2013 Nissan Altima: sunroof shattered

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Body · PA

On XXX, at approximately 5:00 a.m., my son was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL (VIN [XXX]) to work at approximately 55 mph when the hood unexpectedly flew open while the vehicle was moving. The vehicle had approximately 156,000 miles. The hood came up into his field of vision and significantly obstructed his view of the roadway, creating a serious safety hazard. Fortunately, he was able to maintain control of the vehicle. The incident caused substantial damage. The hood is bent, the frame/roof area around the windshield is bent, the sunroof is broken, and the interior overhead console containing the sunroof controls and lights is damaged and hanging down. After the incident, I learned that Nissan previously issued safety recalls involving the secondary hood latch on 2013 Nissan Altimas because the hood could open while the vehicle was being driven. My VIN currently does not show an open hood-latch recall on the federal safety agency website. I am concerned that this vehicle may have been included in a previous hood-latch recall or may have previously received a recall repair. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this incident and the recall history for this VIN and investigate whether this hood-latch failure is related to the previously identified Nissan Altima hood-latch defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 26, 2018 · Visibility · 59,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. While the vehicle was stationary at a red light, the sun roof exploded without warning. There were no injuries. The dealer (vaden nissan of hilton head, 200 fording island rd, bluffton, sc 29910) was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in an open recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 59,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Oct 22, 2018 · Body · 121,000 miles · NM

2013 nissan altima moonroof exploded while driving on the interstate at approximately 75mph. There was a loud pop and air was heard on roof. Saw flying debris from rearview mirror while trying to pull over to see what happened. Pulled over and realized large chunks of the tempered glass was gone. There were minor scratches on the trunk paint from the debris hitting it as it flew off. There was very little traffic around and no overpasses. Temperatures weren't extreme as it was a mildly warm fall day (mid 60's) and roads were dry. The glass is sticking out above the roof which indicates that it was an explosion rather than something crashing down on the moonroof.

Filed Feb 15, 2018 · 75,000 miles · NC

Driving down the highway at about 70 MPH the closed sunroof exploded. Thankfully there were no other cars around and the visor was closed so I was uninjured by the shattered glass. It sounded like a gun shot.

Filed Jan 22, 2018 · 69,600 miles · KS

While driving down an open highway, the sunroof glass exploded and fell into the car. At the same time (related somehow?) the back windshield shattered, but remained intact (at least for a while, it later completely collapsed). I had not driven under any overpasses and there were no vehicles close enough to have thrown a rock.

Filed Jan 20, 2017 · Visibility · 69,000 miles · TX

I have a 2013 nissan altima and the sunroof exploded! As I was parking at a local grocery store I heard a loud boom. It sounded like a gunshot / or an impact to my car. I stayed in the vehicle thinking someone shot at me. No one in the parking lot seemed to have heard anything. I get out of the car and at first didn't notice. I only looked at the tires and body to see what hit it. I get back in the car and hear cracking. I open the shade and bits of glass fell. I was like wow. How did this happen. There is no impact spot nor crater. Nothing to show if it was shattered by a rock or anything. I looked all around the ground. I kind of thought maybe a bird fell. But nothing. Robbins nissan did nothing to help. All they said was after other complaints and investigations they concluded that the sunroof o my shatters on impact. Well how can this be if I was in a parking lot. Also the temperature that day didn't get above 90 degrees. It was not a really hot day here in houston. I'm not sure what to do. It's too expensive to replace. I had to drive home and when I did the center piece flew out :( I have it taped up! It's been 3 months. I just don't believe I should pay for a repair that was a manufacturing defect.

Filed Nov 22, 2016 · 65,000 miles · MD

I was driving on highway at about 60mph on rt 95 in maryland and my sunroof exploded and glass fell all around me. The glass that was left was raised up, suggesting that the cause of the shatter was from something other than an item falling onto the sunroof from the outside.

Filed Dec 29, 2015 · Body · 49,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the sunroof exploded and small particles of glass shattered outside of the vehicle. The sunroof sliding cover was closed when the failure occurred. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the entire sunroof was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

Filed Oct 13, 2015 · 23,700 miles · WA

While driving approximately 60-65mph, my sunroof glass exploded showing me with broken glass. No impact was made to the sunroof. I was driving on level ground, not under any overpasses, or by anywhere where something could have been thrown.

Filed Nov 18, 2012 · 1,500 miles · CA

I was driving on I-5 heading north from oceanside, ca when the moon roof spontaneously exploded. There was no contact with any object whatsoever. There was first a loud bang, like the sound of a gun being fired at close range and then the glass of the moon roof fell on me and into the auotmobile cabin..