Anyone familiar with VW leaky sunroofs?

[wbwanzer]

Lately I'm amusing myself by looking at used VW Golf Sportwagons and Alltracks online. Most seem to be 2017s. I don't need another car, just wouldn't mind another car to play around in, and I like Volkswagens. I don't want a sunroof but a majority of the cars I'm seeing online have sunroofs. I've heard they can leak when the drains get stopped up. Is unclogging them something easy that the average owner could do, or does it require removing the sunroof? I request a Carfax for any car that looks interesting to me. Quite a few of them show that the headliner has been replaced. I'm taking that to mean that the roof leaked. So I'm disregarding all cars with sunroofs. I would probably only have the car for a year or two, so should I stop worrying about it and just do it, and deal with a leak if it happens.

Any experiences with leaky sunroofs are welcome. Thanks.

 

[cptbarkey]

They make small long bottle brushes you can buy on amazon. I simply used an air compressor with an air gun and blasted the drain lines out. Its a maintenance thing that nobody does.

 

[KGMtech]

Pretty easy to clear the 4 drains, but nobody bothers until the car is dripping from the headliner. Some weed wacker line and 20 minutes and you're done.

 

[wbwanzer]

Ok. So I don't need to steer clear of these vehicles.
Thanks guys.

 

[97prizm]

Lately I'm amusing myself by looking at used VW Golf Sportwagons and Alltracks online. Most seem to be 2017s. I don't need another car, just wouldn't mind another car to play around in, and I like Volkswagens. I don't want a sunroof but a majority of the cars I'm seeing online have sunroofs. I've heard they can leak when the drains get stopped up. Is unclogging them something easy that the average owner could do, or does it require removing the sunroof? I request a Carfax for any car that looks interesting to me. Quite a few of them show that the headliner has been replaced. I'm taking that to mean that the roof leaked. So I'm disregarding all cars with sunroofs. I would probably only have the car for a year or two, so should I stop worrying about it and just do it, and deal with a leak if it happens.

Any experiences with leaky sunroofs are welcome. Thanks.

I knew a couple of Porsche 928 owners, and worked for a VW dealership for a while. From what I remember the mechanics used a shop vac to suck any dirt/debris out. Then compressed air and a soft brush to clean any remaining debris. Then grease the tracks. I never saw a customer come in with a leaking sunroof, not to say it didn't happen. I think they are better built than in years past. My complaint is that for whatever reason alot of the premium models in the usa automatically came with a sunroof while in Europe and Canada had an option for it or not.

 

[wavinwayne]

I had a 2000 GTI with a sunroof. I drove it until 2018 with no sunroof leaks ever. The front drains were just forward of the doors and only require a "pinch" to open up the soft rubber drain and let any water/gunk out. Mine never got clogged. I can't remember where the rear drains were, but I believe it was a similar setup to the front. Just give the drains a squeeze every few months and it should be fine.

 

[TeeCee]

My 2016 nissan rogue had a "filter" at the end of the drain ports that made no sense and caused some headliner damage. Had to remove the windshield wiper cowl and remove said worthless filter Nissan decided to use.

 

[JavierH19]

I've never done anything to my 340k 20 year old yukons power sun roof since new. Still opens and closes and never leaked a drop. Don't know how something like this can be screwed up.

 

[raaizin]

Isnt there a danger when using compressed air that the drain line can be disconnected from the air pressure. I had read once this is a possibility

 

[KGMtech]

Isnt there a danger when using compressed air that the drain line can be disconnected from the air pressure. I had read once this is a possibility

Yes the risk is there, especially if the line is plugged. I'd use a regulator on the output to bring it down to less than 15 psi.

 

[skyactiv]

My wife has a 2015 Audi A4 with a sunroof she bought new and its never leaked and I once owned a 2013 GTI I bought new with a sunroof which my middle brother now owns and I would hear from him if it ever leaked which it hasn't.

 

[wbwanzer]

It's good to hear the 'no trouble ' stories.

 

[KCJeep]

Regular VW sunroofs are good, I had no issues with the one in my Passat although I did have the dealer clean and lube per the maintenance schedule. The All Tracks have the pano roofs and are much more likely to leak. Lack of maintenance or poor design I don’t know, but there’s a reason you are seeing issues on Carfax.

The entry Alltrack is pretty well optioned for a base model and will have a proper roof nobody has cut a hole in.

 

[KGMtech]

If you never park under a tree, especially one that sheds needles, then you could go full life of car with never a leak from sunroof.

 

[Mechanician]

I would estimate the percent of roofs that have problems with plugged drains to be very low.
As mentioned above ^ the leaves or needles from trees are easily avoided - especially if you keep the roof closed when it's parked.
I've seen the rubber flaps at the bottom of the drain lines, get moldy and stick shut. Those can be found behind the fender liners, and cleared.
Also whenever you open the roof inspect for, and remove any debris in the frame.
The drains can be easily tested with a cup of water, slowly poured in each corner of the frame with the roof open. (on a level surface)
You should see the water pour out quickly behind the front tires, and in front of the rear tires.

Edit: Forget about blowing out the drains - I had an Acura come in that would not turn off - due to someone doing that. The drain line blew out of place, and ended up dumping it's water on the fuse panel.

 

[Finklejag]

They make small long bottle brushes you can buy on amazon. I simply used an air compressor with an air gun and blasted the drain lines out. Its a maintenance thing that nobody does.

That’s a quick way to disconnect the drain tubes from each other and cause an even bigger water leak.

Look into the 2018’s S models. No moonroof and optional AWD and 6 speed.

 

[svtrit]

Our 2001 New Beetle had drains running down the inside of the pillars along the windshield. The passenger side one somehow came loose and made a mess in the car. I pulled the trim off and reattached the drain. No problems after that.

 

[edyvw]

Have a panoramic sunroof on Tiguan, absolutely no issues.

 

[930.engineering]

I've heard they can leak when the drains get stopped up.

Past 35 years I owned several VWs and Audis with sunroofs, my current Mini has a moonroof.
None of them had a single leak. If it had issues it had either wind noise (Golf Mk3) or rattle (Mini).

Is unclogging them something easy that the average owner could do, or does it require removing the sunroof?

Easy. I'd use an old speedo cable. To be honest I never ever cleaned any drain lines.
Probably since I try to avoid to place a car under trees, or if In need to, I don't do so
with a (partially) open sunroof, in particular in autumn. However, there's another
reason for that avoidance:
Leaves and needles from trees will inevitably enter the windshield wiper cowl as well
which also has its own drains that probably tend to plug too, often causing corrosion
in the A-pillar area. I'm sure it's the much bigger issue.
.

 

[Bjornviken]

Have a panoramic sunroof on Tiguan, absolutely no issues.

My Brother have a 2016 Tiguan 2.0 R line, no issues with the panoramic sunroof either. Only problem that he had is a broken front spring, but that car is almost 300k km driven on Soviet replica roads that we have in Finland