NHTSA complaint #11766032

Owner complaint summary

Safety Defect: Moonroof Sunshade Sags and Obstructs Rearward Driver Visibility I am reporting a safety concern involving the fabric sunshade/moonroof cover in my 2022 Ford Explorer. When the moonroof fabric sunshade is closed/engaged, the fabric sags substantially downward from the roof. The sag is severe enough that the sunshade extends well below its intended position and can obstruct the driver’s view through the rear window. This is not simply a cosmetic issue. When the sunshade is engaged, the sagging fabric creates a significant obstruction to rearward visibility from the driver’s seating position. This can prevent the driver from seeing vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects behind the vehicle while driving. The attached photograph shows the condition from inside the vehicle. The fabric can be seen hanging substantially below the surrounding headliner and roof structure. The amount of sag is sufficient to interfere with the driver’s line of sight toward the rear of the vehicle. The driver should not have to operate the vehicle with the moonroof shade open simply to maintain adequate rearward visibility. The purpose of the shade is to block sunlight while remaining within the designed roof area; it should not hang down into the passenger compartment far enough to obstruct the driver’s view. Because this condition can directly affect the driver’s ability to observe traffic behind the vehicle, I believe it presents a potential motor-vehicle safety hazard and should be investigated as a possible defect affecting the moonroof/sunshade assembly. Vehicle: 2022 Ford Explorer I request that NHTSA investigate whether this condition is occurring in other Ford Explorer vehicles and whether the design, material, mounting, or tensioning system of the moonroof sunshade can cause it to sag and obstruct rearward visibility.