Our daily driver, 8500 miles since November. Windshield has been struck a couple times at interstate speeds and no chips. I'd say bad luck on your part. Where do you live?

 

Bad luck any brands of windshield will chip and crack on the hwy at high speed

 

Both. Part is luck. I have own cars that never had a broken windshield, and cars that had the bad luck of having a pebble hit the windshield at 75 mph resulting in a crack. Speed is a bigger factor than size of the pebble.
But it is also a fact that newer windshields are thinner than older ones to save weight. There is a standard that defines how strong the windshield must be to protect the occupants, but "protect" doesn't mean "intact". Modern windshields are designed to absorb energy, even it it means "self sacrifice".

 

I live in Austin, Texas area. The last one was at highway speeds but most were on surface streets, 45 mph max

 

My Camry bought last November has had five chips on the windshield so far. Yes, the quality of the glass is so bad.

 

GHH Max purchased Feb 2024. Three chips so far, only one repairable. All 3 at highway speeds and on interstates. It feels like this windshield is lacking in "beef", to shrug off the smaller dings. Second one looked repairable, we spent and hour and a half at lunch after the hit, before looking for a repair shop. Out in the sun, the chip ran about 10 inches.

 

Sorry about that. I agree that it seems more fragile combined with bad luck. I got the last chip repaired this morning. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

A friend suggested carrying a windshield repair kit for the small dings that might crack. I see the Permatex kit resin cures in 15min under direct sunlight. Fifteen to 25 minute delay on a 17 hour trip (I do them twice a year) is nothing.

 

Ugg!! Yes! We’ve had our ‘23 Highlander Limited for four weeks. 3000 miles only. First small rock that hit the windshield chipped it. Small, seems like an easy fix. I kid you not, on the way to get it fixed, I took another rock and got another one, this time bigger. We’ve had 8 vehicles in 25 years, only had to fix one windshield. THIS makes me angry!

 

Went to the dealership to rotate tires this morning because it was included in the purchase price. Otherwise,I'd do it myself. When I checked out, I asked the rep the cost of windshield replacement for my 24 Camry LE. Guess what? It's $1600 right now.

 

i just think gravel trucks just stopped covering their load.. had to replace my windshield within 7k miles of ownership

 

Let warranty cover the cost.

 

Something not being mentioned but I'm wondering in the back of mind...is that Auto Manufacturers are being pushed to limit the weight of their vehicles in order to obtain every fractions of a MPG out of their vehicles due to Gov't Mandates. (yes, those pesky little things that Gov't (un-elected) bureaucrats interpret from poorly written/designed laws).

Everything is subject to weight reduction - even the windshields - and thus, may be another reason these newer vehicle windshields are not able to withstand chips and cracks that in the past, would have. JMO...

 

Nope. It's their cutting corners. It has happened across the board. Take at a look at Boeing, for example. It used to be "If it ain't Boeing, I ain't flying." Now, it's the opposite.

 

Do not make insulting or divisive political comments on this forum. You can discuss and disagree in an objective manner, not a subjective manner (in other words: don't make it personal or partisan).

 

You suggesting that we put on blindfolds when we start analyzing a common problem. Not wise at all. Gov regulations just might have something to do with the lower quality windshields.

 

Yes we had problem since 1990,now again due to my family said like Toyota again,windshield in 2022 gone after 2000 km,we tried again on 2024 then gone after 1700 km,we don't know what to do,Toyota maybe a bad quality cars soon

 

And another thing:
This windshield is 9.5 months old, 8600mi and besides the cracks and chips, it looks like it's 5 years old with all the tiny sand pitting here in New Mexico. Yeah, it blows here, but I never had a Volvo windshield look like this so fast.

 

Hi all --- it's not cheaper glass or cutting corners -- quite the opposite actually. It is acoustic glass -- look at the bottom corner of your glass -- it should say that it is acoustic glass. This keeps the outside noise and wind noise down. It is expensive glass and is more prone to chips. The "OLD" glass was loud as all heck and, yes, could withstand a rock or two, but buyers demanded quite cabins -- so here we are.

 

From one of many sites extolling the virtues of "acoustic" glass in cars:

Noise Reduction
"A significant purpose of an acoustic windshield is to improve a vehicle’s acoustics, hence the name. The PVB membrane between layers of windshield glass absorbs sound waves from the outside world, reducing the amount of sound that enters a car. For this reason, acoustic glass is also used in many buildings, such as schools and hospitals, where quiet environments are necessary. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that highway traffic noise is around 70 – 80 decibels loud, which can cause ear damage over a prolonged period. Noise reduction is a vital feature of acoustic windshields, making car rides safer and more pleasant for passengers and drivers. However, the effectiveness of this feature is dependent on the glass’ thickness."

- Dependent on the thickness, hummmmm...

Crash Safety
"In mitigating noise, windshields reduce the pervasiveness of distracting sounds from the road, such as horns, collisions, and general disturbances. According to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, auditory distractions are “any noise that takes away our attention from driving” that, when combined with other factors, can increase the likelihood of car accidents. Reducing distractions keeps drivers more focused on the road, improving road safety."

- Yeah, all those "exterior" distractions that keep the typical American driver from focusing on the road. I can think of more than a few "interior" distractions keeping drivers less focused on the road, that if reduced or eliminated would certainly go further in reducing accidents.

Of course, this B.S. is from sites trying to sell you on the concept. Haven't seen one yet, who will state "our replacement glass will shrug off road gravel like invisible armor."

My money is still on cheap, thin, light weight, barely meeting spec windshields. I'll be replacing this OEM one next month, so will see if an aftermarket is any thicker and or noisier.

 

What did you do about it? If got replaced was the drive experience like before and was it the same like before?

 

Follow-up: I replaced the 2024 GHH MAX windshield today.

The glass sticker label was:
FUYAO
AS1 M848
DOT - 459
SOLARTINT
ACOUSTIC
FW06150

It appears FUYAO is a major manufacturer of glass for a number of car lines, including Toyota, and have manufacturing facilities in the U.S.

I have not had it "re-calibrated" as the shop counter person said it would probably not need it and the tech said the car would tell me if it did. BTW, nice mom and pop shop in Missoula MT. $500 installed with free rock chip repair for as long as I own the car.

Have not had the car out on the highway to check noise levels, etc.

 

Here is some info on FUYAO, a Chinese Company. Beside this I remember seeing a news program about FUYAO taking over the GM plant and reopening the facility as a glass manufacturer. It was not at all complimentary.

Homeland Security investigates Fuyao: What we know about raid on factory and 27 other locations

Questions loom after multiple law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Homeland Security, investigated allegations of “financial crimes and labor exploitation” at Fuyao Glass America in Moraine on Friday, raiding numerous homes around the Dayton region as part of the inquiry.

www.daytondailynews.com

 

Update: The car was into the dealer for the 10k oil change today. Also complied with the airbag recall. A couple of hours and the interior looks untouched. Was able to cruise a bit in town and car holds center of lane and slows/brakes appropriately in adaptive cruise, so I'm calling the replacement good.

 

Good to hear your positive comment on the airbag fix. I've got a 15k service due and just might let them order the parts for later install. Haven't made up my mind yet.

 

I’ve had my grand Highlander hybrid Max now for exactly one year, 20,000 miles, and I am on my third windshield. Partially bad luck with rocks striking the extreme edge of the windshield which can’t be repaired and then cracking all the way across the windshield. I waited three months for the first windshield from Toyota(cracked at 500 miles). The second windshield was not an OEM version and it seemed fine until the dealer would not work on my car because they said the calibration was done incorrectly. They could fix it for $300. Took it back to Safelite and the manager said he would fix it and I had a new OEM windshield installed and correctly calibrated in three days for no cost. Would give them an A+ for Customer Service. I have had three other Highlander hybrids in the last six years with only one other windshield replacement. At $1600 a pop I hope I don’t need any more of these.

 

I am in need of a new windshield - am being quoted $1250 from Safelite due to heads up display (which I dont understand because isnt it just projection onto windshield?) and recalibration (what is changing that needs recalibration?), etc etc. Aside from the previous mention of $500 with no recalibration needed does anyone have any other real world deals or experience?

Yes I see the post from @Twistbanks and find $1600 a pop even more horrific.

 

The dealership quoted me $1600 parts & labor the other day and it's going up soon they mentioned.

 

I'm curious why everyone is quoting a high replacement cost for a new windshield. Are you paying "out of pocket"? Surely you have full coverage insurance on your new car. Why wouldn't you just file a comprehensive claim with your insurance company and pay the deductible? Comprehensive claims should not increase your insurance premium.

I got a windshield chip within the first couple of months when my GH was new. I had it repaired at Safelite and it's barely noticeable. If I get a bad enough chip or crack, I'll just pay my $500 deductible and get a new windshield. My Max has the HUD, so the glass is expensive.

I'm on my 3rd windshield on my 2021 Camry that also has HUD. Like the GH, the glass is not cheap due to the HUD, but it only cost my deductible. I just got another large chip on the newest windshield. Although it was "repaired", this one is still visible at certain angles. I will get another new windshield with the next chip.

It's not the quality of the glass, it's just bad luck. Chips happen.

 

Just a guess. Some states require insurers to cover glass and premiums are priced accordingly. Other states, it is optional and some people don’t buy it to save a few bucks on insurance premiums.