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Whilst driving along at no more than 50-60mph, and with no other vehicles around me, my panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered, or sounded more like it exploded! At first I didn't realise what had happened, as the shock of the bang threw me a little, but thankfully there was no other vehicles around and I was able to bring mine safely to a stop. I was showered in glass and as you can imagine a little shaken.
I've attached a few pics showing the damaged roof, and as you can see from the edges of the remaining glass they are pointing outwards, suggesting the roof popped out rather than anything hitting it.
The car is now at the dealers and I've no idea how long it will be before I get it back but thankfully Mercedes Assist are arranging a loan car for me.
I just wondered if anyone else has ever experienced this?
Panorama sunroof explosions, while still rare, seem to be a growing problem There are several articles about this phenomenon, including one from Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...nger-overhead/
Damn, thanks for posting and glad you are ok. Definitely looks like it blew outward. My aunt had this happen to her Toyota about a year ago and Toyota and the dealer claimed they never heard about this....yeah, right. They weren't going to cover under warranty, but ultimately did. This made me hesitant on ordering my GLC with the Pano roof, but succumbed to it, anyway. Agreed, it's probably rare, but when it happens it can potentially cause a serious accident or injury to you and/or others. Maybe not a great comparison, but we can put a man on the moon, but can't make a sunroof (or cell phone screen) that doesn't shatter? Keep us posted on what MB says/does.
I owned a 2012 Audi Q5 that was recalled for panoramic roofs that shattered in cold weather. The problem turned out to be caused by a manufacturing flaw on a certain batch of components. This apparently allowed moisture that had seeped into the seals to become trapped, after which it froze solid, expanded, and caused the glass to shatter. Most of the initial reports were in Canada in wintertime, then moved south as winter progressed.
Obviously your situation is different. Please keep us informed when you get more information, Thanks!
Too many reported incidents. Noise issue, mechanical issues, extra weight at the wrong place, more heat in the summer and $1500.
No moonroof for me.
I opted for no panoramic roof too. Down here in FL, the retractable shade is just not enough to keep the sun out of my eyes no less the heat out of the car. I like the look, but don't find it to be practical.
That being said -- panoramic roof explosions do not seem to be limited to Mercedes vehicles at all.
Just seeing that picture makes me want to put duct tape on the outside top and inside of my window. Not in mood to hear a gunshot noise in the cabin when driving on a long trip.
Just seeing that picture makes me want to put duct tape on the outside top and inside of my window. Not in mood to hear a gunshot noise in the cabin when driving on a long trip.
I'm not sure that this wouldn't make the panel more likely to shatter. Wasn't there some guidance that tinting panoramic roofs put unexpected stress on the glass and made them more susceptible to, um, spontaneous loss of cohesion?
I'm not sure that this wouldn't make the panel more likely to shatter. Wasn't there some guidance that tinting panoramic roofs put unexpected stress on the glass and made them more susceptible to, um, spontaneous loss of cohesion?
Yes your right. I wonder if this guy had his sunroof window tinted.
Whilst driving along at no more than 50-60mph, and with no other vehicles around me, my panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered, or sounded more like it exploded! At first I didn't realise what had happened, as the shock of the bang threw me a little, but thankfully there was no other vehicles around and I was able to bring mine safely to a stop. I was showered in glass and as you can imagine a little shaken.
I've attached a few pics showing the damaged roof, and as you can see from the edges of the remaining glass they are pointing outwards, suggesting the roof popped out rather than anything hitting it.
The car is now at the dealers and I've no idea how long it will be before I get it back but thankfully Mercedes Assist are arranging a loan car for me.
I just wondered if anyone else has ever experienced this?
I own a Garage/MOT Centre - an E Class 2017 model came in for an MOT only. After the MOT was completed it was reversed back onto the forecourt, only then as the customer got back into his car did he notice bits of glass falling on him. As he got out he saw his sunroof had shattered.
As the Garage owner and after playing CCTV footage back it’s only noticeable as the vehicle is approaching back outside on the forecourt.
In researching this it seems to be a problem with panoramic glass sunroofs on Mercedes and BMW’s.
Has anyone else had similar issues or any ideas how this would happen? As at the moment he his holding me responsible for what occurred.
Happened to our 2014 Range Rover Sport. Very costly. If it's the non-moving part of the glass, it ends up being a claim on the collision insurance since they consider it a body panel and not glass for some reason.
My Panoramic roof on my 2001 C240 just shattered like described above while driving 55 mph on the highway. It will cost about$1500. Dealer said there is no recall. Everyone with this issue should file a report with NHTSA because it is a safety concern.
I bet this is just similar to how a shower screen door shatters, due to imperfect manufacturing. Just a tiny imperfection will cause a minute crack which then propagates around.
For car panoramic roof, the temperature differential between the 2 surfaces of the roof also introduces some thermal stress to the panel too (cold air conditioning inside and hot summer outside, heat turned up inside and freezing winter outside).
I’m afraid I can’t get my car seen for a couple of days.. it’s suppose to rain…. Is there really a lining that protects the water from coming through or am I screwed?
I’m afraid I can’t get my car seen for a couple of days.. it’s suppose to rain…. Is there really a lining that protects the water from coming through or am I screwed?
If it were me, I would duct-tape a big piece of plastic (eg use a heavy duty garbage bag and cut it up) to cover the entire area over the roof. This should get you by for a few days.
Last edited by bishop64; May 31, 2022 at 06:33 AM.
The Pano roof adds 200+ lbs. ABOVE the vehicle’s center of gravity, leading to worse road handling.
My one test drive is a 212 Wagon with the Pano
option was enough for me to opt out!
The inadequate roof shading with the flimsy shades & the afore-mentioned rain damage, wind noise & occasional exploding roof sections, are all negatives easily avoided.
This is an option I purposefully avoided in my 2 year research, active sale search nationwide & eventual purchase of a pre-owned 212 EWagon
from Mercedes / Santa Rosa.
In my owning of 4 E class vehicles, & 1 C320 wagon, since 1998, I always enjoyed the standard Sunroof & have never had any issue.
Buyer be forewarned: AVOID THE PANO!!!
Jack / Jaxview
I was driving on the highway @ 100km/h on a perfectly sunny day with no trucks in front of me. I heard a huge bang and the wind started coming in. I realized my sunroof was shattered and glass was flying everywhere outside and inside the car.
I took my car to the dealership the mechanic insisted that something must have hit the glass and my warranty is expired.
Luckily insurance is covered thru comprehensive loss.
but this is clearly a safety hazard and I’m surprise that MB is not owning responsibility.
anyone has similar experience and was able to get MB to compensate?
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Definitely looks like it blew outward. My aunt had this happen to her Toyota about a year ago and Toyota and the dealer claimed they never heard about this....yeah, right. They weren't going to cover under warranty, but ultimately did. This made me hesitant on ordering my GLC with the Pano roof, but succumbed to it, anyway. Agreed, it's probably rare, but when it happens it can potentially cause a serious accident or injury to you and/or others. Maybe not a great comparison, but we can put a man on the moon, but can't make a sunroof (or cell phone screen) that doesn't shatter? Keep us posted on what MB says/does.
