My New 2025 Toyota RAV4 2 Months In, Has a Sunroof Leak Every Time It Rains, So, I Take It To the Dealer and They Claim It’s Normal

If your brand-new 2025 Toyota RAV4 is leaking water, and the dealership called it "normal," would you accept that answer?

Imagine driving off the lot in a brand-new vehicle, only to find a basic component—like a sunroof—isn't working as it should. I recently saw a post in the Toyota RAV4 Discussion Group 2019-2025 detailing exactly this frustration. 

A new 2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE owner noticed water leaking from the back edge of their sunroof on an average rainy day, not just during high-pressure car washes. When they took it to the dealer, they were told it was a "minimal leak" and, unbelievably, "normal."

A member on the Toyota RAV4 Discussion Group 2019-2025 - Gas + Hybrid + Prime Facebook group doesn’t and says,

"I picked up my new 2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE about 2 months ago. Been having issues with the sunroof leaking on the back edge whenever it rains. I brought it to the dealer, and they checked it out and said it's a minimal leak and "normal". I don't feel like it should be normal for water to come into my new car every time it rains. I'm worried about mold, rust, etc."

"They explained to me that sometimes it can leak when going through a car wash due to the high pressure, but I'm noticing it on an average rainy day, and that can't be normal."

This is not normal.

While modern sunroofs are designed to manage water, not provide a perfect seal, water actively dripping into the cabin on a rainy day is a warranty issue and a huge red flag for long-term ownership. This owner is right to worry about the potential for mold, mildew, and corrosion. It's a threat to the car's interior health and the vehicle's value.

I want to offer RAV4 owners reading this the solution to this problem.

The Truth About Sunroofs: Why They "Leak" By Design

Contrary to popular belief, the perimeter seal on a RAV4's moonroof is designed to stop most water, but not all of it. It's the secondary barrier.

The primary defense system is the catch basin and the drainage tube system. Water that gets past the outer seal collects in a trough (the catch basin) running around the perimeter of the sunroof opening. This trough is equipped with drainage tubes—typically two in the front and two in the back—that channel the water safely through the A-pillars and C-pillars, down through the chassis, and out onto the ground.

When the dealer's service advisor says a minimal water leak is normal on a new car, they should say, "It's normal for water to enter the catch basin, but abnormal for it to overflow and reach the cabin." The instant the water breaches the catch basin and wets the headliner or drips into the back seat, the system is failing, regardless of the volume of water. This is where an owner's leverage lies when speaking to the service manager.

Why is My New Toyota RAV4 Panoramic Moonroof Leaking Water?

In older or higher-mileage vehicles, the drain tubes can clog up over the years of exposure to pine needles, dirt, and dust. But with a two-month-old 2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE sunroof leaking, we can rule out years of debris accumulation. The problem is usually one of two things:

1. The Manufacturing Clog (Most Likely)

When you see a leak on a brand-new vehicle, especially one appearing at the back edge of the sunroof, the most common culprit is a drain tube that was either improperly seated or partially clogged during the manufacturing or pre-delivery inspection process.

The rear drains are notoriously difficult to access and are a common spot for debris to settle if the car sat outside for a period before you took delivery. The symptom described—a leak on an average rainy day—perfectly matches a partially occluded rear drain tube. The tube can handle a trickle, but once the water volume exceeds average rainfall, the tube can't keep up, the catch basin overflows, and the water takes the path of least resistance: your headliner. This is exactly why this new Toyota RAV4 owner's panoramic moonroof is leaking water.

2. The Seal/Component Misalignment

While less likely, the factory could have improperly installed the moonroof glass itself, or the pressure equalization ports could be misaligned. However, given the nature of the leak (occurring in the rain, not just high pressure), the drain tube issue is almost guaranteed to be the source.

What Owners Should Do Next

You have a brand-new vehicle, and this owner should demand that the system perform as intended.

When pursuing warranty coverage for persistent RAV4 sunroof leaks, go back to the service manager and reference the system design: "The drainage system is failing to evacuate water, causing overflow into the cabin. This is not a minimal leak; this is a failure of the water management system, which will cause interior damage not covered by the standard warranty later."

This failure is not a maintenance issue; it is a defect in the vehicle's manufacturing or pre-delivery preparation. Demand they drop the headliner, check the drain tube seating, and ensure they are 100% clear.

What the Community is Saying

The experience shared by this new RAV4 owner is echoed across various social media and owner forums. Many report similar frustrations:

• Owner A: "My dealer gave me the same line about the car wash pressure. It leaked 48 hours later during a drizzle. I used compressed air on the rear drains (very carefully!) and blew out what looked like a wad of foam packing material. Hasn't leaked since."
• Owner B: "I found my front drain tubes were pinched where they exit the firewall. Had to fight the dealer to fix it under warranty, but they finally did, and replaced the soaked carpet insulation."

For more details on Toyota reliability, check out my related stories:

• 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
• I Brought In My Toyota Tacoma After Suffering a Botched Repair On the Worst Feature Ever. This Is Why Dealers Get a Bad Name

Conclusion and Final Takeaways

The key takeaway here is that knowledge is power. Don't accept the dealer's weak excuse that a leak on a new car is "normal." It is a solvable, common issue with the drainage system that requires immediate attention to prevent future mold and rust. The primary issue is almost certainly a blockage or misalignment in the rear drain tubes, making fixing common Toyota RAV4 sunroof drainage problems a necessary action point right now.

A Question for You: 

Have you ever successfully pushed back against a dealer who insisted a maintenance issue on a new car was "normal"? Share your experience in the comments below—it could save another owner a massive headache.

I'm Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012, bringing over 30 years of automotive expertise to every story. My career began with a consulting role for every major car brand, followed by years as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles—equipping me with a wealth of insider knowledge. I specialize in delivering the latest auto news, sharing compelling owner stories, and providing expert, up-to-date analysis to keep you fully informed.

Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl