Toyota Prius sunroof shattered problems

Filed Jul 30, 2024 · MO

While driving the speed limit of 70mph on a major highway, the sunroof on my 2017 Toyota Prius exploded. There was no warning of any kind: no other traffic nearby so no rock or debris from another vehicle; no overpass or bridge so nothing from above; it was a mild sunny day of 76 degrees so not a weather factor; and by the angle of the glass that remains being in an outward position rather than inward, reveals to me that it was from inside out, not from outside in as if it were a rock hitting. It just exploded. I was the only person in the car. Thankfully, the visor was shut on it or the shattered glass would have caused injury and of greater serious concern is just the sudden sound of what sounded like a bomb going off over my head was enough to cause a reaction which easily would result in an accident. It was a terrifying experience! I was lucky no other vehicles were nearby and could react and safely get off the road. I called 911 immediately and reported it. I have read many such claims from other Toyota owners online (see ToyotaNation.com and search by "exploding Sunroof") and even from a technician at my nearby Toyota Collision Center that it just happened to a friend of theirs also. This is not a one time issue. When I took the car to the Collision Center for an estimate and inquired about the damage, they could find no recall on it by Toyota. This is certainly a dangerous and hazardous issue that needs to be addressed asap before someone is seriously hurt or there is a fatality.

Filed Jun 10, 2023 · Visibility · IL · 1 injury

The glass sunroof spontaneously exploded or imploded. There was a loud popping sound and I looked up at the sunroof, and it was shattered. glass started falling on me as I was driving on the highway. There have been many reported cases of this happening found online. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/toyota-owners-should-be-aware-of-reported-exploding-sunroof-risk/ It has not been inspected yet. no warning messages.

Filed Jun 20, 2021 · OR

While driving on an uncrowded 2 lane rural highway at approx. 4pm on June 20th, 2021, I heard what sounded like a gunshot in my ear. I quickly looked around at my interior & saw no broken windows. I had no driving issues, but pulled over safely to inspect the exterior of my vehicle. As soon as I opened my driver's door & exited, I turned to close the door & saw that my sunroof had basically exploded. It was jagged & missing pieces around 3 of 4 edges. I was an hour from home & wanted to make sure I arrived safely. En route I heard chunks falling off & by the time I got home the middle portion had rippled & gaping holes were visible.

Filed Feb 22, 2021 · Body · 6,800 miles · FL

On dec 2, 2020 while driving on the freeway at about 45-50 MPH our sunroof exploded causing us to get to the side of the road. The shade was closed which saved us from exploding glass. There were no road hazards, no issues other than a spontaneous exploding of our sunroof. The orlando police dept was summoned and the roadrangers stopped to assist us. I took the car directly to the toyota dealership in clermont, fl and they repaired the glass at no charge but told me had the car not been under manufacturer warranty I would have been responsible for the cost of replacement. If the shade had not been closed the entire passengers within the cabin would have been splattered with shattered glass.

Filed May 29, 2019 · Visibility · 84,360 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota prius. While driving on the highway, the contact heard a loud sound. He noticed that the sun roof exploded and the glass shattered. There were no injuries. Dch toyota of torrance (2909 ca-1, torrance, ca 90505, (424) 271-2340) informed the contact to bring in the vehicle. The dealer acknowledged that the same failure occurred with other vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 84,360.

Filed Apr 4, 2019 · Visibility · 31,000 miles · CA

While driving on the freeway, the sunroof glass exploded. Fortunately, we were not injured since the sunroof was closed. I noted that there were many similar reports. Surprised this was not a recall action.

Filed Mar 29, 2019 · 140,000 miles · NH

Sunroof exploded driving at highway speed on a clear night

Filed Dec 15, 2018 · Body · 90,000 miles · CA

Sun roof exploded / shattered while driving on the fwy. At 70 MPH. No traffic around, clear day about 70 deg f. After hearing the explosion, I pulled over and found the glass had shattered and it appeared that it was caused by pressure from inside as the shape of the shattered glass was bowed outwardly. No apparent impact from any foreign object.

Filed Dec 9, 2018 · Body · 98,500 miles · AZ

On december 8th, 2018, I was driving eastbound on interstate 10 in phoenix, az at approximately milepost 141 around 5:45 pm. Suddenly, I heard a large, *bang* which sounded like a gunshot. I immediately checked myself for injuries and felt the car to determine if a tire was blown. I was intact, and the tires seemed ok as well, but I heard the noise of air escaping from the vehicle. After turning south on I-17, I exited on the first street, exit 199, jefferson st. I turned left and looked for a safe place to pull over. It isn't a good neighborhood, so I slowed down and continued to look around the vehicle as I tried to find the place where the air was escaping. Finally, I cracked open the sliding door at the top of my sunroof, and I noticed shards of glass. I immediately closed it and was relieved it had not been open when this incident happened. I decided I must get home immediately, proceeded back to the freeway, and drove home. When I arrived, I noticed the sunroof was shattered - one main horizontal shatter at the center and two more vertical shatters at each end. I checked the interior of the vehicle for a projectile and found nothing. After researching further, it was clear that the glass had broken simply due to poor design. I immediately filed a claim with my insurance company, farmers. The claim number is 910380. I have also contacted toyota to get a response, but I have not heard back. I am fortunate that the sunroof was not exposed. There is a paper-thin sliding door that blocks the sun. Even though the sun had set, I had left it closed, and it protected me from the shards of glass. This is clearly a defect that toyota needs to address. It is december in arizona, and the temperature was 69 degrees when I left to return home yesterday. It's not a heat issue. It's likely a glass defect. I look forward to obtaining more information.

Filed Jun 12, 2018 · 98,000 miles · AZ

I was driving on the freeway, about 65 MPH, going to work on 06/12/18 at approximately 9:45 am arizona time. All of a sudden I heard a loud bang (explosion) and looked around my car. I noticed in my rear view mirror black glass flying off the roof of my car. There were other cars around me but no trucks or semi's. I cautiously changed lanes until I could pull off the freeway. When I got out of my car I looked at the roof and found that the sunroof of my car was shattered and had dropped into the area below the roof. I could still hear glass cracking and see it falling into the well under the roof area. I had had the inside shield closed so there was no glass on me. I slowly drove to my local toyota dealership to ask for help. They said that they had never seen this before and that I probably had something hit my roof. I told them that I didn't see anything flying at me and that there were no trucks/semi's around me. Then they told me they couldn't do anything but would help me call my insurance company to file a claim. I did (it took state farm over and hour to figure out where to connect me for a glass claim). I had to take it to a body shop and get an estimate, then get it approved, and get a rental car. Even at the body shop I could still hear the glass cracking. Everyone kept telling me that something must have me but I didn't feel anything when it happened, just the loud bang like an explosion.