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Exploding sunroofs have been an issue with an alarming number of new cars, including Toyota and Honda models–and no one is exactly sure why.
Since 1995, regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Canada have received over 1,200 reports of sunroofs suddenly shattering without any explanation or apparent cause. The problem has affected over 200 models from 35 auto manufacturers, primarily imports. Toyota and Honda vehicles account for approximately 14 percent of these incidents.
Even more troubling is the increase in the number of reported incidents in recent years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 70 percent of all exploding sunroof reports received by the agency have been filed since 2011. This indicates that such events are happening more frequently, putting drivers and their passengers at risk for serious injury.
Few Consumers Know About Exploding Sunroofs
According to owners of Toyota, Honda and other vehicles with exploding sunroofs, these overhead windows simply shatter without warning.
A Utah woman who shared her story with Consumer Reports said she was driving home with her children one day when she heard a loud explosion. At first, she believed it was a tire blowout, but the vehicle’s handling was unaffected.
When she was finally able to pull over in order to determine the cause, she was shocked to find that the sunroof had shattered, scattering hundreds of tiny glass shards over the shade guard – which fortunately, had been closed at the time. She told CR, “I never imagined in a million years that would happen.”
In fact, relatively few Toyota owners are even aware of such events – until it happens to them. Although it is less frequent than having a blowout, it can be just as dangerous.
What is the Problem?
When vehicle owners bring their Toyota, Honda or other vehicle into a dealership because of exploding sunroofs, they are informed that the damage was caused by a flying piece of rock or road debris.
However, video evidence and eyewitness reports indicate that that when sunroofs explode, the shards travel upward, as if blown out from the vehicle interior. Bob Beranek, author of “The Complete Guide to Auto Glass Installation,” says there is virtually no way that such events could be caused by outside impacts.
Engineers and glass experts say that exploding sunroofs are due to internal stress and the manufacturing process itself. When the hot glass is removed from the furnace, the surface cools and solidifies much faster than the interior.
Dr. Chris Davies, head researcher at U.K.-based auto glass repair company Belron, explains that the way in which tempered glass is made “…creates permanent surface compression stress, which basically knits the molecules closer together, making it difficult for objects to create surface damage.”
However, he says, “If something does compromise the surface compression layer, it releases the large amount of energy stored in the central tensile stress zone” – which can be up to 15,000 pounds per square inch.
Automotive windshields are made the same way. However, unlike sunroofs, windshields are laminated, so when they shatter, the shards stick together rather than being scattered about.
Davies says that forced and uneven cooling during manufacturing, contaminants in the molten glass, and incorrect installation can all be contributing factors in exploding sunroofs. Many of these mishaps have occurred during days with extreme temperatures.
Who Pays For the Damage?
People who have had their sunroofs shatter are told to file claims with their insurers. However, as stories of exploding sunroofs on Toyota models and other vehicles become public, vehicle owners are realizing that the problem is not an accident.
One Toyota owner, posting on the internet forum Toyota Nation, complained, “I’m frustrated that I have to pay [a] $250 deductible [for damage] that I know was a manufacturing defect after I researched and found hundreds with the same experience.”
Addressing the Issue of Exploding Sunroofs
In response to consumer complaints, NHTSA has begun investigations into a number of auto manufacturers. Consumers Union is also demanding investigations, calling upon car makers to issue recalls.
Currently, there are a number of exploding sunroofs class action lawsuits making their way through the courts. If you are the owner of a Toyota or Honda vehicle equipped with a sunroof have have had the glass shatter, you may be able to get compensation by joining an exploding sunroof class action lawsuit investigation.
Join a Free Toyota, Honda Panoramic Sunroof Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you own a Honda or Toyota with a panoramic sunroof that shattered, you may be entitled to compensation.
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54 thoughts onToyota Exploding Sunroofs – Has it Happened to You?
Yes happened to me last week driving down highway to work. Loud explosion sound and did not have shield pulled so was covered in glass going 100km/hr (Canada). Thankfully no other cars around. Toyota should address these complaints as they are a huge safety concern. I have owned Toyotas my entire life and am extremely disappointed with how they are handling this situation. Will be considering a different company in the future.
The other day while driving, I heard a noise thinking a rock hit my car or I ran over something…
When I got home my sunroof was gone, not shattered… It’s a 2001 Toyota Camry. Is there any chance it can be replaced with no cost to me?
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated !
Same thing happened to me, exactly the same way. My 2013 Rav4 sunroof exploded. It will cost $1000 to fix, Insurance Co. says they are “looking into” who pays this. I am having the work done, and will haggle with Allstate and Toyota about re-imbursement.
June 2021
Thr sun roof on my 2014 Toyota Camery exploded on the highway as I returned from my daughters. Really scared me as the BANG was extremely loud. Pulling off on a side road, I discovered what had happened. I was able to arrive home safely & immediately filed a claim with my insurance company. Repairs will be made minus my deductible. It has been a upsetting experience that could have much worse.
Just bought a 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD pro. 2 weeks later, while I was driving my truck in the freeway, driving at 55mph, as i was still breaking in my truck, I heard a loud bang. I was the only vehicle in the freeway so there is no way I was hit with anything. When I opened my shade guard, pieces of glass came falling down my head; That’s when I learned that by sun roof shattered. I called the dealership since I bought so many insurances for the truck, but I was told that the sun roof was not covered and that I have to coordinate with my insurance to get it fixed. And that it may be caused by a stone hitting my sunroof!!!!
Just had my Highlander 2020 sun roof explode on highway with no car in front of me, exploded upward as described in this article so nothing hit it obviously, Toyota asked if I made a claim and I said why not my fault. Hopefully they own up to it.
I have a 2017 Toyota RAV4 SE on 11/17/2020 at 11:00 am , temperature in Georgia 68 . Car is kept in a garage. Was driving down the road and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded! I was going slow thank God as I was approaching a red light. There was nothing that flew up off of the road and no trees overhead. I heard nothing make contact with the glass before the explosion! The glass was pointing upward which tells me it came from the inside out. The dealership tried telling me that a rock hit the top of my windshield which caused it!!! No.. I won’t have seen and heard that! Waiting on adjuster to look at it tomorrow.
2012 Toyota Sienna sunroof explodes
Looks like a volcano shape
Very hard to understand why ???
My wife and I were just driving our 2019 Rav4 on the highway today when we heard a loud explosion. My wife thought someone shot at us. I drove a few miles down the road before pulling over just in case. The sunroof had shattered. We just dropped it off at the dealer that refused to give us a loaner car. He said he will get in touch with us but is said it will probably not be covered. There was no one driving anywhere near us. No way anything hit the roof. We’ll see what they say
Same Thing happened to my Toyota rav4 2019 just now, when I was driving home while crossing into the highway lane, loud sound frightened me, I took exit and pulled in a grocery store parking light to check since it is night, my roof glass had shattered, it is outward as if exploded from inside. I am thinking of going to the dealer in the morning. Don’t know if I need to call my insurance?
This was just happened to me as well when I was driving my RAV 4 2019 on the highway. Nothing found inside my car, no bird nor rock. It was very odd and scary. I called my insurance right away and they gave me a rental car for a week and sunroof replacement. I had to pay $50 deductible for the glass claim. I just wondering if there is anything I can do to let the manufacture know that this isn’t accident?
Not even 3 hours ago, 7/28/2020, about 545 pm I was driving my 1 month old 2020 Rav4 Hybrid, with a panoramic moonroof, when all of a sudden we heard an explosion. First thought was tire blow out but had no trouble driving the car. Pulled over to inspect for any damage to the body but found nothing. Not until I got back inside did we hear the crackling sound above us. I opened the roof liner to find a 5-6 inch long hole in the glass along with it all being shattered. Nothing hit the glass from outside. The glass was blown upward away from the car. Calling the dealer tomorrow.