The MOST CRAPTASTIC Windshields Ever: More 5th Gen Butthurt

[RichinRidgewood]

I've had mine over 18 years (215k miles) and only had 1 crack. i have heard rocks hit it several times but no other cracks....:hatsoff:

This is easy to believe. For an explanation of my current situation with my 2020 I believe that the 5th gen has gone through several rounds of cost reductions and the windshield has been the victim of one or more of those. A part number history search may find some rev. changes on the windshield. (I did this while I was at Ford) It could also be just a low budget windshield from day 1.

and/or

A lighter weight windshield (also lighter strength) was used to reduce the weight of the vehicle for 1) as a trade off for added content 2) to maintain or increase real world mpg (I participated in both of these while I was at Ford)

 

[Pedro367]

1: It's not the OPs fault that the windshield broke

2: It's not the "subpar" windshields fault the rock broke it. We weren't able to get an interview with the rock to hear their side of the story

3: 99.99999% of the world chalks a broken windshield up to bad luck. My wife drives on Route 80 every day to work in Paterson, NJ. She's cracked/chipped multiple Lexus windshields and Jeep windshields over the years. It happens regardless of if it's a premium windshield or whatever brand/quality the automaker puts into their car. You know how we fix it? We call our insurance, they set up a time for safelite to come, and we move on with life.

4: Seriously, consider the part out.

 

[ahtoxa11]

We're just arguing based on anecdotal evidence here -- on both sides of the argument.

Overall, I think that there are way too many variables including driving conditions, locations as well as factors such as local construction, rock falls and other factors that introduce debris to the road in order to draw any conclusions about the windshield quality. No way to prove or disprove it. All we can do is state our own personal experiences.

 

[thennen]

That would be me:
Incident # 1 crater, Filled at Safelite
Incident #2 star and then a crack after a repair was tried at Safelite.

Maybe you mis-read my post:

I haven't seen anyone say two broken windshields is ok,

It was in response to your post:

As I have said in a previous post, its sad to think that people are willing to accept 2x broken windshield in the first year of owning a 4Runner as "ok".

So again, I may have missed a comment from someone saying that’s ok that you had this happen twice. Obviously it’s not ok, it sucks, and I’m sorry you experienced this problem.

I think you should invite us all over for pizza so we can settle this, lol! You make a mean pie!

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

We're just arguing based on anecdotal evidence here -- on both sides of the argument.

Overall, I think that there are way too many variables including driving conditions, locations as well as factors such as local construction, rock falls and other factors that introduce debris to the road in order to draw any conclusions about the windshield quality. No way to prove or disprove it. All we can do is state our own personal experiences.

Lab tests (and the resulting glass “certifications”) are meaningless because they are designed to be consistent and repeatable. Road hazards are the exact opposite of that.

What we do know is that if anything bounces out of the bed of a truck, that is “failure to secure load” a citable traffic infraction serious enough to incur points on your license or CDL.

I don’t care what the back of the dump gate says about not being responsible. The only directions by which I abide are official public road signage, traffic lights, and directions from LEO/troopers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bikeric]

Only a related story because it was a windshield, but here goes. I replaced the windshield on my 1997 4Runner at 300,000 miles. I was astonished at how much clearer the thing was than the factory original. When I sold the vehicle later on I discovered the windshield the shop used actually covered up and hid the VIN...:noidea: I hadn't ever thought to look at that until selling the vehicle. Long story short, I stay way back from dump trucks and let others cars fill that gap.

 

[mteolus]

My windshield cracked one cold day when I turned on the windshield defroster. Cracked without ever being hit.

 

[DAW89446]

I’ve had the windshield on my ‘18 fixed twice now. Both times stone hits by passing vehicles. Both are directly in front of the steering wheel, both below line of sight while driving. The top one of the two is barely below line of sight though. The last one happened three weeks ago. I thought it too big to fix, but glass shop said it was OK for fixing. I was quoted $320 for the price of a new windshield, because of the heating element under the wipers.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

These breakage events are as unique as a snowflake, and fleeting in the sense that by the time we hear the impact, the particle has ricocheted off into the distance and we almost never see the origins of said particle. So retrieving the projectile to weigh, study, and recreate the incident is a pseudo-academic pipe dream.

However, we’re all subject to the same aggregated risk, weighted only by the amount of miles we drive. Mentioned earlier in this thread, the notion that all glass is the same - on the merit that all auto glass must meet the same certifications - is a complete farce.

The acoustic, climate, solar glass in a Mercedes or Range Rover will NOT react the same to impact as a windshield built only to satisfy spec. You will find less irregularity in the luxury windshield, less internal stresses, and it won’t be “ready to pop” on impact, like a kid on the verge of a temper tantrum.

Here’s a little test everyone here can do. Stand outside your vehicle, and look through a driver or passenger front window out through your windshield. You should see no ripples or distortions. Cheaper windshields may look fine perfectly perpendicular to the glass, as a seated driver, but the consistency (quality) becomes more apparent at more acute angles.

The proposition is the same as comparing Oakley lenses (fine optics meeting Z87 standard and providing UVA/UVB protection) to a $20 pair of safety glasses from Grainger. Both meet protection standards but one is far superior in quantifiable ways. The cheaper ones may have so much edge distortion that they make you feel like you’re walking 6-12” below grade.

It is very possible that someone moving out of a $6000, depreciated luxury car with no breakages in 10 years is surprised that they got several rock chips in the first year in their 4Runner. It may also be roof height and windshield angle. Wranglers suffer the same issues and their glass is tall and flat, as well.

I’d like to get some data points from G wagon drivers and see if they experience a higher rate of chips, on the basis of windshield height+angle, or if the premium glass reduces that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha! What data points do you have to suggest a Merc or RR windshield is better? This is my industry and I’ve been in court as an SME.
Guess what - we make the same product for JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) as we do Nissan or GM. The glass is the exact same composition. The qualification requirements - yep those are the same too, actually most higher volume OEMs require more stringent testing. Example - we barely tested the new Porsche 911 targa back window because it’s such a low volume product, we test thousands of GM truck (Yukon, Sierra, and Chevy equivalents are all the same windshield) monthly.
Less internal stresses? Prior to lamination glass is heat strengthened! Less internal stress would result in a weaker windshield, nice try though. Also, acoustic and solar only refer to the polymer inter layer and have minimal impact on the laminate construction strength.
Nice try, though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Ha! What data points do you have to suggest a Merc or RR windshield is better? This is my industry and I’ve been in court as an SME.
Guess what - we make the same product for JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) as we do Nissan or GM. The glass is the exact same composition. The qualification requirements - yep those are the same too, actually most higher volume OEMs require more stringent testing. Example - we barely tested the new Porsche 911 targa back window because it’s such a low volume product, we test thousands of GM truck (Yukon, Sierra, and Chevy equivalents are all the same windshield) monthly.
Less internal stresses? Prior to lamination glass is heat strengthened! Less internal stress would result in a weaker windshield, nice try though. Also, acoustic and solar only refer to the polymer inter layer and have minimal impact on the laminate construction strength.
Nice try, though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Only thing more frustrating than being wrong is having data and not being believed. Doesn’t matter what I think. It matters if OP believes the data you have.

If his personal experience is way off base from a collection of data points, what good is the collection of data points to him?

Let’s ask OP... OP, does any of this sound plausible? We’re not in court, we’re talking purchase decisions and buyer’s remorse.

Consumers can and do make decisions based off gut feelings, correlation, and personal experience. Poor consumer faith in a product line can hurt a company worse financially than a lawsuit with all the damning evidence you can throw at it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Only thing more frustrating than being wrong is having data and not being believed. Doesn’t matter what I think. It matters if OP believes the data you have.

If his personal experience is way off base from a collection of data points, what good is the collection of data points to him?

Let’s ask OP... OP, does any of this sound plausible? We’re not in court, we’re talking purchase decisions and buyer’s remorse.

Consumers can and do make decisions based off gut feelings, correlation, and personal experience. Poor consumer faith in a product line can hurt a company worse financially than a lawsuit with all the damning evidence you can throw at it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks but I dont really understand the question here. Could you rephrase it?

 

[TRDrew]

I was in North Carolina when a dump truck got on I95. We were only going like 50mph when a stone bounced and hit my windshield and caused a star.

In one year (2020-2021) I have had a chip and a star and now the star turned into a crack when Safelite was trying to put a vacuum on it to fill the star in.

These Toyota 4Runner windshields are the biggest pieces of shit I have ever seen on a vehicle in my entire life.

The windshield probably would have held up just fine. Until craptastic Safelite started monkeying with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

Only thing more frustrating than being wrong is having data and not being believed. Doesn’t matter what I think. It matters if OP believes the data you have.

If his personal experience is way off base from a collection of data points, what good is the collection of data points to him?

Let’s ask OP... OP, does any of this sound plausible? We’re not in court, we’re talking purchase decisions and buyer’s remorse.

Consumers can and do make decisions based off gut feelings, correlation, and personal experience. Poor consumer faith in a product line can hurt a company worse financially than a lawsuit with all the damning evidence you can throw at it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh, I get it. You’re re-enacting Billy Madison’s explanation of business ethics, but applying it to the current topic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Snowtrooper]

"While you rarely hear a lot of bad things from Jeep Wrangler owners...”

I may be biased but I’m going to call bs on this jk right here. =D


As someone who’s had glass replaced on all types of makes of cars, and having one cheap low slung sports car last for over 20 years with no rock chips *knock on wood* I’m going chalk these events up as bad luck and graze angles.


BTW- Speaking of bias: I sense a lot of it on this thread. Seems like someone would be a better fit in the next Bronco.

 

[somenoise]

Ok so lets summarize the data...

Pretty easy: sample size = 1, data points = 2.

 

[Signal]

Don't come to the south, they don't clean their roads, I have had to replace the 4runners windshield and the camrys wind shield already and its 2 years old. the 4runner already has chips in it and will need to be replaced again. the car isn't 3 years old and would be on its 3rd wind shield if I replaced it again.

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

Oh, I get it. You’re re-enacting Billy Madison’s explanation of business ethics, but applying it to the current topic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you ever shut up? You seem to think you are the authority on everything, but you come across as a limp-dick jabroni.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Saw butt hurt in the title and had to check in. Love reading people’s misery.

For the record, I think we’re on our 4th windshield at 255K miles and it already has several small chips. In Montana cars without a cracked windshield are the exception. Snow plows spreading sand and kicking up rocks are the culprit. $250 deductible gets a new one.

It you wanna see a flat, near vertical windshield, you should check out my ‘73 Bronco. I change the windshield on that myself. Old school rubber trim, no glue.

 

[thennen]

I may be biased but I’m going to call bs on this jk right here. =D


As someone who’s had glass replaced on all types of makes of cars, and having one cheap low slung sports car last for over 20 years with no rock chips *knock on wood* I’m going chalk these events up as bad luck and graze angles.


BTW- Speaking of bias: I sense a lot of it on this thread. Seems like someone would be a better fit in the next Bronco.

Well, I was just quoting from a post on the Jeep forum.

 

[mo_mo]

100k miles (knock on wood) without a crack. Some small chips, but I'm happy with my original windscreen so far. Friend with the same model year has replaced his twice and has had a crack in his third for 2+ years... we drive pretty much the same area but he only has 80k miles. Half the time when I rent a car with a lower angle windscreen its cracked and doesn't have nearly as many miles as mine. YMMV