2020 Toyota Highlander

While driving at approximately 45 MPH on a multi-lane parkway in Virginia, my wife and I heard a loud explosion which I immediately assumed might be a tire blowout. However, the steering system seemed normal as I slowed the car and began a move toward the road's shoulder. Within 10-15 seconds we began to hear the sound of "rushing air" above our heads. To determine why we heard that sound we slowly retracted the interior cabin fabric "head cover" to expose our sunroof; as soon as the "head cover" had retracted an inch or two it was clear that we had a large hole in the sunroof forward panel and that the tempered glass had shattered. We immediately closed the "head cover" and continued forward to our home which was a few miles away. As we drove, more and more "glass shards" were falling to the topside of our head cover. Fortunately, with our fabric head cover closed when the sunroof "failed" we were not showered by glass. However, had we had the sunroof exposed, I believe we would have had small glass pieces fall into the cabin area and on our heads. I have called my insurance company (USAA) and they have processed my claim sending me to SAFELITE which in turn has forwarded my repair work to SUNROOF EXPRESS. I called my Toyota Dealership which told me the sunroof is no longer under warranty. I can only speculate that the failure was caused either by a "micro-defect" in the sunroof which over time and temperature changes (summer heat, interior cool from A/C, winter freeze, etc) caused a sudden failure; or, it's possible a rock/pebble kicked up by a vehicle somewhere in front of us had a trajectory high enough (higher than our front windshield) and then impacted the sunroof at a sufficient angle to cause its failure. Following this incident with my car, I went on-line and discovered that I'm not alone. Apparently many other motorists have experienced what they describe as "explosive" sunroof failures...and some have been showered in glass. Not good!

Excessive tire wear was noted at 18,000 miles requirement replacement of tires. 25,000 miles later, the same tire wear problem has occurred on a set of tires rated at 65,000 miles. The west is much more predominant on the passengers side. Toyota has been informed and claims there is no problem with the vehicle, despite not inspecting the vehicle for other causes. This is a safety hazard, as with regular checkups, the tires were so low that one is at 0/32nd. Upon showing giving me the printout after measuring, the dealership told me I could drive on the tires a few more months. This is a major safety concern.

Sunroof exploded (like the sound of a bomb), without warning, on 7/21/22, while driving the vehicle. The shards traveled upward, and broken tempered glass protrudes towards the sky. Size of hole (largest points) approx. 16" X 9". It was not a rock or any other debris that caused this--it was internal force. I reached out to the dealer on 7/21/22, and today with pictures, who will reach out to Toyota. No damage was done to the vehicle, to the best my knowledge, other than the sunroof.

While driving around 60 MPH all the sudden I heard a loud explosion like a shot gun going off and then my sunroof exploding and shattering all over me and the interior of my car. There was no impact from another vehicle, rock, tree, anything. It just exploded into thousands of little pieces out of nowhere. It was terrifying. I was able to safely pull over. There were cuts experienced.

On several occasions, using the key fob to remote start the car, once unlocking the car, the car doesn't turn off as it should when unlocked or touching the drivers side door. Once in vehicle (car still running), car is unresponsive until shifted from Park, then the engine shuts off and car is disabled for 10-15 minutes. Will not start, unresponsive to touching the push start ignition and dash says "Not ready to Drive." Brake pedal gets very hard. Have been unable to video the actions of the remote start in order to get it to a dealership.

I was driving on a freeway with no cars in front of me and no debris in the air when our panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded. The glass blew upwards and the remaining glass around the edges were pointed upwards as if the window had suffered an internal to external impact. Fortunately, the fabric was closed and it could have resulted in a severe accident with glass going everywhere.

Several times pulling out from stop signs I failed to see cars coming from the passenger side. On August 4th 2021 I failed to see a car until it was directly in front of me and I collided with it. Wondering how I could have failed to see it I started doing research on the internet. I discovered others had this same problem also involving an accident. It was brought to my attention the mirrors are large and placed high in regards to the passenger window. I noted others sighted their height as part of the problem. I have a bad back and kept my seat low to ease getting in and out of the vehicle. My vehicle was totaled but the air bags never deployed and no one was injured.

WE WERE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY WE HEARD LIKE A "BANG" SOUND, LIKE AN EXPLOSION. WE LOOKED AROUND US AND WONDERED WHAT IT WAS. THEN WE HEARD THE AIR FROM THE ROOF SEEPING THROUGH AND WE TOOK AN EXIT, IT WAS A SHATTERED SUNROOF. SINCE THE RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST AND WE WERE GOING ON A CROSS COUNTRY VACATION, WE USED A FLEX TAPE TO PREVENT FOR THE GLASS TO KEEP SHATTERING AND FROM THE RAIN.