I was wondering if anyone has noticed their windshield showing a lot of "sandblasting" already? I just passed 19k and have noticed the windshield has so many small micro abrasions on it already from driving - there are tons of them that people riding in the passenger side have been thrown off thinking there are some water sprinkles on the glass. I have been driving a lot of highway miles and it shows a lot in the sun - more so than my 3rd gen 4runner which has probably 60k+ miles on it since its windshield was replaced. I tried taking a picture but it doesn't show up in a way to post on here. I'm suspecting the glass on the 5th gen is low quality or something or I just have bad luck - help me figure out which please! also would it be covered under warranty I wonder...this is balls....and thanks in advance to any helpful replies.
Windshield - Heavy Sandblasting at 19k
- Thread starter 4C4Runner
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StRanger7032
New member
You can buy do-it-yourself windshield polishing kits to eliminate the damage, as long as its not too severe. Pro Glass Polishing Kit
FlyNavy
New member
Have you taken it to the dealer yet? I have the same problem and plan on addressing it next week. I've got 24k miles, but the windshield looks trashed and when driving into the sun it's a borderline safety issue due to the reduced visibility.
westwind77
New member
This is the 1st complaint (ok, 2nd now that I see the post above) I have heard on here about it and I know some 4R have a LOT of miles already? Are you one of the people who sits behind the sand/rock trucks on the highway? :rockthrow:
I am dumbfounded by the people who do this. Bright sunny days, sand and rocks flying off the backs, bouncing on the road, nailing the cars behind, and there is always some schmuck just driving behind them totally oblivious to the damage that is happening.
The only thought I have when I see these people is that it must be either a ex-husband or ex-wife driving the car/truck to their other half to drop off as part of the divorce settlement.
Call your insurance company, tell them a rock hit your windshield, badly cracked (so much so that one of those 'repair kits' will not work). They will authorize the replacement. I know in MA it is 'free'. I tried to call my co. with my last vehicle which was badly sandblasted on the windshield (original with 125k at the time), they would NOT replace it. I told them how it was impossible to see in the sun and if they would rather pay out when I run over someone walking on the side of the road, they did not care. I hung up, waited 5 min, called back and told them a rock just hit my windshield, ok sir, you are all set to have it replaced. :biggrin2:
I am dumbfounded by the people who do this. Bright sunny days, sand and rocks flying off the backs, bouncing on the road, nailing the cars behind, and there is always some schmuck just driving behind them totally oblivious to the damage that is happening.
The only thought I have when I see these people is that it must be either a ex-husband or ex-wife driving the car/truck to their other half to drop off as part of the divorce settlement.
Call your insurance company, tell them a rock hit your windshield, badly cracked (so much so that one of those 'repair kits' will not work). They will authorize the replacement. I know in MA it is 'free'. I tried to call my co. with my last vehicle which was badly sandblasted on the windshield (original with 125k at the time), they would NOT replace it. I told them how it was impossible to see in the sun and if they would rather pay out when I run over someone walking on the side of the road, they did not care. I hung up, waited 5 min, called back and told them a rock just hit my windshield, ok sir, you are all set to have it replaced. :biggrin2:
Antman
Elite Member
I certainly do not ride behind "rock throwers"- but I had my windshield replaced this summer after I had a chip turn into a 12" crack within a few hrs. Now I have a new windshield with new chips everywhere. I had my Titan over 4 yrs, same roads- not 1 chip.
The windshield is a little more upright on the 5th Gen, gonna have to embrace the chips, gentleman!
The windshield is a little more upright on the 5th Gen, gonna have to embrace the chips, gentleman!
It is so heartwarming to know that not only have you participated in, but also advocate insurance fraud. Thanks for higher premiums.
westwind77
New member
You are welcome
I know you feel all warm and funny inside knowing that because of this there was not a resulting acciident causing injury to someone because the tight a$$ insurance co did not care. Thanks for your .02, in more ways than one 
You might want to put on your red cape and hunt down some bigger fraudsters though.
You are welcome
You might want to put on your red cape and hunt down some bigger fraudsters though.
Over 35 years, I have done just that. But one big fraud vs. multiple little frauds causes the same effect, higher premiums for everyone. And as to wear and tear vs. a true damage claim as defined by your insurance contract, has nothing to do with "caring". I assure you, most insurance company employee's do care about doing the right thing when it's a covered loss....., it's their job.
westwind77
New member
Well good for you then! Someone seemed to put an ant up your pants today! I have been driving (fully insured, unlike a lot of people these days) for 20 years and I have (knock on wood) never had an accident or had to file an insurance claim for anything, with the exception of that one particular windshield.
What is the difference between a rock cracking my windshield so I cannot see vs it being sandblasted and I cannot see? I had to file a claim on one of our work vehicles with a crack and the agent asked me if it was across the line of vision of the driver, it was, so I said yes, she said, "oh, we will get that covered immediately". So obviously they care about the driver being able to see, but I guess they don't take like cumulative events, just sudden impacts, that is the true fraud!
westwind77
New member
Oh, who said I ever committed fraud, are you accusing me of a crime I did not commit?!?! I hope not!
I know in those 5 minutes I waited to call the insurance company back that I went to my local convenience store for a snack on on my way back the truck in front of me ( running oversized tires without mudflaps) tossed a big rock back right before my turn, darn it, but it all worked out in the end for everyone.
joneseyyy
New member
I want to make sure I am following you. So 2 posts before this you recommended that people with sandblasted windshields call their ins co's and say that they had "badly cracked" windshields in order to get the ins freebie replacement. You then backed up this recommendation by saying that you had your 125K windshield that was sandblasted replaced only after calling back 5-mins later and reporting a badly cracked windshield. You made zero mention of an actual event happening in those 5-mins that cracked the windshield (key part of the story) until a follow up post after being called out by someone else.
I won't go as far as to accuse anyone of fraud, but your advice leads a normal person to believe you recommend claiming windshield cracks (whether present or not) as a means to replace a windshield with sandblasting through the insurance co channel (as opposed to replacing it yourself as wear and tear, or taking it up with Toyota as a warranty claim.
Also, as a driver and owner of a vehicle, you are ultimately responsible for the safe condition of your vehicle; it is not the insurance co's responsibility to provide you with a non-pitted clear windshield.
1engineer
Moderator
20K+ miles - 10 months old - lots of chips and pits - about as many AS EVERY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED FROM MULTIPLE OEM's. Nothing different with the "quality" of Toyota glass, just like others. The Antman is right with the upright windshield comment above. I will do what I have always done if it gets too bad and that is replace it - on my own dime. I can't stand cheating or cheaters. Carry on.
FlyNavy
New member
I have to disagree on this one. My rig sat in a garage for over a year, only coming out on the weekends. Past vehicles did not look like this after 20k. I like my 4Runner, but lots of corner-cutting with flimsy sheet metal and plastics, why wouldn't the glass be any different.
1engineer
Moderator
Thats fine to disagree, please cite your sources on "flimsy sheet metal and plastics" and corner cutting. Or is this just your opinion?
ClockWork
Banned
The hood distorts driving above 75 on my 4th and the 5th gens that I test drove. It is quite thin.
nikobimmer
New member
19k?
You should see the windshield after 70,000 mostly highway miles!
You should see the windshield after 70,000 mostly highway miles!
westwind77
New member
No offense, but I don't have to 'back anything up' to you. When I brought it to the repair place there was a crack in my windshield, you can call and ask if you want, or else they would be filing a false claim, and they would not do that.
Maybe when my tax dollars stop going to pay for joe/jane doe to sit on their couch and collect unemployment, not look for a job, take vacations, laugh at the system (I know people personally like this and I hate it) i'll give a damn about someone who falsely claims a windshield. The abuse of our government welfare system is disgusting, I have a friend who works in the system, the money that is shelled out that is being abused would shock the 'heck' out of you! They cannot report it because of confidentiality laws either. I think if you actually knew what I know about the waste of this money you would not sleep for a month, and this affects every person paying taxes, just not people that happen to be from a specific insurance carrier.
I can give you my address, I will buy you a tent, maybe you can come and 'occupy' my front yard waiting for me to give a crap
FlyNavy
New member
Awfully defensive aren't we? It's my opinion, but it's shared by many on this forum. Are "sources" necessary? Go out in the driveway and crawl around your own rig. The sheet metal in the hood distorts going over bumps and at highways speeds, the doors seem hollow with a light tap, the interior plastics scratch if you look at them and the gas door is so lightly built I hesitate to open it. It wouldn't have taken a lot of effort by Toyota to make this vehicle 100% solid, but they didn't. Oh well, it's still a great ride.
ClockWork
Banned
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