I Brought My Toyota Highlander Into the Dealer For the 10th Time To Get My Moonroof Leak Fixed, They Made Me Pay $2,500 and It’s Still Not Fixed

Does Toyota have a problem with moonroofs that leak water inside the Highlander and Tacoma? Here is a woman's story of how she paid Toyota to fix her leaky Highlander's moonroof, and it's still not fixed right. Here is Cassidy's remarkable story.

Posted: December 17, 2024 - 6:41AM
Author: Denis Flierl

My Toyota Highlander's moonroof is leaking water all over my baby.

Imagine driving your Toyota Highlander SUV with your baby in the car seat in the back seat, and water is dripping on the infant. This would infuriate any mom. Not to mention the potential safety risks of a wet car seat and a distracted driver. She has to pull over and dry the baby off, who is probably screaming by now.

A young mom, Cassidy Maldonado (@cassidymaldonado_), is at her wit's end with a Toyota dealer promising to fix her Highlander's moonroof, which is leaking water. She's made countless trips back to the dealer, so many that she's lost count. She estimates it's now ten times, a fact she shares with her TikTok audience in a tone of exasperation.

It's not the only leaking Toyota moonroof I've covered. Another man with a Toyota Tacoma with a moonroof or panoramic glass roof has the same problem; the moonroof leaks like a sieve. He's had to take his car back to the dealer multiple times, just like Cassidy. Check out my report here.

Does Toyota have a problem with some of its vehicles from the factory Moonroofs?

Here is Cassidy's story.

She asks her audience, "Put your finger down if you bought a Toyota Highlander from an actual Toyota dealership when you were four months pregnant. They sold it to you broken with a water leak in the moonroof, and you didn't know?"

She holds five fingers up as she sits in the Toyota Highlander. She points to the moonroof above her head.

"And then I brought it in, and they try to fix it; they claimed they fixed it, but it's not actually fixed. I brought it back in over and over again because it keeps having the same water leak, and they keep claiming it's fixed."

On the fifth visit, they demanded $2,500 to fix the moonroof, claiming it was the source of the leak. But the problem persisted, and the car was now worse than ever."

Cassidy was left with no choice but to bring it in again, adding to her frustration and the financial strain of the situation.

"Over and over and over again," Cassidy says with frustration.

"Now it's the tenth or eleventh time, and they'll only give me half what I paid for the Highlander to buy a new car, and I don't want to do that, which is not fair. So, I'm sitting in a soaking wet car with my baby, hoping it's not moldy because they don't want to do anything for me."

Her Highlander is in the shop again.

A week later, Cassidy gave an update on her Toyota Highlander moonroof leak. She has her SUV in the dealer again. It's hard to believe, but this trip to the Toyota dealer, which she does not identify, is the eleventh time she has made it.

Cassidy says, "So, currently, there's not really an update. They (the Toyota dealer) said that either yesterday or the day before, they told me my car would be ready to be picked up, but they never let us know."

The Toyota dealer has not fixed her car and has yet to let her know when it will be ready, and now she has to drive her mom's car.

"So, I'm in my mom's car, and she's on vacation, so I'm getting to use her car right now, which is really nice. But, still no update."

"Hopefully, it's actually fixed, and they are having actual water leak people working on it, but they've said that before. So, I'm not sure. Hopefully, it's fixed. I'll keep updating you if there's a good update, but nothing yet."

What should you do if Toyota won't fix your vehicle's problem?

First, check if the issue is covered under your car's warranty. If you did not purchase a vehicle warranty or your vehicle is out of warranty, you don't have any choice but to pay for the repair.

However, if you have been to the dealer multiple times like Cassidy, a report from Edmunds says there are steps you can take.

1. Document everything:

Keep detailed records of all repair attempts, dates, descriptions of the problem, and any communication with the dealership.

2. Contact Toyota customer service:

Call the Toyota customer service hotline (800-331-4331) and explain the situation clearly.

3. Review your state's Lemon Law:

Understand the requirements to file a Lemon Law claim in your jurisdiction.

4. Consider a third-party diagnosis:

Get a second opinion from an independent mechanic to verify the issue and potential solutions.

5. Talk to dealership management:

Speak with the service manager or general manager at the dealership to try to resolve the issue internally.

6. Consult a lawyer:

If the problem remains unresolved, consider contacting a lawyer specializing in Lemon Law cases.

Do you have any advice for Cassidy?

Have you experienced a leaky moonroof or a panoramic glass roof in your Toyota Highlander, Tacoma pickup, or another Toyota vehicle? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Cassidy Maldonado

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