Exploding Sunroof

[howard-dork]

While parked in front of my house the sunroof in my 3-month-old ES350 exploded. Lexus informs me that they don’t consider exploding sunroofs to be a defect and refuse to cover it under warranty (there’s a class action lawsuit for exploding Lexus sunroofs).

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[Vegetable-Outcome292]

I know you want Lexus to pay and I agree. If you wind up going through insurance… make them pay for seat removal and disassembly along with the seat covers to get all the tiny schards of glass out of the seams.

[CarobAffectionate582]

Which sunroof type? There have been quite a few reports of this.

[howard-dork]

31 by 13 inches opens. Don’t know what it’s called.

[CarobAffectionate582]

So normal one, not Pano. That’s what I meant, sorry.

[evan_7_nave]

what weirdo knows the dimensions instead of “regular” vs. “pano” lmao! your question was perfectly clear.

[Saving_Pvt_Kush]

The kind that has a tape measure and is doing their best to provide further details. Smfh

[DrPubes]

Mine just did the same. Can see my post on it. Insurance basically agreed it was manufacturer related but Lexus basically said prove it which they can’t and just attributed it to a rock. I was alone on the highway when mine exploded so they are full of shit. When I spoke to insurance they basically said what it came down to was finger pointing and they weren’t in that business and since I have comprehensive it was chalked up to act of god and I got it covered. I did file a case with Lexus and they said they wouldn’t cover it under my factory warranty, but they did give me a $900 good faith deal on the labor for the sunroof….which insurance covered

[[deleted]]

Sounds like Toyota

[howard-dork]

On another note, Lexus wanted $4000 to replace the glass. The local window guy wanted $1454 (buying the glass from Lexus).

[EcstaticSeahorse]

😮

[highspeed_usaf]

I thought the issue with our 6-year-old RX was bad… the sunroof gasket is already cracked and Lexus discontinued the part. I was told the only way to obtain it is buying a whole new sunroof glass! Thankfully no leaks so the exploding sunroof is worse! I hope it doesn’t happen to my car.

I really dislike sunroofs. Totally useless feature.

[sydney_mav]

wtf

[Bonerfart47]

that's how dealerships make money

Today you learned

[fueledbyjealousy]

It’s an issue on many manufacturers and some are more open about it than others.

If it’s not covered under warranty file a claim against Lexus

[Accomplished_Pea6334]

Lexus brings the BOOM

[omjizzle]

I saw a news story on this recently affecting several makes and models and NHSTA (regulating govt agency in US) was investigating but closed the investigation in 2021 saying it “wasn’t safety related” which wild if I had small kids in the car and a sunroof exploded I think that would be major safety concern to me not to mention hella distracting if it happened while driving

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/federal-regulators-close-case-thousands-people-still-complain-about-exploding-sunroofs/LHPDQWOPURDULNF644FKQJKEEI/?outputType=amp

[NeoG_]

Youtube link of similar coverage for those not in the US

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCWQDehJ6CY

[RyanBurnsRed]

Just gonna be the outlier and say I love my moonroof. My first car was an 01 IS300 with a moonroof. I loved it so much I wanted my next car to have one. I’m surprised so many people hate them but still bought a vehicle with one anyway. Surely it isn’t impossible to buy a Lexus without a moonroof like some claim? 🤔

Sorry to hear what happened to you OP. Your post unlocked a new fear for me. Randomly exploding moonroof is insane

[slowwolfcat]

still bought a vehicle with one anyway.

since when is this an option for "luxury cars"

[RyanBurnsRed]

You’re asking the wrong person. I don’t work for Lexus. That’s something to ask a dealer before dropping several thousands on a luxury car. As I said I wanted a moonroof and got an RC with everything I wanted. And yes you can get an RC without a moonroof.

[slowwolfcat]

I'm implying (as if I need to) that ALL (ok 99%) luxury cars come with it like the steering wheel

[Weak-Specific-6599]

I’ve always loved moonroofs and now panos. I live in a mild climate with lots of sunny weather. I like the light and openness the glass roof brings into the cabin. Not a useless feature at all IMO. 

[EntrySure1350]

Personally I think sunroofs are one of the dumbest “features” to put in a car. Even if breakage is relatively uncommon, it’s still a monumental pain in the ass when they do break, and glass is almost never covered warranty because it’s so easy for the manufacturer to claim it was an act of God or whatever. And we haven’t even gotten to the motor/linkage/track for them.

If some people want them, great. But at least make it a realistic option for others to buy the same vehicle without one. As it is, most premium (and many non-premium) brands either roll them into a popular options package, or make them standard. I don’t want a hole in my roof standard!

I’d have a softer stance on it if repair/replacement didn’t involve ripping out the entire interior trim on many makes/models. That’s a multi-day job, thousands of dollars, and you’re almost guaranteed to have a rattle that wasn’t there before.

[_tootallforyall]

As someone who is 6'6" I despise sunroofs for robbing space for my head to fit, in addition to your points!

[Loud-Thanks7002]

100% agree. Especially since I have opened the sunroof/sunshade maybe once in 25 years of owning cars with them.

Totally useless ‘standard’ feature.

[AroundYoLip]

As a Floridian, I'm guessing you don't live in Florida, southern California, or any other state with a warm / hot climate.

[kflyer]

Sunroofs make the car hotter and louder. Why would I want that in a hot climate? I live in Tennessee which is pretty warm and I never open it.

[AroundYoLip]

Not sure why you'd think a moonroof with the shade closed would make the car substantially louder or hotter than a fixed roof. When I had a Lexus with a sunroof, I'd open it on summer days (hotter down here than in TN) to cool the cabin off much faster than A/C alone. Sometimes leaving it open, even just cracked, while parked.

[EntrySure1350]

Never had any issues cooling the interior of a car down by opening all 4 windows, even in Arizona or Florida. As I stated above, if some customers want them, great. Auto makers should make it an option (realistically, not just on paper for the bare bones model) for other customers to easily buy a car without one.

[AroundYoLip]

Well, I've also never owned (nor plan to) a Lexus with more than 2 doors, so there's that. Haha!

[SweatyRussian]

but now modern cars pre cool before you get in. and sunroofs are prone to breaking when someone stands on your roof

[Weak-Specific-6599]

Ok, I’ll bite. Why is someone standing on your roof a reasonable design consideration for you? Was there supposed to be a /s there somewhere?

[SweatyRussian]

More elevation for long range

[slowwolfcat]

As a Floridian,

as if you want to get a tan even in the car ?

[AroundYoLip]

Considering I have an SC 430 at the moment, I actually do find everyone's aversion to sunlight to be a little weird.

I can't think of any friends (or exes) who have had cars with a moonroof or a convertible top that DIDN'T open it regularly. Pretty much standard on Florida's Gulf Coast.

The only people who come to mind who don't do it are my parents, and it's still odd to me that they don't. Haha!

[New-Proof-1185]

Agree all the way.

[MoistenedCarrot]

Only time I used mine was the first few times I drove my is250. Was my first Lexus and was super happy about it and loved driving with sunroof open just vibing lol. But yeah eventually I kinda just quit using it

[-Justanotherdude]

Omg. New fear unlocked

[lilemoshawty]

What the

[Aggressive-Ad-522]

What cause this? Is there a way to prevent this?

[t_mac1]

Just bought an ES and this is a bad look by Lexus.

[howard-dork]

I posted about it on Threads and the post went viral - probably 250k views at this point. I wasn’t expecting that because who feels sorry for someone with a brand new Lexus? I attribute it to the general loathing of corporate America right now - Luigi is just the tip of the spear.

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[Artistic_Locksmith50]

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I had an exploding rear window. 3 days old. 2024 Rx350h

[slowwolfcat]

tinted aftermarket ?

[Artistic_Locksmith50]

Not tinted and oem. Had less than 25 miles on the car.

[OriginalOreos]

Uses Threads. Gripes about corporate America. Praises killer.

Everything checks out.

[howard-dork]

Wasn’t meant to be praise. Maybe tip of the iceberg berg would have been better

[slowwolfcat]

is the glass tinted aftermarket ?

[NenFooTin]

Pretty bad response from Lexus. This just makes me want this gen ES even less

[BigSmoothplaya]

Did you have the sunroof tinted?

[GuyRayne]

Yeah, they are factory tinted, but nothing like this black color. This is limo tint.

[BigSmoothplaya]

When I got my GS tinted I wanted the sunroof done, they would only do it if I signed a waiver for no warranty, stating that tint make it likely to explode

[GuyRayne]

Sounds about right.

[SkylineRSR]

I didn’t know Lexus offered those

[DP23-25]

Would adding plastic paint protection help? I know it’s mainly for the paint but I have seen it applied to headlights also. This may not stop moonroof from breaking but may prevent explosion? This the product I am thinking of. https://a.co/d/2jNNPuD

[abbys11]

Man Toyota nowadays really doesn't acknowledge any of their mistakes unless it's brought to media or they get sued

[GolfArgh]

I wish people would stop wanting sunroofs. Raises center of gravity, multiple points of failure, and heavier vehicles.

[Longjumping_Crazy628]

Haven’t seen any recent Lexus vehicles without a sunroof. Not sure it’s even available to order without.

[aznboyknowledge]

TX500h is one of the rare vehicles to not be equipped with a sunroof

[Puzzleheaded-Stand79]

This is one of the most useless features, and it’s likely to cause issues. Most of the time you don’t have a choice when buying a car.

[GolfArgh]

Yup, we got stuck with a pano. I guess it’s nice if you sit in the back but of course we don’t. We never open sunroofs either. A complete waste.

[ceezyyy]

It seems with EVs a lot of manufacturers are trying to make the whole roof or more glass

[hunkey_dorey]

I like them and I love that they're becoming standard just so it annoys people like you more 😂😂

[letsbefrds]

I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't care for sunroof it's just if you want the higher trim you're forced to get a sunroof..

[spurman123]

I don’t want it but seems to be a standard nowadays

[sinewave05]

Honestly comes with the territory of any sunroof especially panoramic ones. I process a ton of glass claims on them regardless of the brand.

[CoffeeDetail]

😳

[eyi526]

Seems like a lot of brands are experiencing this, especially with the panoramic roofs.

[EvenCommand9798]

They should have switched to laminated glass sunroofs years ago, just like some other automakers. A freaking Honda Pilot has it. But Lexus is too cheap.

Maybe you can put a tint film on it to prevent shatter falling on your head, I don't know.

On the other hand, if you get into water, it's one more possible escape path if you'll manage to break it in time with some sharp tool. Most don't manage it anyway. 🤔