2019 Toyota Highlander: sunroof shattered

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · NJ

While traveling east on [XXX] in [XXX] on Monday, XXX, the sunroof of my Toyota Highlander 2019 spontaneously shattered. There were four occupants in the car and we all heard what sounded like a gunshot or explosion. There were a few shards of glass that hit my daughter who was in the front passenger seat in the head and small pieces of glass throughout the car. I did not pull over on highway [XXX] because it is a one lane highway with minimal room on the shoulder. I immediately closed the sunshade and put my hazards on and drove about a quarter mile exited safely, pulled onto a side road, and called the police in [XXX]. There were a few pieces of glass that were flying off of the car and towards the car behind us, however, I believe they stayed back a bit because we did suddenly put our hazards on, and I don’t feel that their cars were impacted by the flying glass. No one in the car was physically injured however we were all shaken up. I did call the police because I wasn’t sure what to do and I had three [XXX] kids in the car with me and I needed to know we were safe where we were pulled over. At that time, I also called my husband and he contacted our insurance company to discuss options for repair and how to get three hours home with the car. We chose not to use roadside assistance. The officer followed us a short distance to ensure the glass was not flying out to cars behind us and we were able to safely drive. We drove to the local Walmart where we taped up the sunroof so that we could drive home. The drive home was about three hours and was very stressful as I was concerned about the sunroof and the safety of the three minors that were in the car with me. There were no warnings of the spontaneous shatter and the sunroof had no issues or malfunctions prior to the incident. In the photos attached there is a link to the YouTube video of the aftermath of the spontaneous shatter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 23, 2024 · NJ

While driving the car on the highway with no other cars in the immediate area it sounded like there was an explosion on the roof. The glass sun roof spontaneously exploded. Small pieces of glass were everywhere. I was able to pull over to a parking lot. There could have been a serious accident or injury as this event caused me to swerve.

Filed Jul 19, 2024 · Visibility · 78,000 miles · AK

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the moonroof glass suddenly shattered, raining glass down on the occupants inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2023 · Visibility · CA

November 7, 2023: While driving across the California desert at 70 miles an hour, temperature was 71°, and freeway traffic was light, without any other outside influences, the sun roof spontaneously exploded, blowing outward, as though someone had put an explosive between the glass and interior of the vehicle. it sounded like a shotgun blast. I pulled over and examined the vehicle; the remaining glass in the sunroof was blown out, arched above the roof of the vehicle, with a spray of shattered glass inside and on the roof of the car. There were no vehicles around me, no impact, and I’m returning home, I reviewed my dash cam looking for other signs (like a bird crashing into the roof). There was nothing. Upon searching this mystery, I found that many others have experienced the same thing. The car is now at the dealership. The car is well cared for, and the roof/glass, prior to the explosion, was undamaged.

Filed Feb 3, 2023 · Visibility · 60,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH and while the sunroof was closed, the sunroof glass exploded. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not yet taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Dec 20, 2022 · WA

While driving on the freeway less than 10 miles from my home, my sunroof exploded and broke into pieces. I was driving on a section of freeway where there was nothing above me and there were no other cars near me. There was a loud noise and then the air was rushing into my car.

Filed Nov 14, 2022 · CA

Sunroof glass. Driving down the highway, the sunroof glass exploded and shattered. A very loud explosion noise. Vehicle is currently at the dealer for repair. Broken glass falling on driver and passenger. Further inspection shows glass protruding upward as if it was broken from the inside. Online research has shown many other Highlanders with the same problem. Dealer blamed on a rock, so why is the glass protruding outward instead of inward. No warning lights.

Filed Nov 8, 2021 · NJ

While driving on highway, sunroof on 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid exploded outward.

Filed Apr 8, 2021 · Body · 32,000 miles · NE

04/07/21 @ 11:30 am, temp 47 f, overcast, dry, driving 65 MPH, n. On neb. Hiway # 77. Rural landscape, no other vehicles near us, sunroof glass exploded and shattered. Roof had been closed. Sunshade was closed which kept us from being covered in glass pieces. No marks on roof from any object. See photos.

Filed Jul 13, 2020 · Visibility · 17,750 miles · ND

The panoramic sunroof exploded

Filed Jul 1, 2019 · Body · 8,000 miles · CO

Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving ~30pmh on a hot afternoon. No other cars in close proximity. No trees overhead or other debris found that could have triggered the shattering. The noise sounded like an explosion overhead. Upon inspection, the glass appears to have exploded outward and left a large hole in the middle. Luckily, the fabric panel below the glass was closed, otherwise this would have been an extremely dangerous situation since the glass is not safety glass. Per our toyota dealership, toyota corp will not cover this issue or take any responsibility for what seems to be a manufacturing defect (or bad design, as this glass should be safety glass).