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It could be the worst Toyota Tacoma feature ever.
Getting a sunroof on a new 2024 Toyota Tacoma pickup shouldn't be a problem, but according to one customer's issues, you may want to avoid the feature.
A former Toyota mechanic's report from TCCN Automotive reveals serious issues with the Tacoma sunroof, and if it leaks, you'll be in for an expensive repair bill, potentially putting a significant dent in your wallet.
He says one of his customers allegedly suffered a "botched" repair on his pickup at a Toyota dealer. The professional mechanic from Illinois says he's not too fond of dealers.
"You'll get a good chuckle out of this one. This is why dealerships get a bad name, folks, for real. No kidding. I worked at a dealership."
His customer told him he took Tacoma to the dealer to fix its sunroof, which had sprung a leak. It appeared that the seal on its panoramic sunroof was the culprit.
It sounds like an easy fix.
What should have been an easy seal replacement turned out to be a major undertaking because of Tacoma's sunroof design.
The mechanic explained: "To replace the seal properly, you must remove the headliner and pull the entire sunroof structure out of the car. It's beyond me why it's designed this way."
After examining the sunroof further, he thinks the dealership likely chose to fix it the easiest way possible by replacing the tape that attaches the corner of the sunroof seal to the main frame of the car. The dealer should have replaced the seal entirely.
He says, "If you don't, the corner will keep popping up, and air will rush through the gap, causing a whistling sound."
Now, the fix gets expensive and time-consuming.
The mechanic says because the seal is broken, he now has to remove the truck's interior and remove the roof to change it, a job he said could take "two full days."
Fixing the Tacoma's sunroof the right way will now cost the customer $1,850 to repair.
Research on Reddit revealed that the sunroof issue is not unique to one customer. Many other Tacoma owners have reported similar problems, suggesting that it's a common design flaw.
tomg525 asked:
"Hey guys, I just got a 2022 Toyota Tacoma Sport with a sunroof in it. I took it to the dealer because the sunroof is leaking. The mechanics at the dealer say the leak is normal."
Commenters said:
que_pedo_
"You must have taken the truck in right before closing, and the mechanic was on his way to a happy hour."
"The mechanic is full of it. Try calling and asking for the service manager. If that gets you nowhere, try another dealer or just call Toyota directly. This is covered under warranty."
BFchampion
"No, it's not supposed to leak. Your cabin should not have any water intrusion from the sunroof. They're lazy. Go back and get that fixed."
Another poster on Reddit asked, "Is it normal for my 3rd gen Tacoma Sunroof to leak during a car wash? I feel like this should have a better seal."
jeffreytodds
"That IS normal. That black tray below catches the drips and is routed to a drain located in your a pillar."
Competitive_Rub1636
"It's normal, but if you use your sunroof often, you need to clean your seals regularly and be sure there is no debris. I had this happen with my 4Runner not too long ago and found a build-up of dried pollen and dust that caused water to seep through. Double check that the seal isn't damaged, though, because you may have to get it serviced if that's the case."
Thirsty4Knowledge911
"These should be serviced regularly if you routinely use it. I had a leak on my Highlander. The dealer quoted replacing the entire unit. I got a second opinion and had it serviced. Worked great for a fraction of the price."
Others said:
"The only thing I've found that's worse than any other vehicle I've owned are the seals on these trucks; after a power wash, I have drips coming from random parts of the cabin."
"Your sunroof seal and all door seals can be cleaned by wiping with a cloth with a little silicone spray on it. With the sunroof, it will help it not leak as much, but as others have said, it's going to leak a little with the amount of pressure from the spray at the car wash."
It's Your Turn.
Do you have a Toyota Tacoma with a sunroof? Have you experienced any problems with it leaking or not sealing properly? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.
Check out this Toyota Tacoma story:
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 Toyota
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