Drivers report sunroofs shattering suddenly

CHARLOTTE — Imagine driving in your car one day and the sunroof over your head suddenly shatters. Drivers across the country say it has happened to them.

Kara Ardron was in her Volkswagen. She said she was doing 70 mph on I-26 between Columbia and Charleston.  "It sounded like a gunshot. It was really, really loud," she told Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke.  "My sunroof was in thousands of pieces."

Kate Vasiloff was in her Nissan.  She said she was at a stop sign in Washington, D.C.  "All of sudden, we heard what we thought was a gunshot," she said.  "We finally looked up and opened the visor and the glass fell in on us."

Both worry what could have happened.  "God forbid it went in my eyes.  I could have swerved into another car, caused a multi-car [wreck]," Vasiloff said.  "I mean, really the possibilities of how bad this could have been are endless."  "You never think it's going to happen to you," Ardron said.

Consumer Reports writer Jeff Plungis found nearly 900 similar complaints about exploding sunroofs, involving 35 automakers and more than 200 models.

"This is a widespread problem.  It's not confined to just a couple of makes and models," he said.

He's pushing automakers to focus more on it.  "We feel like these are scary incidents.  They're inherently dangerous.  And the automakers need to step up and be more accountable."

The problem appears to be growing.  After all, more vehicles come with sunroofs now.  And sunroofs are getting bigger, like the panoramic ones.  Experts have different theories why they explode suddenly.

Russ Corsi blames cheaper materials and larger sunroofs.  He's a consultant with 30-plus year's experience in the auto glass industry. 

"If it isn't bent properly, shaped properly ... changes in temperature, thermal changes, hot-cold, hot-cold ... can cause that glass to try to flex and that could cause it to break," he said.

Some of these cases have sparked lawsuits, recalls, federal safety investigations, U.S. Senate inquiries, and -- just last month -- an automaker -- General Motors-- to launch an internal review.

When it does happen, a lot of times, consumers pay the price, literally.

Ardron taped plastic over the hole.  She told Stoogenke that insurance will foot some of the bill to fix her sunroof, but that she'd still have to come up with $2,500.  Her car has so many miles on it, she wonders if it makes more sense to just buy a new one.

So, protect yourself.  Experts say, before you buy a vehicle, do your homework.  Find out if the glass is tempered or laminated.  Laminated is stronger and stays in one piece if it shatters.

Cox Media Group