[Nobody Special]

Being that the glass is in more of an upright position, is anyone having issues with the sun when it is on a low angle?

Do you use a "hood shield" or bug deflector?

Or, if you use such an item, does it seem to help slow the pitting?

Brands/Models?

[bear1998]

I do know for sure...gen 4s windshield glass sucks...i truely believe there glass is softer than most.......gen5s...no dought toyota didnt change shit....

[JeuTheIdit]

I have chips all over my windshield right now... Been too lazy to get another one. Original glass though! I seem to get one or two every year.

I recently installed a bug deflector, but that was mainly to protect the hood edge. I doubt it will help with windshield chips much.

[fkheath]

I got a rock chip in my '18 4Runner within a week of buying it, then it grew to a big crack clear across the whole windshield. I have yet to replace it, but the glare off the crack does bother me at times. I have not noticed a lot of pitting but I don't drive it that much.

Toyotas now come with a "sound deadening" windshield, but I don't know if that makes them more prone to pitting. A bug shield my help with bugs, but not rocks and gravel which are heavier. The "clear bra" does help with chips in the front of the hood and fenders. On the newest 4Runners, you can't have a bug shield because it interferes with the sensors for the adaptive cruise control.

[02SE]

Originally Posted by fkheath

On the newest 4Runners, you can't have a bug shield because it interferes with the sensors for the adaptive cruise control.

No issues with interference in my experience.

[Old Tanker]

Originally Posted by Nobody Special

Being that the glass is in more of an upright position, is anyone having issues with the sun when it is on a low angle?

Do you use a "hood shield" or bug deflector?

Or, if you use such an item, does it seem to help slow the pitting?

Brands/Models?

No mods. 18 months and 17K miles. Zero chips.

Good luck I guess, enhanced by following distance.

[Dynamo]

I think all modern vehicle glass is like that. My FJ Cruiser's windshield had a ton of "sand sparkles". Ironically though, it still had the original windshield when I traded it in. I had to have my '19 4Runner's windshield replaced last January after one month of ownership. The replacement windshield is already peppered. My wife has a '18 C-HR and its windshield has lots of sand sparkles too.

[Tbasse01]

My 2016 has zero marks in it crystal clear

Stop tailgating and the stones won't hit your windshield

[Nobody Special]

Originally Posted by Tbasse01

My 2016 has zero marks in it crystal clear

Stop tailgating and the stones won't hit your windshield

If I were to tailgate, they would hit the bumper first.
Never have a chance to make it to the windshield.

[Tbasse01]

So speed up then and get closer so they don't hit your windshield 😂

[Nobody Special]

Originally Posted by Tbasse01

So speed up then and get closer so they don't hit your windshield 😂

When I finally get the 4R, I'll try that.

[a47chuck]

No problems with my '13 or '19. They put red cinder $hit on the roads here if there is the slightest hint of ice, so it's not like there isn't a possibility. You want soft glass? Try a Gen 6 Mustang. I got scratches on my back glass from the animal's brushes at the car wash. Unfortunately I have rock hard water and have to go through.

[CajunMikeR]

My 19's windshield is so soft that a gas station windshield cleaner left scratches while trying to clean off but guts. There was no metal to glass contact, just scrubbing some stubborn guts. I've also got small pits from rock strikes... sugar cane trucks are notorious for throwing rocks all over the place, long distance after pulling out of the fields.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[Gamma Ray]

Originally Posted by 02SE

No issues with interference in my experience.

Yeah. Mine came from the dealer with it installed.

[00Sebby]

2010 with almost 160000 miles (original glass) and a 2020 with only about 15000 miles (also original glass), just normal sand sparkles on the old one and few tiny sand sparkles on the new one. Both have taken some significant rock impacts with out cracking. I haven't found the windshields any worse than any other vehicle. They're definitely better than our Subaru Crosstrek that is on it's 3rd OEM windshield, but that is a larger and maybe thinner windshield than the 4Runner's.

If you drive as many vehicles as I do... '20 4Runner is 39th vehicle I've owned and I have rented about 30-40 cars a year for the past 10 years... then you begin to notice stuff like this is mostly the same across many vehicles.