I had something like that happen with a plastic bottle of marvel mystery oil. It was in the winter out in my unheated garage. I went to pick up the bottle to throw a splash in the bikes gas tank, when it crumbled in my hand. The bottle wasn't older then 1/2 years old. Surprised the heck out of me, and I had to think quickly to grab an old coffee cup to dump the rest of the bottle into. It was so brittle I didn't want to even set it down in fear it would break apart if I tried to pick it up again.,,