I have a 2018 4Runner and have already replaced the windshield once when a small pebble hit it, I now have another crack from side to side from another small debris strike that barely made a noise. Doing some reading it appears that some other Toyota models have issues with fragile/brittle windshields. Just pisses me off this new windshield was 4 days old.

Was the replacement a Toyota factory part . Unlikely as they are over $1200 and your insurance will say nay, nay. If it was Safelite, I have not heard good things.

Sounds like some complaints I've seen on Ford SoundScreen windshields.
I got a rock chip on my F150 midday, by 7am the next morning, it had spread 4-5 inches, and another 3-4 inches over the next couple weeks.
Wasn't in my field of vision, so I never got it replaced before trading the truck in.

SoundScreen on our Flex has had 3 chips in it for 2 years & haven't spread at all.

I'm about to put a third in my 17 Tacoma, makes no difference if its factory or satellite, I've had both. I believe its more because of the windshield angle

I have coworkers that have experienced Toyota windshield fragility.

Most recently on a 2015 Tacoma, coworker was cleaning ice off the windshield wiper blade and let it snap down a couple of inches over the glass. Instantly spiderwebbed the whole windshield

Knock on wood, I have a fair amount of miles on 3 toyotas and have not had any issues so I am thinking there is some truth to the windshield angle theory......

My Honda CRV was a pebble magnet. I kept getting chips patched. In fact, the shop kept asking me where I was driving.

Don't buy a Wrangler. Track record is one windshield a year since 2012. I start my greeting to the local glass shop "I'm here for my annual windshield replacement".

Mazda too.

My 2017 with only 14k miles on it sparkles like the night sky when light hits it just right from grit that gets thrown up in the spray from other cars when it rains. It effectively sand blasts the soft glass they use.

On my '06 GMC, '99 Frontier and '89 Jeep I notice none of that.

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toy...4837/PT42789100.html

They are quite helpful for smaller stones and debris.
Big ones nothing can do about them.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
Was the replacement a Toyota factory part . Unlikely as they are over $1200 and your insurance will say nay, nay. If it was Safelite, I have not heard good things.

It was a Toyota OEM windshield installed by satellite and cost me $500 out of pocket. I haven’t had a cracked windshield in probably 30 years. It’s ridiculous.

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:
I'm about to put a third in my 17 Tacoma, makes no difference if its factory or satellite, I've had both. I believe its more because of the windshield angle

This is correct. It is the angle that causes so many issues.

I had to replace the stock windshield in my 2016 Tundra a couple months after I bought the truck due to a small rock coming up from a log truck.

USAA gave me two options: Safelite or a local outfit. I went with the local outfit since the USAA rep said they had lots of good experience with them.

The window tech and I talked quite a bit while he was replacing the windshield and he mentioned how Safelite uses cheaper/foriegn replacement windshields. The windshield that the local company installed has been perfect ever since, despite taking a couple small hits.

I bet windshields, like everything else on a modern vehicle, are made as lightweight as practical in the interest of fuel mileage.

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:
Don't buy a Wrangler. Track record is one windshield a year since 2012. I start my greeting to the local glass shop "I'm here for my annual windshield replacement".

I've heard quite a few Jeepers talk about the Wrangler crack, seems a pretty common occurrence for the ones that leave pavement.

Try to find Guardian brand glass. For me, it has been much better than the soft, easily pitted Subaru glass.

replaced the windshield in my shop van last year to get it inspected,
2005 E350,

picked it up from the inspection on Thursday,
loaded and headed to NOVA for a gunshow on Friday AM and got a rock on 95N,,,

November show, got something,, big, may have been a bolt or nut from something, not a rock, in the opposite corner that left a 1/2" dent in the glass on the edge, and 5 fingers spreading from it,

inspection due next month, so I'll get a new windshield the week before, and likely get another chip or crack from traffic going up 95 the next week



as far as windshields, Mini Cooper Hardtops will get pocked up pretty bad
to the point it can be difficult to see thru on a bright sunny morning

I had a bad run of cracked windshields. Several times, I would wait to get a second crack but nope. Maybe 14 months out, I replaced it only to get a crack less than a month. Arggh!

Leased by Lexus ES350 in June of 2018, first cracked windshield in December, second in March of 2018. On the way home from a Service appointment in July of 2018, third cracked.

After the first one, quoted $1400, I lowered my deductible from $500 to $100 for glass coverage.

First two were chips that turned in full length cracks in a matter of hours. Third one is about a 1/2 inch long and hasn't spread, yet.

I have an '05 Toyota Corolla and am on my 5th windshield. First 3 were Toyota. last 2 were Safelite, and they are even worse.

Both my previous 4Runner and current Tundra have had more cracked windshields than any other vehicles I've ever owned. I think we went through 3 windshields in like 5 years on the 4 Runner. The Tundra is about a year old and just got a small crack from a rock. I haven't taken it in yet. On the other hand, my parents have only had one broken windshield in 8 years on their Camry and that was from a large object falling off a truck on the I-65. Their Prius hasn't had any issues.