No wonder Nissan stopped production on SkyView Roofs in February 2004.

Our Maxima is 10 months old with 5600 miles when the SkyView Roof shattered during our vacation to MA. It was a very loud thump heard from inside the car (thinking that one of my kids threw something toward the roof). But then I realized reading about other people’s experiences with SkyView Roof problems http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=314853.

Immediately asked my wife to slowly open the shades and see the SkyView Roof (it was totally shattered into pieces). To keep an accident from happening and glasses flying off, we decided to stop at a rest area, which was ½ mile away to see how extent the damage was. It was really bad cause it was all shattered plus it started to bulge up from the middle and pieces of glass were starting to come off. We had our car towed to the nearest Nissan dealer (30 minutes) and they arranged a glass company to put a “temporary fix” the next day. This “temporary fix” was to help us last all the way home until we get it to our local dealer to replace it under warranty.

** “Temporary Fix” = sucked up loose glass pieces from the shades, covered, and taped from rain, etc.; Just left whatever was intact **


NTHSA 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA (WITH "SKYVIEW GLASS-PANELED ROOF")
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/proble...04/200405.html
GLASS ROOF SHATTERING
ACTION# PE04-035
DATE OPENED 12-APR-2004

Shattered SkyView Roof pictures taken at the rest area:
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/612165/2

 

holy smokes! good thing the glass didn't completely break and injure you, your kids or anyone else! I hope you raise hell not only w/ the dealer but w/ Nissan for something that could've injured your children pretty bad, good thing you caught it in time!

I'm wondering, what is going on w/ Nissan's quality lately? Along w/ being a 4th gen owner & fellow .org member, from what I'm gathering from the 6th gen owners, seems like the quality of Nissan's cars has really deteriorated

 

Suggest all you skyview roof owners get it tinted (even clear) or get safety/security plastic installed (better) to prevent future injury. You don't obviously don't want glass exploding onto the passengers.

I imagine there will be an eventual recall on this - it is just too serious.

 

Have you contacted nhtsa about your problem?

 

i thought our warranty was covered at any Nissan dealer? I wouldn't want to drive home with that problem. They stopped production of the SkyView in Feb? So what did the ones after that some with?

 

yes, the warranty is honored at any Nissan dealer, but it takes at least a week or two or longer to get the replacement....we can't wait that long and needed to come back home.

Power glass sunroof is always available with the 6th gen Maxima,
after the stoppage of the SkyView in Feb04.....only power glass sunroof for MSRP $900 or none at all.

 

yes, filed a complaint with NHTSA and contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs.

 

Actually they didn't stop making the skyview roof in Feb. Who told you that? The reason I know is that my car was made in April 04 and it has the Skyview roof.

 

ok, you got one made in Apr04.....knock on wood: it may shattered due to the quality of the glass (not designed the same as the windshield for example).

Maybe take a multi-state trip (longer than 6 hours), I think the SkyView glass will not hold on highway speed and wind.

I had previously taken trips to metro-DC (approx. 4 hours) --- no problems.

 

I was under the same impression about the warranty.

Manufacturer 3yr/36,000mi warranty is honored at any authorized Nissan service center.

 

Warranty for the Maxima is honored at any Nissan or Infinity dealership around the country. (according to the dealer I got my car from)

 

Hope it never happens.

BTW did you have the windows open? A/C on?

Let us know what Nissan says/does.

Thanks
Very interested skyview roof owner

 

Who cares what Nissan says, what does the NHTSA have to say? I believe that a total of five skyviews have been reported as of the end of May and it is still under investagation. Five doesn't sound like alot over an entire production run but some defects get fixed under the rug sometimes and don't get counted (Not that I'm accussing Nissan of being Mitsubishi).

I can appreciate that the people this has happened to are upset (rightly so). But the bigger picture is what is going to happen to everyones resale value if this feature is found to be a design defect?

 

That sucks. The skyview is pretty much useless and ugly. You should've just paid a little more to get the sunroof option.

 

mmmmm.....no. The reason I when with the skyview roof is for the headroom. The sunroof takes over 1.5" away. My head hits the headliner in models with the sunroof. I would have had to have a solid roof...but with the skyview roof I can still get light.

 

I agree with your first two statements but not the last one. I dont like the skyview either but I think it's a little callous to state You should've just paid a little more to get the sunroof option. He didnt pay (or not pay) to have a standard equipped glass panel shatter over him and his passengers.


Glad you're OK ocuihs. That could have panned out MUCH worse!! I hope they findout what's causing this. (I wonder if the same problem occurs with the new Quest; although I rarely see one with skyview roofs).

Best case scenario (aka pipedream): Nissan allows you to exchange your Max for a similar one with a conventional sunroof. $.02

 

More likely scenario, Nissan epoxies Plexiglas into the area during a recall that requires you to leave the car for overnight drying. No rental provided.

 

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by 2k3TitaniumSe
That sucks. The skyview is pretty much useless and ugly. You should've just paid a little more to get the sunroof option.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


nah....my previous two Nissans had the power glass sunroof.....we chose the SkyView Roof for its uniqueness and headroom.

 

glad everything is ok.

 

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by ocuihs

Power glass sunroof is always available with the 6th gen Maxima,
after the stoppage of the SkyView in Feb04.....only power glass sunroof for MSRP $900 or none at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Some findings:

According to Feb04 specifications from NissanNews.com, Power Glass Sunroof replaces SkyView on both the SE and SL

 

The guy lives in NY. Knowing our lousy dealerships, they'll most likely blame it on him and refuse to fix it. :P

 

I never like the skyroof...didn't know that it had a sliding shade. But regardless, glad I got the standard sliding sun (moon) roof.

 

From nissannews.com

"Available options include a Power Glass Sunroof (replaces SkyView), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS), navigation system and full-size spare with alloy wheel and satellite radio capability."

The OPTIONAL sunroof replaces the skyview....ie if choose the sunroof you loose the skyview

 

my bad, you're right since you have the Apr04 build date.

 

np.

What is Nissan doing to fix the problem and assure you (other skyview owners) that this is not going to happen again?

 

Wonder what would happen if the roof shattered and rain got in the headliner? Curtain airbags would be a mess. Yuck.

 

my SE is a may of 04 it has a skyview.i hope they fix it .[COLOR=Black]

 

Nissan can't deny....got pictures and documentation....even the manager and the assistant manager in MA can be the witnesses of the SkyView Roof's glass bulge up. If our local dealer had problems, they can call them to confirm.

Guess what?!.....our SkyView Roof's glass replacement is fixed in 3 business days. Nissan overnight the glass to our dealer yesterday and fixed it today.

Overall, it was a superb experience!!

The dealer in MA and our local dealer have this award: "Nissan Owner First Award of Excellence".

The "temporary fix" to prevent from the weather and SkyView Roof's glass replacement pictures:
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/612165/2

 

i've traveled up to kentucky a couple of times and no problems that is almost a ten hour drive maybe its a localized issue. like with certian vin#. being optimistic... or maybe it a manufacturer defect where like a one sheet of glass got contaminated and caused it to weaken the molecular bond, hell i don't know.

 

please disregard my initial thread statement: "No wonder Nissan stopped production on SkyView Roofs in February 2004."

my bad, I read it wrong on NissanNews.com

95Max and trosper69 got the Apr04 and May04 build date (SkyView) respectively.

 

ocuihs,

Glad they got it fixed for you quickly. And good job for giving credit where credit is due (above).

Maybe its just me, but i find that there's too much negativity about the 04 flying around the forum lately.

Bob

 

What's the recommended preventative fix for this 20 years later?

 

Don't drive your Max?

 

I was thinking something more practical such as tinting. Of course 20 years of testing should instill confidence that any intact SkyView roofs are not part of the defective batches. They seem to be plentiful in salvage yards. I only became a Maxima fan in response to the Cubanization of the US automotive market. A standard shift Max provides good preparation for vehicle, parts and to some extent labor shortages.