Windshield CRACKED while idling

4

4Rman

New member
So here is what happened to me....

I was sitting in my car idling in a parking lot waiting with the heater blower pointed towards the windshield. It was snowing out side and the car had warmed up to normal operating temperature. All of sudden I hear a crack in the windshield right above the heater vents meant to defog the windshield. It is shaped something like this;

|.........................................|

Almost perfectly following the vent line.... Now, I have read here that some of you have had a similar experience with the 4Runner's windshield. This to me seems like a flaw in the glass. As I mentioned, this happened to me while I was idling for a short time... waiting. Nothing hit my windshield. I thought these things were meant for true off road use etc. How can that be when the windshield can break on you just like that?

Has anyone had any luck with Toyota replacing the windshield under warranty with circumstances like these? I would be willing to bet that a lot of you who think they got hit by a rock or flying object probably had something similar happen to you but you chalked it up to something hitting your windshield. I have a good insurance track record and don't want to file a claim unless I absolutely have to. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (05' 16K miles)
 
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4Rman said:
Now, I have read here that some of you have had a similar experience with the 4Runner's windshield. This to me seems like a flaw in the glass. As I mentioned, this happened to me while I was idling for a short time... waiting. Nothing hit my windshield. I thought these things were meant for true off road use etc. How can that be when the windshield can break on you just like that?
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Sorry to hear about your windshield.

When my windshield cracked there was no doubt it was from a rock (the rock hit with such force it sounded like the windshield had taken a bullet hit).

I suspect that having Toyota replace the windshield under warranty may not be very easy to do. The only thing that might help is the location of the crack.
It cannot hurt to ask if they will replace it. If not, do not be afraid about having your insurance replace the windshield.
In my case having it replaced did not raise my insurance preminum nor change my insurance rating.
It did cost me $50 for the deductible but that is a small price to pay compared to the cost of the repair (ie >$500) for a Toyota windshield.
 
This phenomenon is not isolated to just 4Runners. I've heard this happen on other vehicles too. Cold glass and hot water doesn't mix very well. I've heard of people cracking their windshields when they poured hot water on their windshields because they were too lazy to scrape the ice off it. (Not saying that is what you did)

I'm not sure if Toyota will replace it under warranty, but it can't hurt asking. If they won't replace, check with your insuarnace. I'm with state farm and there is a $0 deductible on windshield replacement. I used Safelite and State Farm approved replacing with Toyota OEM glass. If I had paid out of pocket, it was around $500 for the OEM glass and labor.
 
I personally have not have that happened to me before, but it can happen. Its like what sharp4runr said about the hot water and cold ice, except in this case its hot air and cold air, which cracked the windshield at the hottest point.
 
This has happened to at least one member here. Maybe if you search you can find the thread and read what happened. I'd say that you will be able to get them to fix it if there was no obvious impact.
 
It can happen to any vehicle. As was previously stated, the hot air on one side of the glass, and cold air on the other, will occasionally crack the glass.

I've seen it on all different kinds of vehicles.
 
4Rman said:
So here is what happened to me....

I was sitting in my car idling in a parking lot waiting with the heater blower pointed towards the windshield. It was snowing out side and the car had warmed up to normal operating temperature. All of sudden I hear a crack in the windshield right above the heater vents meant to defog the windshield. It is shaped something like this;

|.........................................|

Almost perfectly following the vent line.... Now, I have read here that some of you have had a similar experience with the 4Runner's windshield. This to me seems like a flaw in the glass. As I mentioned, this happened to me while I was idling for a short time... waiting. Nothing hit my windshield. I thought these things were meant for true off road use etc. How can that be when the windshield can break on you just like that?

Has anyone had any luck with Toyota replacing the windshield under warranty with circumstances like these? I would be willing to bet that a lot of you who think they got hit by a rock or flying object probably had something similar happen to you but you chalked it up to something hitting your windshield. I have a good insurance track record and don't want to file a claim unless I absolutely have to. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (05' 16K miles)
Click to expand...

It falls under the shit happens category. Temperature extremes on different sides of tempered glass can cause it to crack. I remember my dad put 3 windshields into a car for the same reason...However, "bumper to bumper" [warranty] should mean just that!
 
To 4Rman

I had a same problem. My windshild cracked where defroster coming out ( a front passenger side windshild). It happened when the outside was snowing on a cold day. I turned the heat to Hi with a hot air. The crack is about 1.5 inch long. I wonder if it is covered..... I doubt it...
 
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it's sometimes the quality of the glass and glass isn't covered by any car warranty unless it's a true manufacturer defect.

If you have to replace it then go with high quality glass if you can get it. I like PPG or XYG which is on my Runner for over 5 years (yes,it's so pitted it needs to be replaced) and zero cracks period.
 
I would call your insurance co. I cracked mine and paid nothing and it didnt go against my record or increase my payments. Cant hurt to check it out!

good luck
 
I posted a while back about the same thing that happened to my windsheild. I've blasted the heat on high to defrost the windsheild in many vehicles before and this never happened before. I think the early 4th gen runners do have flawed windsheilds. Good luck on getting an OEM from your insurance. I tried for 2 weeks and finally gave up and took the cheapo one. No problems with it so far except it distorts when viewing from an angle like if you were looking at the right quarter pannel from the driver's seat.
 
noLimits said:
No problems with it so far except it distorts when viewing from an angle like if you were looking at the right quarter pannel from the driver's seat.
Click to expand...

My replacement windshield has the same issue and it bothers me:mad:

When I come to certain intersections and have to lok through that section to see if I can go it REALLY bothers me. I'm still considering if I want to go through the hassle of going back and having them replace it.
 
Windshield CRACKED - Update

Thank you so much everyone for your input and insight. Here is an update;

I called the dealer to see if I can get the windshield replaced under warranty but had no luck. He told me that there had to be a chip somewhere in order for the windshield to crack like this. I have lived in this colder climate for 19 years and have gone through several cars; last four have been new but have never had this happen to me.

By stating that "this was supposed to be a tough vehicle, meant for true off-roading" I was bring out the fact that if you are on an off-road excursion and the windshield cracks on you so easily it might put a damper on your trip. I still think there is problem with the windshields for model years 03-05. Otherwise why would Toyota come out with a thicker glass for the exact same vehicle from last year with some cosmetic changes?

On the windshield replacement... I called my insurance co. and insisted on OEM glass. They said whomever I go with to replace the glass will have to call them back with the price and get approval. The place I went with called the Insurance co back and they approved it($520 total). So now I have the OEM glass back on the 4R.

Now I have to figure out why my right rear break is squealing every time I apply the brakes. It
 
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Old topic, same problem.
Was driving yesterday in cold snowy weather, my heater was at Hi pointed towards the windshield and the floor, then CRACK :wtf: - a crack about 3/4 length of the entire windshield right in the middle where vents are . No cars in front and no stone hits in that area. The crack is about 4 inches from the bottom of the screen, I'll replaced before the next inspection in 2012. :cry2:

2006 4runner
 
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Wow

This just happened to me last week

Same thing

Cold weather and defroster on windshield

I called my insurance company and it is being changed out today

Never had it happen in any other vehicle I have owned

Must be S----y glass or just real hot air from Toyota

Swammy
 
2015 windshield electric defost

HELLO I HAVE A NEW 2015 4R AND IT TOOK A TOTAL OF 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET TO GIVE ME A CHANCE TO USE THE WINDSHIELD ACCESSORY TO HEAT THE GLASS UNDER THE WIPER BLADES. I WAS AT AN IDLE AND WHEN I PUSHED THE SWITCH FOR THE DEFROSTER IN WINDSHIELD TO WORK IT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS THE FRONT GLASS. I WAS SO ANGRY AS I WAS ON THE WAY TO A HOSPITAL. I CALLED TOYOTO AND SOME LAME LADY SAID IT WAS A WEATHER ISSUE AS WHEN YOU PUT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST ON AND THERE IS SNOW THE COLD AND HOT CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. I TOLD HER I PUSHED THE SWITCH ON THE DASH FOR THE WINDSHIELD ELECTRIC DEFROST AND IT CRACKED THE WINDOW ACROSS THE BOTTOM NEAR THE DEFROST WIRES AND IT HAS SOME DESIGN FLAWS OR IT IS NOT TESTED TO WORK AS I WITNESSED MYSELF. WHY DID THEY PUT IT IN THE GLASS IF IT IS NOT SUPPOST TO DEFROST ? I ALSO NOTICED HOW THIN THE GLASS IS . I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD FIX OR REPALCE THE DEFECTIVE PART BUT THEY DONT OWN UP TO ANYTHING AND STATE IT WAS A WEATHER ISSUE?> THIS IS THE LAST TOYOTO FOR ME AS THERE IS NO REAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS ONLY SOME DUMB PERSON WHO DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GLASS, LIKE WHAT TEMP IS IT AND WAS IT DESIGNED FOR THIS VECHICLES USE? MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS MY ONLY CHOICE AS MUCH AS I DONT WANT TO FILE A CLAIM AND PAY A DEDUCTABLE IT IS THE ONLY OPTION I GOT TO AVOID THE SMURFFED:wtf: ANSWERS FROM TOYOTO.
 
Me too. I used the remote start, had the defroster set to high when I parked it. When I went out to the truck the crack was there. This was a gradual warmup from dead-cold, with no snow on the windshield. I have windshield coverage, nice to get a new windshield I guess.
 
If you had a small ding in the glass and, then with the cold temps and the rapid heat up of the windshield is a sure fire way to cause a crack.
 
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