Moonroof front panel shattered

[Sockmonkey]

This past weekend I was returning from visiting relatives when the front panel of my moon roof exploded as I was riding down a two lane road. The roof and liner were closed and all windows rolled up. No autos within 100+ yards in front and relatively wide open space around. I, initially, thought someone had shot at the truck, as the noise in the cabin increased. No windows were broken, so I realized the noise was coming from above. I started to open the headliner, when glass rained down in the front seats. I garage the truck and it has been clear and dry for several weeks. I had the liner open two days earlier and did not notice any issues with the moonroof's glass. I don't recall any debris from other autos during my trip. I have and have had multiple vehicles with sun/moon roofs and never experienced anything like this. Has anyone else experienced anything similar with the twin panel moonroofs? [mine is a 2023 F150 platinum with a powerboost engine]

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[Escape Hatch]

New fear unlocked @Ford Motor Company

Did you tint the moonroof at all?

 

[Pedaldude]

It’s been a slow news day story for local stations going back at least ten years. Just search ‘exploding sunroof’ and you’ll see plenty of results. I even remember seeing one, where the spontaneously exploding moonroof was caught on home surveillance cameras and it was like the dude’s second or third time experiencing it.

The stresses built up in the tempered glass just let go all at once. Either from a minute defect during manufacture, incorrect installation, an acorn falling in just the right spot a month before it breaks or simply from temperature changes over a 24 hour day and the change of seasons. It can also happen in the back window glass. Some genius at the city zoo decided to replace the concrete picnic benches with crappy consumer lawn furniture. I was enjoying my lunch one day and a toddler at a nearby table slammed his juice box on the tempered glass table and the thing just exploded into dust and small glass shards to his mother’s scream. An attendant ran over with a dust bin and immediately went to work cleaning up as the mother started explaining what happened and the attendant just said “Don’t worry, it happens all the time.”

 

[Sockmonkey]

New fear unlocked @Ford Motor Company

Did you tint the moonroof at all?

Haven’t altered the moonroof. Have only added a bed cover

 

[HammaMan]

New fear unlocked @Ford Motor Company

Did you tint the moonroof at all?

Should be self evident -- window film holds the glass together post shatter.

 

[powerboatr]

when mine did that in my other truck
i was doing the speed limit...about 70 and i thought i got shot at, instantly ducked down looking around like a dumbassssss
scared the crap out of me, the cause was never determined in my case, but ford did replace the ENITIRE thing, tracks, glass etc

 

[McStabby]

Mine broke earlier this year. I just left a highway 4 way stop. A semi tractor was parked on the gravel shoulder ahead and pulled out in front of me. I was behind him about a quarter mile and heard the shotgun blast of the glass breaking. It took a second to realize it was the sunroof but the wind noise started to get louder as the glass fell onto the shade. I assume the truck ahead of me kicked up a rock and it hit the top of my truck. Don't know for sure what happened though. It took 2 weeks for them to get it replaced. I got lucky that it only rained one day during the wait.

 

[antho]

Sucks but it could be a few things. I would guess its spontaneous breakage due to a nickel sulfide inclusion. Hopefully Ford doesnt give you a hassle.

 

[dbtgt]

I had my sunroof blow out while traveling along the interstate highway at about 80 mph in a 2011 BMW sedan. Sounded like a gun went off inside the car and scared the s$$t out of me. No explanation for how or why it happened except that it must have been damaged by a "road hazard". BMW denied warranty coverage and I had to claim it on my car's comprehensive insurance coverage.

 

[skibusiati]

Wondering how you guys had this resolved, Ford warranty or insurance/out of pocket? My rear panel shattered yesterday (outward) on the highway. No traffic in front or behind and was very sudden. 24,000km with 1.5 years warranty left.

 

[Sockmonkey]

Well, the resolution was insurance. Essentially replaced the entire moonroof. Glass wedged in the tracks. It was a mess. So far so good on the replacement.

 

[skibusiati]

Thanks, guess I’ll see what the dealership says tomorrow.

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