The average price for a sunroof motor replacement cost is between $623 and $673, with the total cost of the parts coming to around $435. The price of the labor is between $188 and $237, since the total time for this procedure takes between 2.5 and 3 hours at most mechanic shops or dealerships.
A sunroof in a vehicle is typically any kind of panel on the roof of your car that lets in light, air, or both to come into the vehicle at the same time. Used to allow wind into the car or let the sunshine come in during warm summer days, the sunroof is a common feature on family cars in modern times.
In comparison, a moonroof is a different kind of glass panel in the roof of your car that typically has a tinted glass panel. Unlike a sunroof, sunroofs are made of glass and can’t be removed from a vehicle, and only can sometimes slide or open. If you find the sunroof or moonroof is not working properly, you will have to obtain a quote for a sunroof motor replacement cost.
Electric sunroofs allow the occupants and driver to easily operate the window in the ceiling of their vehicle, bringing in light, warmth, and sunshine into the cabin of the car. This mechanism adds luxury and comfort to summer car rides and is often a big selling point with modern cars on the market today.
Typically, the electrical sunroof is held under the headliner, attached to the sunroof regulator assembly. It lets the sunroof open and close when the switch is used inside the cabin to direct power to the motor. The sunroof motor works directly with the sunroof regulator assembly, keeping the sunroof glass moving through the correct frame and track.
However, despite the many positives, the high sunroof motor replacement cost and other reliability concerns can deter some car owners from purchasing vehicles that contain sunroofs or moonroofs.
Electric sunroofs can become a nightmare if something goes wrong with the wiring or the electrical system that controls the windows and power-related apparatuses in the vehicle. If the sunroof motor fails while the sunroof is stuck in the open position, there is very little that can be done if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
In addition, if the sunroof is in the open position, this can lead to vulnerability while your car is parked or stuck in traffic. You won't be able to keep out the weather elements, unclean air, and potential vandalism that sees the open window in your car. If the manufacturer did not include a method to close the sunroof manually, then the sunroof is stuck in the open position.
To get an idea of why you need to spend over $600 for your sunroof motor replacement cost, we’ll give you an idea of the mechanisms involved in operating this sunroof and sunroof motor. The ability to move the sunroof in both directions is carried out by the sunroof motor and the motor switch, the apparatus used by the driver or the passenger to operate the sunroof.
The sunroof motor has various electronic configurations that depend on the specific circuit and electrical current provided. The sunroof uses these patterns to reverse directions and open or close the mirror.
As you can see, the body control module, sunroof position sensor, and sunroof motor all work together to operate the mechanism smoothly and efficiently. If you notice any issues with your car’s BCM or the sunroof position sensor, chances are you'll have a higher sunroof motor replacement cost.
In short, yes – if your sunroof is stuck in the closed position. If it is stuck in the open position, we strongly advise against it.
If your sunroof is stuck in the open or closed position, this can lead to an annoying nuisance that will hinder your driving experience. However, if you are tight on cash and don’t want to pay for the sunroof motor replacement cost, the luxury of opening your sunroof could not be as important to your wallet.
Since the sunroof and sunroof have no impact on the safety and driveability of your car, the only reason you absolutely would have to fix this part is if the sunroof was stuck in the open position. In this case, if the weather was constantly freezing, snowing, or raining, leaving the sunroof open could lead to distracting and unsafe driving conditions.
In addition, sunroofs that are tilted open or stuck in the completely open position leave your car vulnerable to vandalism or damage by animals. With the window constantly open, animals can get into your car and harm your seats and internal wiring, vandals can steal any items you have in the car, and rain can damage the internal electrical components in your vehicle.
In this condition, if there is no manual choice to close the sunroof, it is best to pay the sunroof motor replacement cost as soon as possible to avoid any further damage.
When looking at the prevalence of sunroof failures in vehicles, the average mileage of replacement for a sunroof motor came at just 150,000 miles.
Unfortunately for car owners, sunroof motors are known to fail in modern cars due to the complicated electrical and power-related components used to drive the mechanism. These vehicles show signs of failure within just a few thousand miles, showing the lack of durability in the sunroof mechanisms and the sunroof motor.
Most vehicles with a sunroof will usually have an issue with the sunroof assembly, sunroof motor, or electrical circuit at some point within the driving life of the vehicle. However, the sunroof fallibility is not only inclusive of just the sunroof motor, but other associated parts as well.
Since sunroofs are often forgotten about in terms of scheduled maintenance, the regulator assembly and drains tend to cause issues for the car and the car owner. The regulator assembly will have to be replaced during the sunroof’s lifespan, including the sunroof motor.
The source of the failure usually traces back to the sunroof regulator assembly and the sunroof motor, causing the high sunroof motor replacement cost.
If the sunroof is not working properly, drivers should not automatically assume the sunroof motor is the root cause of the issue in the vehicle. Other parts must be checked first to determine the catalyst of the electric and power-related concerns regarding the sunroof.
Even though the sunroof motor might not be the root cause of the sunroof problems in this scenario, the sunroof position sensor faults can still lead to a high sunroof motor replacement cost.
Since the sunroof motor is located under the car’s headliner, it can be quite difficult to reach normal car owners. Unless you have extensive car DIY knowledge and the proper tools, we recommend leaving this replacement process to professionals.
The mechanic must take special care while removing and replacing the headliner to avoid any creasing or cracking. This can lead to a high sunroof motor replacement cost due to further structural damage.
If the sunroof is open while the car is having trouble operating the sunroof, it is important you close the sunroof immediately. If you or the mechanic is working on the battery or electrical components in the car, having the sunroof open can lead to potential leaks and precipitation in the car, causing electrical shocks or fires.
If a vehicle with a bad sunroof moor or sunroof position sensor needs to be left outside for a few hours or days, the roof area should be covered with a tarp or non-permeable membrane to ensure no outside objects enter the vehicle. By doing this, you can prevent an even higher sunroof motor replacement cost.
As you can see, paying over $600 to fix this problem is well worth the benefits. If you let the sunroof motor go untreated, it can put you and your car in a vulnerable position, whether driving in rainy and cold weather, or leaving your car parked on the street overnight!
