2011 Prius Sunroof Deflector Seal Deterioration?

if you read every threat about this, then you know the only solution is to buy a new seal
from Toyota, very expensive. Apparently, no 3rd party is making them, at least not that I know of.
And no one has seemed to alert Prius Chat.
You may have better luck in your search.

 

Some people on this thread decided not to replace it and just removed it. A couple people got Toyota or the dealership to eat some or all of the costs, while others tried non-Toyota replacement seals, according to all of the threads.

 

My digest of this 9 page, multi-year, riddle discussion is that the rubber trim (not a seal!) strip's main function is to close down the gap enough to keep bits of junk out of the sunroof drains so the drains don't get plugged up, and most of the water out to avoid overwhelming said small drains.
It is esthetic in that it keeps leaves, twigs, grass clippings, insects, dirt, ice, etc from collecting in the open gap and looking unsightly.
The ESUPPORT 4M Z Shape Weather strip (posted by delta6014 post #136 on 9/20/22 of this thread) looks like it's worth a try. I'm going to ask about it at an auto parts store to see if it's a locally available item. There are quite a few online sources for it that apparently all use the manufacturer's pictures of it.

 

Any rubber in the bare sun or snow needs some type of chemical protection treatment all year round just like car paint if you want it to last. Every 6 months I give it a slather of aero grade coat protection, still no signs of deterioration. And yes the egr been cleaned with an oil catch can illegally installed since 2019 in the eyes if CA politicians.

 

Let me know if it works. I’ve had this problem for quite a while and have never found a solution other than a $1500 sunroof replacement plus an installation cost.