I bought a 2015 ES 350 (used) last year. One day I turned into a parking lot with a somewhat steep incline and heard a sound from the roof like it buckled.

Does anyone know of a similar problem? I was told the roof (around the sunroof) can be damaged if I hit a large pothole previously.

Thanks!

 

Have you inspected the roof? Can you see some deformation? I doubt that the roof will buckle on hitting a huge pothole, then again it can happen.

 

This happens sometimes when you are coming up a steep incline at an angle, the body flexes and there can be a very scary sounding pop from the roof. Its normal, believe it or not.

 

Hope I never hear that sound..

 

I don't believe you can damage the sunroof from going over a pothole.
However, if you search around this forum and elsewhere, you will find reports of sunroof "creak" and rattling. I have a 2014 es whose sunroof creaks when I back down the apron of my driveway. I am not overly concerned about that, but I have been having problems with the sunroof rattling since I got the car as a CPO a year and a half ago. I have had the sunroof repaired once which lasted about 4K miles before it started rattling again. Then I had the sunroof "adjusted" which has lasted about 6K miles and now it is starting to rattle again intermittently. Even immediately after the repairs, the sunroof still creaked as the repairs only addressed the constant rattling, There is another thread in this forum where someone mentions a new fix that involves replacing the rubber surround with a new, improved one that might work.

 

A sharp "raaaaaakk" sound coming from the roof area is normal when going up inclines at an angle, it's just the body flexing. The old ES isn't as stiff as the new TNGA-based model. I hear it all the time when going through roadworks near my house. I would be worried if it was a constant rattle or a sharp booming sound.

 

There have been some threads on CL about dents actually developing around sunroofs possibly as the result of body flexing.

Here are 2 of them, one for the Generation 6 ES and one for the Generation 5 ES

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...-es-350-a.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...-moonroof.html

 

I do not own an ES but I have a 14' Toyota Avalon (same chassis) and I had the same exact problem. Dealer was able to fix it under a TSB I found for toyota but I think it had to be under warranty (not sure on this). I'm pretty sure Lexus has one too or it's the same.

 

There is a TSB for the sunroof rattling problem but I believe it was issued for the Lexus IS models. The dealer I go to used this bulletin to do the initial repair I mentioned above on my ES. It is a fairly involved repair as they remove the inside roof liner to do the repair. It took about 2 or 3 days. My car was still under warranty and it was covered.

 

Yes, search this list for "Clunking / rattling sound" it discusses a common sunroof noise problem with pre-2016 ES 350s.
It's an expensive dealer repair, they remove/replace the entire sunroof assembly. Most affected cars are probably out of warranty now, but you might want to check with the dealer.
My car is as silent as a tomb now...
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Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '15 Jaguar XF