Driving down the highway and the sunroof exploded
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: sunroof shattered
7 of the 242 complaints about the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander describe sunroof shattered.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- recalls
- 0
Sunroof shattered by model year
What owners say
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I was driving when I heard a loud boom, it almost sounded like a gunshot. Not noticing anything I continued driving. After a short distance I started hearing wind whistling. It was at this point I pulled over and saw my sunroof had shattered and there was a big hole. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? If I had not have the shade closed glass would have fallen into the car. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, I brought the car to the Toyota dealership. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I did call my insurance company but I am not sure if they actually inspected the damage. They have been dealing directly with the Toyota dealership service department. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, that's why I continued to drive until I heard the wind whistling
On [XXX], while driving my 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander at approximately 45-50 mph on a gusty, high-wind day, the rear panoramic moonroof/sunroof panel blew out and shattered completely without warning. The failure occurred as I rolled up the vehicle windows during the wind gust. Rapid window closure created a sudden spike in cabin air pressure — a documented pressure differential mechanism — that forced the moonroof glass outward until it shattered. There was no external impact of any kind. The glass, which is not laminated safety glass, scattered throughout the interior with occupants present. Component is available for inspection. This failure is consistent with the federal safety agency Investigation PE13-035 (Kia Sorento panoramic sunroof spontaneous breakage), in which ODI found glass shattering while in motion to be a safety hazard warranting engineering analysis. The same pressure-based failure mechanism applies here. This is a documented pattern on this specific model. Lemberg Law [XXX] ) analysis of the federal safety agency complaint data confirms spontaneous sunroof shattering among the top defects on both 2024 and 2025 Grand Highlanders, with Toyota denying warranty claims by alleging "outside influence" — disputed by owners and attorneys alike. No recall currently exists for this component. The rear seat directly below this glass is a primary location for child safety seats. Non-laminated glass shattering over rear occupants — including infants — represents an acute and unacceptable injury risk. I request the federal safety agency open a formal defect investigation into the panoramic moonroof/sunroof glass on 2024-2025 Toyota Grand Highlanders and evaluate whether a safety recall is warranted. I have photographs and have notified Toyota Motor North America in writing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was traveling on HWY 70 in Colorado outside Frisco at 65 mph temp about 35 degrees on 4/4/2025 when I heard a loud explosion. I pulled over and identified that the panoramic sunroof glass had exploded outward. There was no way a projectile could have hit the glass as a cargo carrier was on the roof rack completely covering the glass. The glass had an upward projection as well. I have included photos. The dealer refuses to take responsibility for the poor construction of the sunroof glass.
While driving, my panoramic moonroof exploded. There were no rocks or big vehicles on the road, but the panoramic moonroof simply just exploded. This could've been very dangerous and could've caused serious injuries for those inside of the vehicle, especially if the vehicle was moving.
I was heading home with my 6 year old son when all of a sudden there was a loud boom. Initially I thought there was an explosion or gun shot but then realized the panoramic moonroof had shattered and I continued hearing shattering. I pulled over the car to make sure I could creat some sort of safety for my son. I took some pictures. There was nothing that touched the glass. It just shattered. This was terrifying.
I was driving around town and a loud bang, almost as loud as a gunshot. My moonroof had shattered into thousands of pieces.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Abnormal fluttering and/or vibration across the rear-center section of the hood
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Abnormal fluttering and/or vibration across the rear-center section of the hood
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
- Some 2022 model year Avalon and Avalon Hybrid, 2022 – 2024 model year Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla,...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander sunroof shattered
Is sunroof shattered a common problem on the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander?
7 of 242 owner complaints about the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander (3%) mention sunroof shattered. The model year with the most reports is 2025.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander?
There are 0 recalls and 28 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
Hesitation 22Jerking 13Loss of power 11Stalling 9Fuel smell 8Knocking 6Harsh shifting 6Screen failure 6Steering noise 6No deployment 5Shudder 5
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