I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 75 IN ATLANTA. THERE WAS NO OVERPASS ABOVE ME AND, BECAUSE IT WAS THE EARLY AFTERNOON, THERE WERE FEW CARS/TRUCKS AROUND. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR OR ROCKS BEING KICKED UP FROM THE PAVEMENT. INEXPLICABLY, MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED OVER MY HEAD. THE GLASS SHATTERED AND THOUSANDS OF SHARDS FELL ON THE WINDSCREEN. (LUCKILY, I HAD THE WINDSCREEN CLOSED OR THAT GLASS WOULD HAVE COVERED ME.) I WAS ON MY WAY TO KENTUCKY FOR THE WEEKEND BUT HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BRING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO PORSCHE ATLANTA PERIMETER. THE AGENTS AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES SEEMED GENUINELY SHOCKED AT THE DAMAGE AND KEPT TELLING ME HOW LUCKY I WAS... I ENDED UP SPENDING $600 FOR THE RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY WORKED ON THE CAR. IT TOOK A WEEK AND A HALF. I TALKED TO A CONSUMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT PORSCHE PERIMETER REGARDING THE OCTOBER '17 CONSUMER REPORT ARTICLE ABOUT EXPLODING SUNROOFS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME AFTER HE DID SOME RESEARCH (HE DIDN'T) AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF PORSCHE. I WAS TOLD THAT PERHAPS A PREEXISTING "NICK" IN MY SUNROOF WAS WHAT COMPROMISED THE GLASS. THERE WAS NO NICK, AND EVEN IF THERE WAS, I THINK THEY SHOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT SUCH A NICK MAY RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC INJURY. I HAD TO PAY $3,100 FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN PORSCHE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA ODI 11066494