Sunroof Glass Flew Off

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Dec 15, 2014 | 11:03 AM
  #1  
So I was headed to the mall on the meadow brook parkway out here in NY when I started hearing wind sounds coming through my roof. I slide my sunroof shade back and , I heard something fly off my roof. I quickly pull over and inspect my roof, there's no sunroof glass anymore. Everything else is still there, the framing still slides back and tilts up and down but no glass. Anyone ever experience this problem?

I googled the issue and it happened to someone else as well about 4 years ago.
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Jan 26, 2015 | 11:48 AM
  #2  
just happened to me last night. going 90 on the highway..trying to find parts to replace it..
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Jan 26, 2015 | 12:09 PM
  #3  
That... Is pretty crazy.
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Jan 26, 2015 | 08:14 PM
  #4  
Beleive it or not...i've read about this happening quite a bit. Last time was around a year ago
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Jan 26, 2015 | 08:19 PM
  #5  
Wtf
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Jan 26, 2015 | 08:44 PM
  #6  
This is the only thing I'm paranoid about with the car when it comes to highway speeds. Did the glue separate between the glass and the mounts, or did the screws fall out of the mounts?
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May 11, 2022 | 10:39 PM
  #7  
Sunroof Ejected
Quote: So I was headed to the mall on the meadow brook parkway out here in NY when I started hearing wind sounds coming through my roof. I slide my sunroof shade back and , I heard something fly off my roof. I quickly pull over and inspect my roof, there's no sunroof glass anymore. Everything else is still there, the framing still slides back and tilts up and down but no glass. Anyone ever experience this problem?

I googled the issue and it happened to someone else as well about 4 years ago.
Yep happened to me this past weekend. It will have you scratching your head.like wtf
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Nov 28, 2022 | 01:10 PM
  #8  
Mine almost did that this morning on the way to work but i heard the air noise and pulled back my sunroof shade and saw the glass bouncing up and down and about to fly out so i hit the brakes to slow way down and pulled over and pushed it back in and then slowly drove the rest of the way to work. Is there any way to fix this if my glass is still there? I assume the gasket that holds it in is the problem and probably needs to be replaced?
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May 28, 2025 | 04:03 PM
  #9  
Dang. I'm the latest victim of this. Unfortunately, when mine let loose, it bent the frame. This is going to be a pain!
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May 29, 2025 | 09:08 AM
  #10  
Quote: Dang. I'm the latest victim of this. Unfortunately, when mine let loose, it bent the frame. This is going to be a pain!
that’s crazy. I’m assuming the glass flew away and shattered? hoping it’s an easy fix for you.
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May 29, 2025 | 10:03 AM
  #11  
whoa
Quote: just happened to me last night. going 90 on the highway..trying to find parts to replace it..

def wild.. glad i saw this. i hope this doesnt happen 😲
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May 29, 2025 | 03:55 PM
  #12  
We are at the mercy of the adhesive they use to bond the glass onto the frame. Extreme temperature cause expansion and contraction on the metal frame which has a different coefficient of linear expansion than the glass. This cycling fatigues the bonding agent to the point where the glass separates from the frame. There's no real solution to this issue other than having the glass drilled and use cushioned bolts to attach it to the frame. Then you introduce another problem to the glass, causing stress cracks from the bolt hole outward. Glass for a sun roof sucks. Find an aluminum plate and shape it like the glass and bolt it to the frame. It can be painted the same color as the car or wrapped. Just my dumb suggestion.
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May 29, 2025 | 07:14 PM
  #13  
Quote: that’s crazy. I’m assuming the glass flew away and shattered? hoping it’s an easy fix for you.
Well, I was moving 80-85 to get around a left lane idiot on Xpressway. Did not see the glass at all in a quick mirror glance, but nobody was swerving behind me. The passenger side rear corner is the part of the frame that is bent. I'm assuming that was the last bit to let go as the glass peeled away and the panel flew off to the side of the highway.



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May 29, 2025 | 07:21 PM
  #14  
Quote: Find an aluminum plate and shape it like the glass and bolt it to the frame. It can be painted the same color as the car or wrapped. Just my dumb suggestion.
Not so dumb. I rarely use it anyway. I'll see what the repair quote is. Probably horrendous; headliner has to come down to replace the frame, I believe. This is a modestly attractive bailing wire and bubble gum solution. A little prying on the bent corner to bring it back close to level with the rest of the frame, and then a real juicy epdm or silicone gasket between frame and aluminum panel. Would like not to have a bunch of wind noise as an outcome.... Probably ream out the sunroof drains while I'm goofing with it, too. Can't do that preventative maintenance too often!

UPDATE: Dealer doesn't diddle with 20 year old sunroofs. Neither does the body shop the dealer recommended. Ended up with the accessories and repair specialist that the body shop recommended. Only thing available is "reconditioned" glass unit. Basically a junk yard-sourced unit that had a scratch. They took 10% off the quoted price for the scratch. But it's still a 20+ year old unit that will probably have the same issue at some point down the line when the adhesive dries out. But we know it didn't fly off when somebody wrecked their G, so maybe it will endure!
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