2019 Toyota RAV4 Visibility Problems

On February 2, 2026, while driving approximately 65 mph on the freeway in Wisconsin, the panoramic sunroof glass on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium (VIN: [XXX] ) spontaneously exploded. The ambient temperature was approximately 20°F. Crucially, the glass buckled outward, indicating the failure was caused by internal pressure or a structural defect, rather than an external impact (such as a rock). There were no other vehicles immediately ahead of me that could have kicked up debris. Safety Risk: The explosion created a loud, gunshot-like noise that caused severe driver distraction at highway speeds. While no crash occurred and no injuries were sustained this time, the sudden structural failure posed a significant risk of loss of vehicle control. Status: No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the failure. The vehicle had no prior damage to the roof area. Photos of outward buckling available upon request INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11717558

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

The contact's daughter owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side front windows became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the window regulators on the driver's side and passenger's side front windows needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact who is a mechanic stated that the steel cable in the plastic had deteriorated, and water and moisture had entered the vehicle, causing corrosion. The contact replaced both window regulators. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ID

11605063

Incident

May 1, 2023

Mileage

63,000 mi

Toyota service bulletin: T-SB-0079-20 (August 14, 2020) Outer Rear View Mirror Image Vibration While Driving (Causes distraction and could lead to and accident because image in side mirrors are unusable due to vibration) Dealer refuses to do this repair because it was only covered under a 36mo or 36,000 mile warranty. My car currently has 23,500 and this repair should be covered...or be a recall! Some 2019 – 2020 model year RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a vibration/shaking of the image shown in the outer rear view mirror(s) while driving. Mirror vibration can be observed at highway speeds of approximately 50 – 70 mph on typical concrete/asphalt road surfaces.

NHTSA ID

11533565

Incident

Jul 20, 2023

I have now had two spontaneous, large cracks form in my windshield without any impact of debris.

NHTSA ID

11519218

Incident

Apr 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that she initially noticed that the headliner was stained and later realized that rainwater had leaked into the driver's and passenger's side front cabins from the roof rail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was caused by a previous windshield replacement. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ID

11503791

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

15,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal glass-cracking sound was heard. The contact pulled over and noticed that the sunroof glass had shattered; however, the sunroof visor prevented the glass shards from entering the cabin of the vehicle. There was no impact on the sunroof that could have caused it to shatter. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11491584

Incident

Oct 29, 2022

Mileage

40,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he heard a loud banging sound. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact noticed that the sunroof glass panel had exploded with 40 percent of the shattered glass remaining. The contact stated that the shade guard was closed at the time of the failure. The contact was able to continue driving. The dealer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,300.

NHTSA ID

11483644

Incident

Sep 8, 2022

Mileage

25,300 mi

Wipers would not turn on when activated. I checked all fuses were good and still not working. I drove home with no wipers in rain. Then next day I went to recheck fuses and relays, but the wipers came on.

NHTSA ID

11452643

Incident

Feb 9, 2022

The Panoramic Sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving on the freeway. There was no impact point and the glass is bowed outward. When it exploded it was a very load pop and pressure feeling that made everyone's ears ring. About 2 seconds later small glass particles and glass dust fell down on the driver and passenger. This was reported to insurance company and taken to independent service center for estimate and repair. There were no warning lights or prior issues. The sun roof was in perfect working order and the vehicle has less than 25,000 miles on it. Driving context - 10:30 PM, light rain, outside temp was 38degrees, inside car temp set at 72 with heater on, sunshade was back, radio off, very little traffic on freeway with no road disturbances.

NHTSA ID

11447103

Incident

Jan 5, 2022

The sunroof/moonroof in my 2019 Toyota RAV4 spontaneously exploded while parked overnight in my driveway. There was not any damage on or around that area of my car, nothing above my car. The following morning when I pulled out of my driveway, I noticed a strange sound , retracted my visor and noticed the roof glass was completely shattered in a volcanic like shape. Pieces began to fall as I began to pull back into the driveway.

NHTSA ID

11440117

Incident

Nov 11, 2021

DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED WHEN SMALL GRAVEL BREAKS A SILVER DOLLAR SIZE STAR SHAPED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER ANOTHER OBJECT HIT PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED ANOTHER STAR SLAPPED CRACK IN THE GLASS NEAR PASSENGER WIPER ARM. HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED WITHIN 7 DAYS UPON RETURNING HOME. THE NEW WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A GENUINE TOYOTA WINDSHIELD IS NOW CHIPPED IN SEVERAL PLACES. EVERYTHING THAT HOTS THE WINDSHIELD EITHER CRACKS THE GLASS OR CREATES A SIGNIFICANT CHIP THAT INTERFERE WITH PROPER VISION. I FEEL THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA JUST SAID I WAS UNLUCKY. BUT A WINDSHIELD SHOULD AFFORD SOME SAFETY FROM ROAD DEBRIS, THAT TIPICALLY DOESN'T CRACK OR EVEN CHIP THE GLASS. IF A QUARTER SIZE ROCK OR LARGER OBJECT HITS THE RAV 4 WINDSHIELD THAT I'M DRIVING, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL BURST OUT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 53 YEARS AND HAS ONE WINDSHIELD REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS ONE. THIS RAV4 CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 38000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. A SHATTERED WINDSHIELD IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK FACTOR IN ANY ACCIDENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE WINDSHIELD SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER PROVED DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

11398913

Incident

Sep 10, 2020

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE ROOF RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER GREENTREE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER (45 COMMERCE RD, BROOKFIELD, CT 06804, (203) 775-6221) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ROOF RACK ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE 2ND REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ON 3/11/21.

NHTSA ID

11397553

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH ON A 65-DEGREE DAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, THE GLASS BLEW OUT AND DOWN THE BACK OF MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326776

Incident

May 23, 2020

Mileage

9,000 mi

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OVER 45 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES. THIS OCCURS ON MOST SURFACE WHETHER SMOOTH OR ROUGH. WHEN THE MIRROR IS VIBRATING, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CLEARLY VIEW WHAT IS OCCURRING TO THE LEFT AND BEHIND THE VEHICLE. DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS CREATE A DISTRACTION AS THE MIRROR IS DISTORTING AND SHIMMERING THE LIGHTS IN THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THIS MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. INVOICE SHOWS THAT VEHICLE "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AS SERVICE REP INDICATED THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SO THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE 2019/2020 RAV4.

NHTSA ID

11316097

Incident

Jan 20, 2020

Mileage

2,000 mi

I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2019 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE SIDE MIRROR (ON THE LEFT SIDE) APPEARS TO BE DISTORTING OR STRANGELY MAGNIFYING THE OBJECTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A "FEATURE", BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME FOR MY EYES TO ADJUST FROM LOOKING AT THE ROAD IN FRONT TO THE SIDE MIRROR BECAUSE THE FOCUS SEEMS TO BE OFF. IN FACT, AFTER A HALF HOUR OF DRIVING MY WIFE HAD A HEADACHE FROM GLANCING AT THE MIRROR. WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN ANY OTHER CAR. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE MIRROR TENDS TO VIBRATE A LOT, MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO LOOK INTO COMBINED WITH THE DISTORTED IMAGE.

NHTSA ID

11287796

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

Mileage

100 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR ON MY 2019 RAV 4 ADVENTURE SHAKES/RATTLES WHEN DRIVING. IT MAKES LOOKING THROUGH THE MIRROR BLURRY. THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. IN THE CITY ON CITY STREETS BUMPS ALSO ADD TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO TOYOTA AND MY DEALER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ASSURED IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD FIX. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT SEE CLEARLY INTO THE MIRROR SO I CAN SEE THINGS BEHIND ME WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11271352

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

Mileage

12 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION REFLECTING OFF THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. CHEROKEE COUNTY TOYOTA (301 LIBERTY BLVD, CANTON, GA 30114, (770) 704-9525) WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TRY TO GET USED TO THE REFLECTION ISSUE. THE DEALER TRIED TO GET THE CONTACT TO SWITCH TO A CAMRY, BUT SHE REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND A CASE MANAGER. THE MANUFACTURER PROMISED A CALL BACK AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT, BUT IT WAS NOT KEPT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48. *JS

NHTSA ID

11257289

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

Mileage

48 mi

DRIVER END OF LOWER DASH BOARD TRIM REFLECTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE VIEW MIRROR. REFLECTION INTERFERES WITH VISIBILITY. REFLECTION GOES AWAY WHEN THE WINDOW IS FULLY LOWERED. TOYOTO CUST SERVICE CLAIMS PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT RIGHT NOW. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COVERING THE DRIVERS END OF THE DASH.

NHTSA ID

11254393

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

100 mi

DRIVER SIDE MIRROR PROBLEMS: 1. MIRROR DISTORTION: CAUSES IMAGES IN THE MIRROR TO BE BLURRY. ISSUE IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT IN SUNNY DAYS. 2. THE TRIM, ESPECIALLY THE SILVER ONE, AND THE A/C VENT EXCESSIVELY REFLECTS ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. 3. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SLIGHTLY ROUGH DRIVING SURFACES, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WOBBLES.

NHTSA ID

11246480

Incident

Aug 24, 2019

Mileage

30 mi

SIDE MIRRORS HAVE A VIBRATION THAT AFFECT YOUR DRIVING FOCUS AT THE TIME YOU LOOK AT THEM. GENERATE A BLURRY VISION AND DIZZINESS. THIS WAS NOTIFIED TO THE DEALER AND VERIFIED, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS A DESIGN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11244363

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

Mileage

500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS SHOOK AND RATTLED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, IT LOOKED AS IF TWO VEHICLES WERE SHOWN IN THE MIRRORS EVERY TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS ESPECIALLY AFFECTED. THE CONTACT'S VISION REMAINED BLURRED WHILE USING THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF NORTH SCRANTON (3400 N MAIN AVE, SCRANTON, PA 18508, (570) 489-7584), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY STATED THE FAILURE WAS A "MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT". THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,921.

NHTSA ID

11205702

Incident

Apr 24, 2019

Mileage

1,921 mi