Leaking Sunroof/Moonroof

Happened in my Taurus. Was told it’s normal. Would only happen in a really heavy rain. Only found it because one day I noticed the A pillar on the drivers side was getting wet every steady rainfall. Went nuts looking for the source of the leak. Found the drain tracks and the drain, took my air house and blew air down the drain. A bunch of muck came out and that fixed the problem. In 10 years that was the only time I ever had that problem. So every time I changed the oil, I’d blow out the drain holes with air just to make sure they were clear.

 

I haven’t checked mine but I’m not surprised. I’m not crazy about sunroofs anyway and I rarely use it but it came with the truck. I’ve actually been thinking about pulling the fuse and just having a vinyl wrap installed on the roof over top or it so I can install a roof rack. I had a similar problem with the door handle seal. A few days after I bought it the door lock was malfunctioning. They opened the door and found water. Long story short after two weeks they said water pouring in was normal and gave me $1,000 for my trouble. The door lock malfunctioning was just a coincidence.

 

It was raining fairly hard the last two days and it was just a slow drip into the tray. They did show me that it was the same with the other vehicles as well as the loaner vehicle they gave me. When I came out yesterday to drive back, the same thing was going on with that one.

This just blows my mind that Toyota says it’s normal to pretty much rain inside your vehicle. I would hate if I lived in Washington.

This will be like their old suspensions that rusted and turn into a lawsuit one day.

 

Also, my first ever sunroof. I will never use the thing and wish they didn’t have them.

 

Don't have much to add here but my OR doesn't do this. I have had many vehicles with sunroofs. Probably 10 or more. Most of which were Toyotas and the oldest being 1987. Never had one leak or fail to operate properly. I do think that OPs is defective.

 

I agree it shouldn’t do this, but I saw three Toyota’s do the same exact thing. And four being mine. This doesn’t mean I’m just going to accept that with a $50k vehicle.

 

If water isn't pouring in on the seats or dash then I don't see what the problem is. Glass and metal are going to expand and contract at different rates, the drain tray and tubes are there for when water does go past the seal.

 

I live in Washington and have parked my truck outside in torrential downpours for days on end. Not once did I find any sign of water or excessive humidity in the cab.
The drains do their job, you don't need to worry about it.

 

They’re not all like that. I’ve had sunroofs on almost every car I’ve owned and none of them leaked like that. Granted in my 89’ 911 there is a tray where the water can run into and down into the drain tubes. I had one clogged and it causes water drips on my left foot. This is a brand new truck. I’ve got a 19’ Pro and it’s as water right as a ducks ass. What’s the temperature like outside during the rain where you live?

 

Some of you will never believe that this is normal no matter what anyone says. But this is normal. It's not a black and white thing. It's on a spectrum. The amount of water that makes it pass the seal varies a bit from vehicle to vehicle. Some may have very little, some a bit more.

You have a large glass panel that has to tilt or slide back. There has to be a certain amount of give to the seal for this to occur. If not, it wouldn't open.

The water tray is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. That's the design....and Toyota has used this SAME design on all manner of models for many, many years. There are drain holes in the corner that carry the water in tubing and out of the vehicle.

You guys screaming that this is not right are completely wasting your time.

 

Yup.

In cold climates it's a good idea to keep the roof cleared of snow, the drain hoses on my Subaru froze one particularly cold February and that tray filled up and started pouring through the map lights.

Not a common occurrence I'm sure, but something to be aware of.

 

Ah. Moon roofs on utility trucks. It’s like adding a charcuterie platter to a chainsaw.

 

I don't recall seeing much making it through on mine, but I'm sure it does. This is considered fine by Ford: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDql4E4DZGA

 

Glad my 2006 doesn’t have a sunroof.

 

Incorrect, you will see some water get past the seal, it's not going to be watertight/proof, but shouldn't be leaking or as visible to a large extent.

 

I'm in the camp that it's for sure impossible to expect 100% watertight seals from a sunroof - but I really think it's too bad there's so many in defense of the dealerships/Toyota that the examples in this thread are normal and people are dealing with that kind of dripping from new vehicles

Super glad I dont have one

If I did and was stuck with it I'd be running a bead of clear silicone around the outside lip, pulling the fuse/unplug the switch, and ordering a roof rack!

 

Agree and nothing is perfect, could be bad seal or install from factory, but they do leak as part of the design, just shouldn't be a ton. I wont blatantly defend Toyota, have had my fair share of nuances with my Tacomas over the years, but I have had 5 with moonroofs, in AZ, NJ, IL winter, monsoon, etc. none have had issues and Toyota has had moon roofs/sunroofs in vehicles for decades without issue. I do think its childish when people say "I'm glad I don't have one..." as if its some part that is more prone to failure than anything else on the truck.

 

If you aren't seeing any puddle of water in your floor or seat is not getting wet, then it's functioning fine since sunroof/moonroof have drain tray that goes to the pillar to drain the water out to the bottom. It was designed that way.

If you see the puddle of water on the floor or seat gets wet, then take it to the shop or dealer and have it fixed.

 

That's what I mean, I've had a couple Yotas with a sunroof, one almost 20 years old, without ANY leaking. I always made sure my 100 series drain lines were clear, IN CASE it leaked. If it monsooned and dripped, there was a system there engineered to direct water away from inside the cabin.

Color me childish for being glad I didn't assume what I did when I bought my Landcruiser and new 4Runner when I was Tacoma shopping: that if I got one with a sunroof, new, that I would be very lucky not to be dealing with what several others in this thread are.

It clearly is prone to failure -er, leaking, to various degrees.

Disclose this before purchase and see how many folks still want it, with confidence in the drainage system.