2019 Toyota RAV4: sunroof shattered

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · Body · MN

While driving, the moonroof on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD suddenly exploded with a loud bang and the glass blew outward. There was no impact, debris, or external cause. The sound was similar to a gunshot. The remaining glass appeared to be pushed upward/outward, not inward. This created a safety hazard due to potential driver distraction and risk of injury from falling glass. This appears consistent with other reported incidents involving spontaneous sunroof shattering. No warning light. Moonroof was shut.Sunny day about 40 degrees outside. Traveling at 68 mph. Dog in crate in back

Filed Apr 16, 2024 · WA

Sunroof glass exploded for no reason. We were driving down the highway. The weather was mild. The glass exploded out. We have pictures of the glass protruding upwards not down

Filed Dec 16, 2023 · LA

Sunroof shattered while driving down the interstate. A chunk of glass was missing & small pieces of glass fell into the car into my hair & into my clothes. Safety put at risk due to shock of event occurring while driving. It caught me off guard & I could not just stop on the highway to inspect what happened as cars were on the side & behind me. Increased anxiety while driving. Insurance claim filed with $500 deductible & without a car for an unknown period of time until glass is repaired. Car inspected by collision shop upon arrival.

Filed Oct 4, 2023 · Body · CO

While driving on Highway 52 on a Saturday morning at approximately 8:40am (9/23/2023), I heard a loud sound like a gunshot. There was not anything on either side of the highway and no accidents around me. Then I noticed a weird whistling sound and heard little bits of something falling down in the front passenger, driver seat and front middle console. Upon looking up, I saw a gaping hole in the middle of my moonroof and pieces of the glass were coming down inside the car. I looked for any large object that could have possibly come down to hit the moonroof but there were only pieces of glass. Upon parking the car, I saw that the moonroof glass has exploded OUTWARDS toward the sky, not inward, indicating that there was not anything that dropped down through it. There was no other sign outside of the shattered moonroof and pieces. No rock, no nothing. No warning signs, nothing to indicate anything was at all wrong with the moonroof, which actually had worked fine just the prior week, opening and closing as always with no grating sounds or unusual sounds, just the usual smooth open/close for both the 2 opening functions. Upon doing a Google search, we saw that there is a entire list of Toyota owners who have reported this problem but have had Toyota claim that there is nothing they can do and it is NOT a safety issue; Toyota also claims that there had to have been a crack or nick in the moonroof glass of all vehicles that have had this happen but my moonroof had absolutely nothing wrong with it nor did it have any kind of prior damage to this incident happening. Research shows it may be a possible manufacturing error on the glass maker. I am taking the car in to my Toyota dealership to have it repaired. I did call my insurance company but they did not ask me to take it for inspection. They merely gave me the parameters for which they were wiling to pay for part of the repair cost after my deductible. I took ample photos of the damage as soon as it happened.

Filed Apr 10, 2023 · PA

Sunroof suddenly shattered as we are just starting up the car. We are not parked under a tree or any structure. We just heard a loud noise of something shattering from the roof. I went outside and saw the roof completely shattered.

Filed Oct 31, 2022 · Visibility · 40,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal glass-cracking sound was heard. The contact pulled over and noticed that the sunroof glass had shattered; however, the sunroof visor prevented the glass shards from entering the cabin of the vehicle. There was no impact on the sunroof that could have caused it to shatter. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2022 · Visibility · 25,300 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he heard a loud banging sound. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact noticed that the sunroof glass panel had exploded with 40 percent of the shattered glass remaining. The contact stated that the shade guard was closed at the time of the failure. The contact was able to continue driving. The dealer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,300.

Filed Jan 11, 2022 · Visibility · WA

The Panoramic Sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving on the freeway. There was no impact point and the glass is bowed outward. When it exploded it was a very load pop and pressure feeling that made everyone's ears ring. About 2 seconds later small glass particles and glass dust fell down on the driver and passenger. This was reported to insurance company and taken to independent service center for estimate and repair. There were no warning lights or prior issues. The sun roof was in perfect working order and the vehicle has less than 25,000 miles on it. Driving context - 10:30 PM, light rain, outside temp was 38degrees, inside car temp set at 72 with heater on, sunshade was back, radio off, very little traffic on freeway with no road disturbances.

Filed Nov 29, 2021 · TN

My sunroof exploded for absolutely no reason.

Filed Nov 11, 2021 · Visibility · WV

The sunroof/moonroof in my 2019 Toyota RAV4 spontaneously exploded while parked overnight in my driveway. There was not any damage on or around that area of my car, nothing above my car. The following morning when I pulled out of my driveway, I noticed a strange sound , retracted my visor and noticed the roof glass was completely shattered in a volcanic like shape. Pieces began to fall as I began to pull back into the driveway.

Filed May 21, 2021 · Body · ID

The sunroof exploded outward/upward. I was doing 75-80mph north bound on I-15 in Montana, south of mile marker 250. Suddenly there was a loud BOOM like a an explosion! (I was startled and almost lost control of the car.) When I reached Cascade, the nearest town, I checked and saw that the sunroof was bulged outward, with a large hole. See pictures. Condition: around 12:45pm. Outside - Cloudy, temp around 30 degree Farenheit with a dusting of snow. Inside cabin was set to 70 degrees. I do not know the elevation above sea level. I was not near any area that rocks could fall on the roof. The only other vehicle was about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind me at the time of the incidence. The autobody shop guy checked for any signs of rocks or bullets or anything that could have caused it and he could not even guess at the cause, especially since the glass was bulging outward.

Filed Apr 21, 2021 · 10,340 miles · AZ

On april 5, 2021 at 10:40am on a highway going 50 MPH there was an extremely loud bang. Luckily without crashing I parked on the side and saw that the sunroof had shattered with the appearance of coming from within. The shade had been closed therefore the glass was prevented from scattering on me. I had toyota chula vista, ca check it out and they declined to honor the warranty. The week afterwards I spoke to the manager of toyota in yuma, az where I purchased the automobile who also declined to honor the warranty and recommended to make a claim with my car insurance. I have learned that it is common for sunroofs to explode in this car. There was a class action suit that has already been settled. Please inform me of any future recalls. I will upload photos.