Here's What Happens To Your Panoramic Sunroof In A Rollover Crash

In 2020, theTesla Model Ymade headlines for all the wrong reasons when theglass panel of its roof flew offon a California highway. The incident occurred just a week after an owner took delivery of the new SUV. Coincidentally, Ford had to recall the Model Y's direct rival, theMustang Mach-E, for asimilar issue.

Be it a glass roof or an expansive panoramic sunroof that you can even find on attainable vehicles like theJeep Compass, these roofs do raise questions about safety, particularly in a rollover accident. In such a scenario, can a panoramic sunroof really offer the same degree of safety as a car without one?Consumer Reports (CR) looked into this specific issue to find out if that airy, spacious feeling you get from a glass roof is really worth it.

It found that crash tests conducted by government agencies have shown that a sunroof is insignificant when it comes to evaluating the overall strength of a roof.

"The structure of a car consists of a strong steel frame wrapped by relatively thin metal panels," saidCR. "That steel frame is what is helping to keep you safe. "The high-strength steel used in the pillars that hold up the roof - called A, B, C, and D pillars, based on their location - is where the energy is being absorbed in a crash - not the center of the roof."

CRsays that passenger ejection is a more serious concern in a rollover, and that the simple act of wearing your seatbelt can reduce the likelihood of this happening. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), unbelted occupants are ten times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle in a crash than those wearing their seat belts.