Thousands of motorists have reported a frightening problem to U.S. auto-safety officials: sunroofs that suddenly burst, crack or shower glass, in many cases while the vehicle is moving.
Federal records show nearly 500 such complaints have been filed so far this year, putting 2026 on pace to become the worst year yet for reported sunroof and moonroof failures.
The accounts entered into the government’s safety database describe incidents that are often alarming and, in some cases, potentially dangerous.
In one report, the sunroof of a Kia minivan blew apart as it traveled along a Wisconsin highway. In another, the moonroof on a GMC SUV shattered, sending glass down onto seats used by children. A Mercedes-Benz owner said the rupture was preceded by a noise that sounded like a “gunshot.”
That sudden, explosive sound appears again and again in complaints to regulators, with drivers saying their sunroofs or moonroofs fractured with no clear warning or obvious impact.
Experts say there can be a range of causes, from road debris that drivers may never notice hitting the glass to extreme heat and sudden temperature changes that can cause the glass to expand rapidly.
In some cases, design or manufacturing defects may also be to blame, and the problem is not limited to one automaker or a handful of models.
A Wall Street Journal analysis of federal safety data found reports involving 17 different manufacturers and more than 200 models over the past three years.
Thousands of drivers have flooded US auto-safety regulators with complaints about sunroofs unexpectedly exploding or shattering, often while they are behind the wheel (PICTURED: 2011 Kia Sorento from the NHTSA investigation)
A Honda spokesperson told the Daily Mail the company has not seen a significant trend in CR-V glass complaints that can be attributed to a vehicle defect
Nearly one in five complaints involved vehicles from the 2025 or 2026 model years, according to the analysis – with incidents involving exploding or shattered sunroofs reported roughly once a day.
Despite the frequency, the problem has rarely prompted recalls.
Federal safety regulators have said factors other than safety defects, including road debris, are often responsible for the glass failures, making it difficult to determine whether a broader defect is responsible.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spokesperson (NHTSA) said the agency has investigated sunroof breakages and continues to monitor the issue, but has not identified any verified crashes or serious injuries caused by shattering sunroofs.
The agency said automakers can use tempered or laminated glass under federal safety standards, with most manufacturers opting for tempered glass, which is designed to break into small, gravel-like pieces.
Reports of injuries have so far been limited to minor scratches, often suffered while removing broken glass.
‘Breaking sunroofs can be startling and costly,’ NHTSA said, adding that it will continue to track the issue and encourages vehicle owners to report safety problems to the agency.
The popularity of motor-driven sunroofs soared in the 1980s among luxury vehicles.
Experts say there can be a range of causes, from road debris that drivers may never notice hitting the glass to extreme heat and sudden temperature changes that can cause the glass to expand rapidly (PICTURED: Broken sunroof of a 2012 Kia Sorento from the NHSTA investigation)
A NHTSA spokesperson said the agency has investigated sunroof breakages and continues to monitor the issue, but has not identified any verified crashes or serious injuries caused by shattering sunroofs
However, now they are equipped on more than 50 percent of vehicles produced for the US market – a staggering 35 percent increase from a decade prior, according to industry-research firm Omdia.
These sunroofs either have fixed coverings that retract or are a singular piece of glass, often called ‘moonroofs’.
David Bennett, automotive director for roadside assistance organization AAA, told the WSJ that sunroofs have grown larger in recent years, leaving more glass exposed to damage from road debris.
He said additional stress can build up when vehicles travel over uneven roads or are exposed to the elements for long periods, potentially increasing the risk of the glass breaking.
The NHTSA has investigated sunroof failures before.
In 2013, the agency opened an investigation into Kia Sorento SUVs after receiving numerous reports of sunroofs shattering unexpectedly.
The investigation lasted seven years and eventually expanded to more than a dozen other automakers, uncovering more than 4,000 reports of sunroof fractures.
The Toyota RAV4 was also among the models most frequently cited in nearly 2,800 reports of sunroofs unexpectedly exploding since 2021
NHTSA ultimately concluded in 2021 that there was not enough evidence to establish a safety-related defect.
Instead, the agency pointed to possible causes including tiny rocks kicked up by other vehicles.
Such impacts can cause ‘imperceptible’ damage to the glass that may eventually lead to it breaking.
Federal rules allow automakers to use either tempered or laminated glass for sunroofs. Tempered glass is designed to break into small, gravel-like pieces, while laminated glass remains attached to a plastic layer when shattered.
Most manufacturers have traditionally opted for tempered glass, according to NHTSA, although major suppliers have increasingly moved toward laminated glass and other materials designed to reduce the risk of breakage.
But complaints have continued.
Since 2021, NHTSA has received nearly 2,800 reports of sunroofs unexpectedly exploding, including more than 500 involving newer vehicles.
Among the models most frequently cited in recent years are Toyota’s RAV4, Hyundai’s Palisade, Kia’s Telluride and Honda’s CR-V.
A Honda spokesperson told the Daily Mail the company has not seen a significant trend in CR-V glass complaints that can be attributed to a vehicle defect.
They noted that more than 2 million CR-Vs have been sold in the US since 2021, and 95 percent of CR-Vs sold this year came with a moonroof as standard equipment. The company said that means comparing raw complaint numbers may not accurately reflect the actual rate of glass breakage.
The automaker also said high-speed road debris can damage automotive glass without drivers noticing, meaning there may be no obvious impact point after the glass shatters. The spokesperson added that most vehicle and glass damage is not caused by defects and said consumers should generally work with their insurance providers to cover repairs.
Hyundai also said it has commissioned multiple studies into sunroof breakages but has found no inherent defect. The automaker said the only confirmed cause of damage to its sunroof glass has been impacts from foreign objects.
The company told the Daily Mail it has not identified any other safety-related defects or issued additional sunroof recalls, but continues to monitor the issue and will take action if a defect is found.
A Kia spokesperson pointed to the NHTSA’s sunroof investigation that was closed in 2021, telling the Daily Mail the investigation showed a ‘safety-related defect did not exist.’
‘Kia continuously monitors its field data and has not identified a defect involving its sunroof-equipped Telluride vehicles,’ the spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
Toyota didn’t immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.