Honda Car Forum

I don't really know what happened other than this... I was cruising down
the interstate at 75-ish on mild day (40F) with heater on a medium temp
when the driver side window just exploded. There was pop, then glass
everywhere. Luckily, I reacted as calmly as could be expected and braked
firmly and pulled over to the shoulder with no mishaps, other than being
terrifed that we had been shot at. We couldn't find any sort of
"projectile" in the car, and it seemed that a lot of the glass was not in
the car, maybe 30%, but that's hard to estimate. Most of it was on me and
in my seat, but there was a bit on the floor behind the seat and oddly in
that little compartment to the left of the steering column.

Anyone heard of this being a problem? I understand that there is some
issue with the Element windshield, but can't find anything on the CRV.

It was a terrifying minute or two, and then just a pain in the butt that
ruined a day we planned to spend in the city, and now a morning off work
hoping to get it all repaired.

I really don't think anything hit the window, it seemed like the area
behind me blew out of the car and then the front part blew into the car -
it was one of those weird moments that was in slow motion, and I AM so
grateful I didn't panic or get hit in the eyes.

Thanks.

--

A sharp object hitting the glass would shatter it. Since your car was moving
fast, the pressure inside the car is higher. A rock from another car could
have cause your explosion.

Or, the glass was defective.

Hilbert wrote:

> I don't really know what happened other than this... I was cruising down
> the interstate at 75-ish on mild day (40F) with heater on a medium temp
> when the driver side window just exploded. There was pop, then glass
> everywhere. Luckily, I reacted as calmly as could be expected and braked
> firmly and pulled over to the shoulder with no mishaps, other than being
> terrifed that we had been shot at. We couldn't find any sort of
> "projectile" in the car, and it seemed that a lot of the glass was not in
> the car, maybe 30%, but that's hard to estimate. Most of it was on me and
> in my seat, but there was a bit on the floor behind the seat and oddly in
> that little compartment to the left of the steering column.
>
> Anyone heard of this being a problem? I understand that there is some
> issue with the Element windshield, but can't find anything on the CRV.
>
> It was a terrifying minute or two, and then just a pain in the butt that
> ruined a day we planned to spend in the city, and now a morning off work
> hoping to get it all repaired.
>
> I really don't think anything hit the window, it seemed like the area
> behind me blew out of the car and then the front part blew into the car -
> it was one of those weird moments that was in slow motion, and I AM so
> grateful I didn't panic or get hit in the eyes.
>
> Thanks.
>
> --

There was no one in front of us, just one car behind, so I didn't think it
was a rock. I took in today and the Honda dealer is handling as defective
glass. I also got notes from two other 03 CRV drivers with similar
experiences, luckily none were injured. All 3 have been drivers side
glass failure at high speed.

L

Sean Dinh <seanny~dinh@znet.com> wrote:
> A sharp object hitting the glass would shatter it. Since your car was moving
> fast, the pressure inside the car is higher. A rock from another car could
> have cause your explosion.

> Or, the glass was defective.

> Hilbert wrote:

>> I don't really know what happened other than this... I was cruising down
>> the interstate at 75-ish on mild day (40F) with heater on a medium temp
>> when the driver side window just exploded. There was pop, then glass
>> everywhere. Luckily, I reacted as calmly as could be expected and braked
>> firmly and pulled over to the shoulder with no mishaps, other than being
>> terrifed that we had been shot at. We couldn't find any sort of
>> "projectile" in the car, and it seemed that a lot of the glass was not in
>> the car, maybe 30%, but that's hard to estimate. Most of it was on me and
>> in my seat, but there was a bit on the floor behind the seat and oddly in
>> that little compartment to the left of the steering column.
>>
>> Anyone heard of this being a problem? I understand that there is some
>> issue with the Element windshield, but can't find anything on the CRV.
>>
>> It was a terrifying minute or two, and then just a pain in the butt that
>> ruined a day we planned to spend in the city, and now a morning off work
>> hoping to get it all repaired.
>>
>> I really don't think anything hit the window, it seemed like the area
>> behind me blew out of the car and then the front part blew into the car -
>> it was one of those weird moments that was in slow motion, and I AM so
>> grateful I didn't panic or get hit in the eyes.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> --


--

On 16 Nov 2003 20:07:32 -0700, Hilbert <lhilbert@lamar.ColoState.EDU>
wrote:

>I don't really know what happened other than this... I was cruising down
>the interstate at 75-ish on mild day (40F) with heater on a medium temp
>when the driver side window just exploded. There was pop, then glass
>everywhere. Luckily, I reacted as calmly as could be expected and braked
>firmly and pulled over to the shoulder with no mishaps, other than being
>terrifed that we had been shot at. We couldn't find any sort of
>"projectile" in the car, and it seemed that a lot of the glass was not in
>the car, maybe 30%, but that's hard to estimate. Most of it was on me and
>in my seat, but there was a bit on the floor behind the seat and oddly in
>that little compartment to the left of the steering column.
>
>Anyone heard of this being a problem? I understand that there is some
>issue with the Element windshield, but can't find anything on the CRV.
>
>It was a terrifying minute or two, and then just a pain in the butt that
>ruined a day we planned to spend in the city, and now a morning off work
>hoping to get it all repaired.
>
>I really don't think anything hit the window, it seemed like the area
>behind me blew out of the car and then the front part blew into the car -
>it was one of those weird moments that was in slow motion, and I AM so
>grateful I didn't panic or get hit in the eyes.
>
>Thanks.

I did see that happen to a Chrysler minivan once. We were driving
through construction on an interstate where there was a lot of loose
gravel and a sign which said "SLOW - Avoid Broken Windshield." I
thought it was rather unusual. I was following the minivan when
suddenly the driver side window blew out. It looked like it like it
was hit by a shotgun fired from within the car. The car pulled over
safely and no one seemed injured.

Based on that experience, I would say your window was hit by a stone
(or a pellet gun.) The projectile might easily have ended up outside
the vehicle with most of the glass.