For almost 40 years, the Toyota Camry has been one of the most popular compact cars in the US. Modern models can be customized to include features such as sunroof or a moonroof.
But what’s the difference between a Toyota Camry moonroof and sunroof? And is it worth adding one to your car?
Continue reading to find out more about the Toyota Camry sunroof and moonroof options.
Toyota Camry Moonroof vs Sunroof: What’s the Difference?
Most new cars (including the Camry) have switched from sunroofs to moonroofs, but what’s the difference?
Not much really. Sunroofs and moonroofs used to be slightly different. Sunroofs used to be a simple metal panel that could tilt or slide open, while moonroofs used to be fixed glass panels that could tilt open but not slide open fully.
However, with moonroofs now having the ability to slide open, there really isn’t much difference between a moonroof and a sunroof, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
The Toyota Camry offers two types of moonroofs:
Standard Moonroof – A single glass pane that covers the front seats of the car only and can tilt or slide open completely. It’s usually an option that can be added to lower trim levels.
Panoramic glass roof – A two-pane glass moonroof that covers both the front and back seats of the car. The front pane can tilt open or slide open fully.
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Does The Toyota Camry Have A Sunroof?
Most new Toyota Camrys can be customized to include a sunroof at an extra cost. The more basic trims can be fitted with a simple power tilt/ slide sunroof, which can be opened and closed via electrical controls.
It is available for the Toyota Camry LE, LE Hybrid, SE, SE Hybrid, XLE Hybrid, and XSE Hybrid.
There is also a more exclusive option, the panoramic glass roof, which provides light and air for both the front and the rear seats of the car. This is available for the Toyota Camry XLE, XSE, XLE V6, and XSE V6.
There are only a few current Toyota Camrys that can’t be fitted with a sunroof. They are the SE Nightshade Edition, the SE Nightshade Edition Hybrid, and the TRD.
Is The Toyota Camry Panoramic Sunroof Worth It?
Most people agree that getting a panoramic sunroof with your Camry is not worth it. While they look nice and allow more natural light into your car, they also come with some major downsides.
They allow more heat into your car, reduce your headroom, make noise, lessen the structural safety of your car, and most people rarely use them.
There was even a Consumer Reports article that talked about the rise of the number of sunroofs exploding (Yikes).
If you are buying a Toyota Camry for its famous reliability, then adding a panoramic sunroof is simply not a wise choice. You don’t have to look far to find forum threads about leaking Camry Panoramic Sunroofs.
Does The Toyota Camry Have A Moonroof?
Most modern Toyota Camrys can be fitted with a moonroof, although the standard versions of most trims don’t include them. If you’re interested in adding a moonroof to your car, you should consider a Toyota Camry LE, SE, XLE, or XSE. The Camry TRD doesn’t come with a moonroof, and some of the hybrid cars also can’t be fitted with one.
Is The Toyota Camry Moonroof Worth It?
A powered single-pane moonroof can be added as an optional extra to lower Camry trim levels for around $2,250. Whether this single pane moonroof is worth it is entirely down to your personal preference.
Some people love moonroofs, and wouldn’t buy another car without one, while other people see them as simply adding one more thing that has the potential to break and require fixing.
A single pane moonroof on your Camry will allow more air and natural light into your car and can help expel hot air from your car quickly if you live in warmer climates. However, many Camry owners say they simply never use their moonroofs, and they can be expensive to fix if out of warranty.
In our opinion, adding the standard power tilt moonroof to your Camry is not really worth the extra $2,150 it costs.
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How Much Does it Cost to Install a Sunroof on Toyota Camry?
If you go through your Toyota dealer and get a standard sunroof installed on your Toyota Camry, it will cost you approximately $2,250.
To save money, some people buy a regular Toyota Camry and then install an aftermarket sunroof. This is generally cheaper, and it might only cost between $300 and $800 to buy the necessary parts. With installation, an aftermarket sunroof might cost $800-$1,800.
While this option will save you money, it is also riskier because the sunroof might not fit the car, and the quality of the aftermarket parts might be low.
How Much Does it Cost to Add a Moonroof to Your Camry?
If you are buying lower trim levels, you can add a standard, single-paned power moonroof to your Camry for roughly $2,250.
Does the 2016 Toyota Camry Have a Moonroof?
The 2016 Toyota Camy has a single-pane power moonroof as an optional extra on the SE, XSE, LE, and XLE trims. The V6 versions of the XSE and XLE come with a moonroof (sunroof) as standard.
Toyota Camry Moonroof Problems & Solutions
Toyota Camry moonroofs look great, but they’re not without their problems. Common problems that Camry owners face with their moonroofs are that they either won’t close, won’t open, are leaking, or are loose.
1. Toyota Camry Moonroof Won’t Close
Some Camry owners find that the moonroof won’t close.
If this happens to you, Toyota recommends doing the following in the car manual:
- Stop the vehicle
- Turn the ignition to “Ignition On” mode
- Press and hold the close sunroof button forward for about 10 seconds
- Check that the moonroof and sunshade are fully closed before releasing the switch
2. Toyota Camry Moonroof Won’t Open
Sometimes, your moonroof might not open. In this case, you should follow these steps:
- Check your car’s manual about how to reset your moonroof. Complete all the steps.
- If the moonroof is still stuck, check the fuse box under the left side of your dash. There should be a fuse labeled sunroof or moonroof, which could have been blown out.
- If your problem persists, the motor of your sunroof might be faulty. In this case, you’ll need to see a mechanic.
3. Toyota Camry Moonroof or Panoramic Sunroof Is Leaking
A small number of Camry owners have reported that their moonroof or panoramic sunroof leaks. It’s generally believed that this is due to loose bolts that need to be tightened or sealing that needs to be replaced, and is more common when you drive on poor-quality roads.
4. Toyota Camry Moonroof Rattles
A small number of Camry owners have experienced rattling coming from their moonroofs and panoramic sunroofs, especially when driving over small bumps in the road. Toyota is aware of this issue and if your car is still under warranty, contact Toyota who will assign you a case manager who will then liaise directly with the dealership that sold you the car.
5. Toyota Camry Moonroof Is Loose
If your moonroof is loose, you might need to tighten the screws that hold it in place. Alternatively, your weatherstripping might have worn out, in which case you need to have it replaced. If you’re not sure how to fix these issues on your own, you should see a mechanic. This type of service should be free for Toyota Camrys that are still under warranty.
How To Reset A Toyota Camry Moonroof?
Many problems with the Toyota Camry moonroof can be fixed by resetting it. Here’s how:
- Switch your car on.
- Push the moonroof’s “TILT UP” switch and hold it until the roof has tilted all the way up and then down slightly.
- Push your switch briefly to the “TILT UP” and “SLIDE OPEN” positions to check whether the one-touch tilt up/down and one-touch slide open/close functions are working well.
This should correct any issues and reset your one-touch operation.
How To Close A Toyota Camry Moonroof?
Normally, you can use your electrical controls to close your Toyota Camry’s moonroof. Simply hold the “UP” or the “TILT” button until your sunroof tilts downwards, adjusts itself, and then closes.
If this mechanism is broken, you can manually close your moonroof. To do this, follow these steps:
- Take the clips out of your sunglass holder and remove it.
- Remove all the trim that is holding the headliner in place in the front of the Camry with a screwdriver.
- Unscrew any other accessories which are attached to the front part of the roof, such as the handles, mirror, and clothes hooks.
- Unclip the windshield and the fasteners that hold the headliner in place, then pull down the front of the headliner.
- Now, you will be able to remove the moonroof motor and manually pull the glass forward.
- Replace all your car parts before you drive off. If necessary, bring your Camry to a mechanic to have the moonroof’s motor fixed.
Source:
- http://blog.toyotaofmorristown.com/which-2022-toyota-camry-has-a-sunroof/
- https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/exploding-sunroofs-danger-overhead/
- https://www.thepricer.org/sunroof-installation-cost/