Yet another cracked windshield!

[steve germany]

This needs to be a Sticky!

This needs to be a Sticky!

The vehicle is so well designed - the darn windshied is a true weakness!

 

[steve germany]

I've had 4 cracked windshields.

Two times in my Mitsubishi Eclipse I had cracked windshields, both times from following big semi-trucks to closely.

The third time was in my Tacoma Pre-Runner whereby I wasn't near a @)#(# damn thing, and it just went CRACK!

The fourth time was in my Tacoma again, but this time due to a head-on collision on the freeway. Apparently getting run into head-on by a Chevy Silverado at 55mph has the potential to crack the windshield.

Oh and um....when I was a kid...I kind of....um....well...I poured hot water on the window of my mom's frozen over camery. Whoops...Made a pretty nifty sound though :biggrin2:

:biggrin2: :bigok: :lmao: :lmao:

 

[Tangonator]

oh yeah just got a nice rock thrown off the back of a truck at my 4runner, it left a nice chip, right after i got my head unit installed

 

[josh220]

This thread isn't all that old so I figured I'd bring it back. The Toyota glass is very fragile. I got hit on the freeway by a stray rock which left a ding about the size of a quarter. Throughout the course of the day (offroading in Hungry Valley) it split into 3 large cracks, the largest running about 8 inches. I'll either get it replaced tomorrow when I get my 10K service, or have someplace else replace it for me afterwards.

 

[blaniac22]

I got a decent sized chip in the windshield on my way back from California. Funny thing is I had just cleaned the windshield at a gas station and the glass was fine. THen, we're driving down the road and my wife says "Is that a chip??"

It's the kind that sort of has a dark, crescent moon look to it, and there's a smallar scar just above that.

We never even heard it hit the windshield.

It's hasn't cracked yet...not sure what I'm going to do...I was quoted 60 to fix it, 180 to replace it...

it's really annoying.

 

[fachseh]

Got nailed by a rock falling from a dump truck on the highway today. Big sucker too. Impact damage, bout the size of a baseball.

Apparently full coverage with Progressive only covers windshield repairs, not replacement. So looks like this is out of pocket.

Abra autoglass will do it for $310 with PPG glass.

 

[snhrph]

Had a really small chip about an inch above wiper on the passenger side. Not sure when or where I got it, but I think it's been there for a while.

Started growing with the first frost- heat cycle. It grew vertically for about 3 inches before making a 90 degree turn and heading towards the driver's side. I could actually see it grow...

I will replace the windshield before my safety inspection, unless it obstructs the view.

I was surprised to read two other accounts in this thread almost identical to mine. It is obvious that this is a wide-spread problem. :bash:

Has anyone actually approached Toyota with this issue? And what was their response?

Has there been a TSB for it?

How about a class action law suit? Any attorneys on-board? :awais:

 

[mike508]

Windshield Thickness

There has been a change in windshield thickness starting in 2006. I had mine replaced and looked into getting a Toyota replacement but the price was too high ($1600 vs $250) for aftermarket and the insurance would only pay for aftermarket. As I remember prior to 2006 Toyota glass was 4 mm (~0.160 inch) and for 2006 and later it is 5 mm (~0.200 inch). The PPG aftermarket glass is 4.5 mm and I have not seen any distortion. Toyota advertised the thicker glass in 2006 as a sound reduction. I recently got hit by another rock that sounded really loud but it only caused a small chip that is not noticeable except when the windshield is clean.

 

[andyman32392]

I had a rock hit my windshield 4 weeks after i got it but luckily the crack did not grow but i have a small little area where the rock hit.

 

[bluebullet]

We get a lot of stuff on the road here in winter (MT).
Windshields need to be replaced every 2-3 years. Even if you don't pick up a rock and get a chip or crack the fine glacial silt leaves your windshield looking as though it has been sandblasted. In the summer time the sandblast effect makes driving with the long blue sky days pretty difficult to see.

Most winter time drivers here observe an etiquette of not passing unless you can give the passed vehicle about 100 yds before you cut back in. Some jerks don't do it of course. Most folks stay away from the center line too since it is full of slush, ice and debris.

 

[steve germany]

The biggest weak link for the 4Runner is the windshield - hands down!

 

[ammobaggett]

Ok, now I know that it's not just my bad luck. I've had my 4Runner since the mid part of '05 and I'm on my four windshield. The last time I got a chip was like two days after having it fixed. I let it go a while and then another rock hit it and put it out of it's misery. I'm lucky to have a good insurance company, which is USAA (Maybe I'll get something for that plug!). The thing is is that it really hasn't happened on road that you would expect to have rocks sling up from. Also, I'm never charged for anything to have them replaced. I guess the glass companies consider me a valued customer.

 

[gptoy96]

So I guess I'm not the only one.

Bought my 4th gen in Edmonton in July last year (4hr drive from home), had only owned it for an hour and hadn't even left the city yet and got my first rock. By the time I was back home it had already spread by 6inches. By winter had another crack from the other side and the first one had gone all the way across.

I've had my 3rd gen going on 6 years now, still no cracks. Have had multiple impacts, some loud enough to almost leave your ears ringing after and all that's left is some stars. I have 5 or 6 stars but still no cracking.

Leaves me to beleive that they must've cheaped out on the glass. Luckily up here there's not much for safety type enforcement so I'll just tough it out till I get a few more then I'll switch it out.

 

[steve germany]

The glass is a special type - it is hydrophobic (repels water). It is certainly not cheaper. One of the unfortunate values though is that it cracks and runs quickly. Aftermarket glass is certainly stronger. I'm not sure that the hydrophobic properties are worth the weakess.

So I guess I'm not the only one.

Bought my 4th gen in Edmonton in July last year (4hr drive from home), had only owned it for an hour and hadn't even left the city yet and got my first rock. By the time I was back home it had already spread by 6inches. By winter had another crack from the other side and the first one had gone all the way across.

I've had my 3rd gen going on 6 years now, still no cracks. Have had multiple impacts, some loud enough to almost leave your ears ringing after and all that's left is some stars. I have 5 or 6 stars but still no cracking.

Leaves me to beleive that they must've cheaped out on the glass. Luckily up here there's not much for safety type enforcement so I'll just tough it out till I get a few more then I'll switch it out.

 

[the_josh]

on my third!!

only $180 to replace so not so bad at all

 

[Axis]

Had my 06 for just over a year now. Windshield cracked this morning. I heard a rock hit it yesterday when I was on the highway, but didn't notice any damage. Went from mild to very cold from last night to this morning. I turned on defrost this morning and "CRACK" a horizontal hairline appeared from about the steering wheel to the glove box at the bottom of the windshield. I have $1000 deductible, so I hope I can find an aftermarket for a reasonable price. And hopefully the aftermarket is stronger.

 

[andyman32392]

It so very strange to me that everyone has so many problems with their windshields. I have for different rock hit spots, one that is super deep and seems like it would crack badly. The weird thing is that I've had all of them for at least one year and one of them for about two and a half years. Not a single one of them have cracked up or spidered out even with random weather changes, and high humid heat and cold dry weather even ice.
I have an 08' by the way

 

[M1911]

I wish the windshield on my '03 would crack -- it is has gotten so pitted and scratched over the years.

 

[mike508]

I wish the windshield on my '03 would crack -- it is has gotten so pitted and scratched over the years.

Your insurance should cover a replacement if it is pitted enough to cause visibility problems. It doesn't have to be cracked.

 

[<<<<]

Add me to the club. Going 55 mph on street while some jackass passes me at 60 in 45mph zone... Small stone hits the glass. I get small crack. Repair didnt work (crack spreads). So I get new PPG glass at half price ($140) due to repair failure. My AAA doesn't have free glass policy therefore $500 deductible is more than aftermarket glass and more than I want to pay for OEM one. I'm happy with PPG glass so far, but what's with upper corners? They are folded down slightly more than original glass was (there is an low spot at each upper corner). I checked few aftermarked options and PPG was best fit but both Safelite's SCW and PPG had folded corners. Did any one with aftermarket windshield noticed this?