2019 Subaru Outback: sunroof shattered

Filed Jan 4, 2026 · Body · LA

We were driving down an interstate highway going 70 mph on a foggy Christmas Eve 2025 approximately 7 a.m. No cars were close around us. We had been on the road for 30 minutes or so, and it was in the 50-60 degree temperature range. Suddenly we heard what sounded like a gunshot right above our heads. We opened the sunshade under the sunroof, and saw that our sunroof had exploded and left a hole. Before this, we heard nothing strike the sunroof or the car. It seemed like a spontaneous explosion. The explosion noise is recorded on our dash cam video. I was unable to upload the video because it must not be in the correct format.

Filed May 15, 2025 · AR

I was driving 75mph in heavy, morning traffic. I was behind a large tractor trailer, switching lanes. My car’s ‘obstacle ahead’ warning was attempting to slow me down or stop me. The air pressure inside my car changed suddenly and I could feel the pressure difference. Then there was a huge explosion. It sounded like my back windshield broke. Instead, it was my sunroof. It had exploded outwards from the inside. It just shattered and blew up spontaneously.

Filed Feb 6, 2023 · Visibility · CA

Driving 60 mph on freeway in Northern California for about 20 minutes. Ambient temperature about 50 degrees. Drove over a slight dip in road and hear a loud pop and my moonroof glass exploded outward. Moonroof cover was closed so no glass came into interior of vehicle. Moonroof is OEM Subaru (Aisin -Pilkington)

Filed May 13, 2021 · 46,000 miles · MI

We were driving south on 275 between 8mile and 7mile in michigan in our 2019 subaru outback and out of nowhere what sounded like a pistol being shot next to our ears went off and glass came pouring in from the sunroof. What happened was the sunroof exploded out of nowhere. While driving 70mph on the highway. We contacted subaru of america and they told us that without every shard of glass for them to inspect we could not prove that it was a defect. However let me make a note there were not cars very close to us, we weren't going under a bridge and there wasn't any one throwing things on the side of the highway. However subaru blamed an imaginary pebble that hit the top of the sunroof dead on and that imaginary pebble did not end up inside of our car.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · 14,000 miles · CA

Driving down the interstate and my sunroof explodes. There were no cars around. No indication of something hitting it, especially considering I had a large cargo roof box covering the windshield. If something did hit it, it would have been an impossible angle to clear the roofbox but also not make any other marks on my car? I have had the car for two weeks. Thankfully had the sunshade closed because if not, glass would have exploded into the car and onto me driving as well. Now the glass was spewed over the interstate and I have an obvious unlocked entry point into my car. When it exploded, it sounded like a shotgun blast. I thought I was being shot at.

Filed Aug 17, 2019 · AZ

I was driving at approximately 45 miles per hour, coming down from a mountain range and just reached the bottom. I crossed a cattle guard and my sunroof shattered. I do not believe I rock hit as the dealership believes as their was no one directly in front of me and I was in a remote area of arizona. I believe the sunroof shattered for either no reason or possibly change in elevation and temperatures. This is not safe. Luckily my shield was closed, but the sound alone was startling and could have caused an accident.

Filed Aug 8, 2019 · 13,000 miles · NM

Driving on highway with no one around at 7 am on sunday at 75 MPH the sunroof exploded. Our sun shade was closed so all glass was blown across roof taking paint with it. Subaru replaced under goodwill not warranty.

Filed Apr 22, 2019 · 5,750 miles · CA

I was driving from sacramento to long beach - about 200 miles into the journey, at about 6:10/6:15 on a mild evening (temperature was about 75) my sunroof suddenly exploded. The road condition were fine, there was no debris in the road that I could see or was aware of. I was traveling with traffic at about 75 MPH (speed limit is 70). The sound was like a shotgun blast. It was, without exception, one of the most frightening experiences I've had, particularly in a vehicle. I pulled over and saw what had occurred. It is unlikely that something struck the sunroof - I had a thule cargo box on the vehicle and nothing could have struck it from above. It was also unlikely for something to have hit the windshield from the road - it would have had to fit in the space between the hood and the cargo box and I heard nothing before the explosion - additionally, there is no damage or evidence of anything hitting the roof anywhere else that I can see now. I have contacted subaru and made them aware they have begun their own internal investigation.