Windshield crack

[dzcruiser21]

Hey all - was driving home yesterday, 18 wheeler shot up sone rocks and got a very small crack off the left side of the windshield, almost at the frame so in my line of sight at all. Just very annoying. Rig is only 6 months old, still in warranty.

What’s the move here? Go to insurance and have safelite just maybe fill it or replace it? Or go to toyota? Just not really sure where the starting point is.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nuke]

I would check with a 3rd-party first, to see if the windshield is even available as yet. Seems I noticed a post regarding a dealer replacement for $1600. Wow! At that price, would be worried it would affect my insurance premium. Obviously not covered under warranty...

 

[PACruiser]

You can try a fix like Safelite. For small chips or cracks they can work surprisingly well. I have had repairs where it made the crack basically invisible or others where it was only a little better but prevented it from getting worse which gave me time until I could replace the windshield.
They are typically covered under insurance for free but at less than $100 you can just pay it on your own and avoid a claim on your insurance record.

 

[PurelyAbrasive]

I know at one of my local dealers they have a 2024 FE sitting in the back lot waiting on an entire windshield and they don't know when they are going to be getting on in from the factory.

 

[chris_in_phx]

It depends on how big the chip or crack is. Normally i try to have safelite fill a chip first, asap, before any cracks start to appear/grow. Once you start getting larger cracks then you're in new glass territory.

 

[Doggman1525]

Windshields are a consumable under the best of circumstances, particularly these near vertical designs. I would replace the WS on my FJ almost yearly just as part of regular maintenance because after four seasons of driving the accumulation of cracks, chips and pitting made morning and afternoon driving in the sun unsafe. I'd only run it through insurance every once in a while so as not to put up any red flags that might jack up my rates or get me dropped but there were aftermarket options and a replacement was only running a few hundred bucks at that time, provided the technician knew what he was doing and didn't break the clips on the upper trim piece.

Best play is to make the one you got last as long as it can. Fix it, if it's fixable, so it doesn't spread on you and wait till there's been enough accumulated wear and tear that visibility is compromised then replace. In Florida hopefully it will be a while before you catch another rock. Here in CO, in the winter, it's a weekly, if not daily, occurrence.

Your insurance may offer repair that is discounted or free depending on your policy or you can pay $100-200 out of pocket, depending the amount of damage (pro tip: shop around). Hopefully by next winter the OEM shields won't be the unobtanium they are now and/or there may be some third party options that cut down on the cost. For now, at $1600 a pop you won't make any friends down at the insurance office if you demand new glass every time you pick up a chip...

 

[FarooqMCSE]

Hey all - was driving home yesterday, 18 wheeler shot up sone rocks and got a very small crack off the left side of the windshield, almost at the frame so in my line of sight at all. Just very annoying. Rig is only 6 months old, still in warranty.

What’s the move here? Go to insurance and have safelite just maybe fill it or replace it? Or go to toyota? Just not really sure where the starting point is.

Thanks in advance!

Hi dzcruiser21, all insurances cover it. Not walk rather run to SafeLite. My first experience, I ignored it. Crack spread and cost me a new windshield. They said because of cameras and sensors, windshields cost 2200. You pay deductible of 500. I had to pay.

 

[Kokanuty]

I just bought mine and the first day I saw a line coming out of the black area at base of windshield. Thought it was a silver string or something. Within a day it had gotten bigger and now the three days later it looks like a Mountain scene. I have to take it back and show service on Monday. Hopefully they should repair it as I’m certain it was there before I bought it

 

[c_sauce]

I was lucky enough that I got a crack that went right through the sensor and it does impact their function… Just had the windshield replaced by the Toyota dealer for $2200, $500 deductible through insurance. Safelite does the same job for $1600. I would confirm with your insurance they’ll play the dealer price versus safelite. Had to wait 30 days for a new windshield to become available but dealer didn’t require a deposit to order. I thought the 30 days was relatively fast since it’s still a newer model.

 

[JordanJ]

I had my windshield split right down the middle, almost vertical… no rock chips and I certainly wasn’t aware of one but it was hitting like 80’s during the day and then 30’s at night and Toyota said it’s still not under warranty (easily 2 months after my purchase) went to USAA and insurance covers it no problem, but I’ve been waiting for a windshield for about 3 months now. Good luck!

 

[FarooqMCSE]

I just bought mine and the first day I saw a line coming out of the black area at base of windshield. Thought it was a silver string or something. Within a day it had gotten bigger and now the three days later it looks like a Mountain scene. I have to take it back and show service on Monday. Hopefully they should repair it as I’m certain it was there before I bought it

Hi Kokanuty,
Sorry to read about your loss. Bad things happen to good people. I had a Highlander that I sold to buy my LC LC. However, prior to selling, both of my cars windshields suffered a rock damage. Because of the cameras and sensors, and associated recalibration, cost of windshield is over 2K. Paid my deductible happily of one grand and saved 3 grand.

 

[Hiker42]

Consider shopping at an independent glass shop, as opposed to Safelite. With Safelite, you're paying for all that advertising and brand recognition. An independent glass shop replaced my wife's windshield for less than half what Safelite quoted.

 

[jcdeng]

Hmmm, seems like I will be needing some windshield ppf as soon as my car arrives.

 

[bluebullet]

You can try a fix like Safelite. For small chips or cracks they can work surprisingly well. I have had repairs where it made the crack basically invisible or others where it was only a little better but prevented it from getting worse which gave me time until I could replace the windshield.
They are typically covered under insurance for free but at less than $100 you can just pay it on your own and avoid a claim on your insurance record.

I used Safelite to fix a small rock chip picked up on I90 near Butte last summer. USAA insurance payed for it to avoid the crack spreading necessitating a new w/s. So far it has worked. Cannot see the patch unless you look real hard. Careful, looking for it will set off the view the road minder...