroof.

“I feel really lucky that I had that shut at the time,” Heather recalls. “When I was looking at cars, I loved the sunroof, but I never imagined in a million years that would happen.”

Although an exploding panoramic moonroof may seem like a rare occurrence, a 2017 investigation by Consumer Reports showed that it is not as rare as many customers assume.

The investigation found that, since 1995, at least 859 reports were filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding panoramic moonroof explosions. Of these reports, 71 percent occurred within six years of the investigation – the period during which moonroofs became more popular.

The reason behind exploding moonroofs may have to do with the increased size of these features and the subsequent change in design. Moonroofs are commonly made with tempered glass, which is a strong type of glass typically seen in the manufacturing of rear and side windows.

Although tempered glass is an effective material for designs which are small and flat, Consumer Reports explains that it may not be the best choice for glass that is large and curved.

Consumer Reports consulted a glass expert, Rob Vandal of Guardian Glass, who told them that glass used in modern cars has become more three dimensional than glass in older models. This requires the glass in panoramic moonroofs to bend to match the curving roof.

The newer design of glass used in cars reportedly puts it at a higher risk for impact from both larger and small objects which can hit the glass both horizontally and vertically while the car is driving on a road.

Some consumers have reported having to pay the entire repair bill when their moonroof shatters, despite the vehicle being under warranty. With repairs ranging between $1,000 and $2,000, the bill for these services can cause serious financial injury to unsuspecting consumers.

Honda makes several vehicles equipped with panoramic moonroof features including the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, and Honda Pilot. Attorneys are investigating Honda vehicles with panoramic moonroof features to see if they are prone to shattering.

Should legal experts find evidence that Honda moonroofs are prone to shattering, consumers may be able to file a panoramic moonroof suit against the company.

Several other automakers like Ford and Mercedes Benz have already faced recalls and class action lawsuits regarding the issue of exploding moonroofs. Many of the class actions facing automakers allege that they panoramic moonroof features were made with a known defect, but the automakers attempted to hide the issue from consumers.

Join a Free Toyota, Honda Panoramic Sunroof Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a Honda or Toyota with a panoramic sunroof that shattered, you may be entitled to compensation.

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