What could cause the top to brake off the Air Filter Sensor? Picture shows the top off. This happened yesterday an I got a dash panel light to filter was clogged. When I went to check the filter this is what I found

 

Maybe something flew in the airbox and clogged the filter so fast that the filter minder blew it's brains out?

Seriously, I can't imagine anything other than a smack to the plastic could do that.

 

Other than holt cold hot cold and the plastic becoming brittle, or a runt of the litter i cant think of anything else, those sensors are not under no kinds of pressure from the filter or anthing touching it, plus it looks like it came apart mosly where the glue is that hold the pieces together.

Mayba cat or animal in comparison got under there for some warmth and rubbed up against it to break it, very posible.