Cracked windshield

[FrontRange4Runner]

It's probably good to remember that following distance is one of the biggest contributors to broken windshields. "Glass strength" is impossible to measure without the proper equipment and the thickness of the glass can have nothing to do with how "strong" it is. Obviously the 4Runner has a very upright windshield and impact angle will have a tremendous amount of influence on the amount of energy transferred into the glass when an impact occurs. That said, if the rock has no chance to impact the windshield, then the angle of it is meaningless. Obviously the are times when this is unavoidable, but I have seen so many of these threads that it leads me to believe that people are simply following too closely. I live in the land of broken windshields and have yet to have a crack. That includes 70k on my 4Runner, and an Impreza with 220k on the original windshield (granted she was pitted to the point of danger from wind blown sand and I replaced it). Leave a bit more room and you may save yourself a bunch of trouble - in all forms.

 

[Dallas_T4R]

If your complaining about the 4 Runner glass be glad you don't have an FJ. I have one of each and go thru windshields like infants thru diapers. On the FJ i wait till the windshield is total junk before I change it out.

This was my least favorite part of owning an FJ. Add in the top coping and you are easily looking at $750 +

 

[T4RGold]

A bit of advise...

Hey guys,

I was driving back from SoCal to Las Vegas and a rock hit my windshield. It didn't seem that bad, but it put a sizable chip in my window. As I was driving the remaining 3 hours home, it grew to about 3 or 4 inches.

I've driven 3 cars before the 4runner and I have never broken a windshield. I have had instances where i had rocks hit my windshield with greater force and nothing happened.

Are 4 runner notorious for weak windshields? Is there anything I can do to protect my windshield from future instances (i.e. protective film)?

The tech that replaced mine had a hard time getting the factory installed windshield out and scratched areas of my interior. Check your interior super close after the install before you sign off on it.

 

[delloro]

Came out to about $10 a month difference, but this includes all damages that are not considered a collision with another auto vehicle (i.e. deer, hail, rocks, etc).

That's a lot less than I expected.

 

[4RnR Grl]

I've replaced two 4Runner windshields and had a chip repaired.... three months after the new windshield was replaced. The safe-lite guy and I are on a first name basis... and he cut me a deal on the chip repair (I paid half in cash).

This is the only vehicle I've had to replace windshields.

 

[MilMed]

Yea USAA has been pretty good actually. For me it's been the cheapest while providing me the best coverage.

Honestly, I don't follow too close to anyone in the 4runner because the stopping distance is a lot longer than my previous cars and there is a ton of squatting under heavy breaking.

When I used to drive the e60, I was so low to the ground that I would have rocks hitting my windshield all the time. I had a few times that I jumped because of how loud it was, but I never had a windshield break.




Lesson learned from this experience. Keep VERY VERY VERY far back and invest in $0 deductible for insurance. The guy who fixed my windshield today laughed and said he changes out windshields for the 4runner ALOT. The only cars that beat it are the FJ cruisers, Honda element, Hummers, and Jeep wranglers.

 

[Superjet]

I had my 4runner for less than 2 weeks and chipped the windshield. I was so pissed!
I had them fill it versus replacing the whole thing. I can still see it but it hasn't grown.

 

[RainyDayRunner]

Me too!

I had mine about two months when I big ol' rock came out from a semi and hit my windshield PRECISELY in my acute field of view. Like, when I am sitting normal and looking straight ahead, that thing is right on the car in front of me! I had it filled, but it barely did anything.

I made an appointment with Safelite, but then I remember one of my buddies does windshields, has for a long time, and has done them on cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. His input for Safelite was that they have a pretty high turnover rate, so it can be very hit or miss. Add on top of this that my T4R has the heated windshield option, auto dimming rear-view, and an antenna for a remote start. Too much to screw up if they aren't really experienced. If you want/have to take your car to Safelite, ask how long that technician has been there. I'm going to have my buddy do it and am confident that it will come out like new.

 

[TankTank]

Happened to me, this is a big toyota problem

Ok here it goes:

Based on some Google research, toyota has poor quality windshields on most of their newer vehicles. It's so bad, that Toyota prius owners have started a class action lawsuit against Toyota because of the companies failure to remedy or recall the defect.

I was driving my brand new 2018 4Runner when a small pebble kicked up and hit the windshield. This happened many times in my subaru and never amounted to anything beyond a small chip. Well, the day after it happened i walked out to my truck and overnight, a large crack developed from the top to the bottom of the windshield. The dealer refused to fix it, even though it is a brand new windshield. I was driving today, the day after getting it replaced and bam! another pebble hit it and left a nice chip in my brand new 800 dollar windshield. I bought This truck because of its reputation of being tough and reliable. Toyota knows about the issue, and refuses to admit there is a problem. does anyone else have a 4Runner that has a windshield that seems weaker than other vehicles? It seems like this could be a Lemon Law issue

 

[Agent_Outside]

Why would they warranty a windshield that got broken from an impact with a rock? Outside cause it not their problem. I replace my windshield pretty much every spring after winter in the mountains, your being a little (a lot) overdramatic about a windshield.

 

[epjfsa]

Why would they warranty a windshield that got broken from an impact with a rock? Outside cause it not their problem. I replace my windshield pretty much every spring after winter in the mountains, your being a little (a lot) overdramatic about a windshield.

My 203,000 mile M3 has its original windshield even through PA winters and post-recession construction zone driving (just an example). I suspect that replacing windshields more than zero times is relatively unusual for most people. If there's a far higher than normal tendency for broken windshields (the prius example), it's a sign that there's a legitimate manufacturing defect or perhaps the windshield isn't even safe.

 

[str8flexed]

The “comprehensive” insurance covers that so I made sure to drop the deductible to just $50 for that. The change in cost for coverage was very minimal, surprisingly. Also, comprehensive paid for my broken glass from vandalism/theft.

Auto body collision and all that other hardcore stuff makes the biggest difference in your car insurance premiums it seems.

 

[zw470]

Could be worse, we could have a rear defroster that is widely known (and ignored by the manufacturer) to shatter rear windows :dammit:

 

[TankTank]

Don't want to sound dumb, but does it seem normal to need to replace a windshield every year ?

 

[16RedRunner]

I also have a FJ Cruiser that I have put 3 windshields in.

 

[desertred]

Don't want to sound dumb, but does it seem normal to need to replace a windshield every year ?

This will be highly dependent on where you live and driving conditions. Here in Colorado (and other points west), it might not be unusual at all. Between rocks on the roadways and the wind storms, the windshield takes a lot of abuse. I've had to replace windshields not for cracks, but due to the tiny pits in the windshield caused by wind storm blown sand that created so much "prism glare" that it became annoying and possibly unsafe to drive. It doesn't help that the T4R has a pretty flat windshield rake, which makes it more susceptible to road debris damage.

 

[Arik07]

Could be worse, we could have a rear defroster that is widely known (and ignored by the manufacturer) to shatter rear windows :dammit:

My 07 had that. Happened to the previous owner. He fixed the glass but the connectors melted. I fixed those. So far so good.

In 20 years of driving in Pa I've had to replace 2 windshields. Both Toyotas. 01 Solara. Got sideswiped by a guy who changed his mind about making a turn just as I passed him. Got my front fender and door. Somehow cracked the windshield. 2010 Corolla got hit with a screwdriver bit flying from under the car in front of me. Pretty good whack! Job covered that one

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[cnred034]

Anyone using Satellite AutoGlass for windshield replacement?
I've got a 2014 4Runner with 52K on the speedo. I bought the truck new. about 7 months later I caught a rather large rock from a cement truck rear wheel in the driver's side. Cracked the windscreen. I called my insurance company and they sent Safelite out to change it out.
Since then, I have had the windscreen changed because of cracks 4 more times. The truck is only 4 years old and on it's 5th windshield, and guess what...the one in it right now is less then a month old, and it is cracked as well.
I believe i'm a pretty safe driver, no accidents or tickets in over 50 years. The truck does not hve a ot of miles. The windscreens seem to crack rather easily.
Just wondering if the quality of the screens are as good a OEM, or is there a better alternative.

 

[epjfsa]

Anyone using Satellite AutoGlass for windshield replacement?
I've got a 2014 4Runner with 52K on the speedo. I bought the truck new. about 7 months later I caught a rather large rock from a cement truck rear wheel in the driver's side. Cracked the windscreen. I called my insurance company and they sent Safelite out to change it out.
Since then, I have had the windscreen changed because of cracks 4 more times. The truck is only 4 years old and on it's 5th windshield, and guess what...the one in it right now is less then a month old, and it is cracked as well.
I believe i'm a pretty safe driver, no accidents or tickets in over 50 years. The truck does not hve a ot of miles. The windscreens seem to crack rather easily.
Just wondering if the quality of the screens are as good a OEM, or is there a better alternative.

Certainly possible you've just had bad luck, but are you sure you aren't tailgating? My wife and a few of my friends do all the time and don't seem to notice unless I say something.

 

[1000MPH]

I got my windshield replaced tonight. The bad news is only Chinese glass was available in town. The good news is it was $260 out the door. They did a good job except for a small scratch in the A-pillar next to the glass. The molding was a bit wrinkled in two spots that I easily fixed with a heat gun. A little distortion on the extreme right side but way better than the sandblasted one it replaced. Hope it lasts the season at least.