New Windshield Poll - Please Respond - Page 103

Katie · 05-18-2009, 10:26 PM

11,000 miles. I didn't even hear the rock hit, but I sure noticed the daisy looking design at the base of the windshield. A crack went straight up from the impact about 4 inches. Then while driving, it went around in a circle. I parked it and it was about 90 degrees out. The next day the crack was now going straight across about 5 more inches. I guess the heat made the crack go on. I had a wrangler for 13 years, only replaced the windshield once and that was at about 100,000 miles.

Snowman Ambush · 05-19-2009, 11:23 PM

How prevalent of a problem is this?

I ask as a potential buyer, am I going to be shelling out $ for a new windshield every 2 years? After reading, it certainly appears that way.... wow.... this just really set me back a little.

Having owned a Jeep Grand Cherokee (with all of their associated air conditioning, window and transmission problems...) gotta admit, it's a concern. I don't mind losing a windshield to my own rough housing, but with the road system here I catch a rock atleast once a day.... and that's no exaggeration. It sounds like I'll be buying a windshield every week....

The windshield is the one good thing about the Jeep, I've caught tons of rocks without so much as a chip.

Quote:

FJD08SE previously said:

I've had my TT a year now. Driven 30K miles. Been to the desert twice, offroad many times. Windshield is great. No problems. Even driven behind gravel trucks and gotten hit; expected problems due to the design, but not yet.

You can tell by the poll that this is the experience of most people. Its not a design flaw, its a design choice, and we all chose to buy it that way. Just my opinion.

This makes me feel better (and my wallet thicker

), but it does appear from the poll to be a significant problem. 33% seems extreme.

Casper1276 · 05-25-2009, 04:41 PM

2007 FJ. 30,000mi. Have replaced my windshield once. Ready for another one - chipped and split from side to side. So far the average is one per year - just normal city and highway driving so far. I actually used to own an auto glass shop, and now wish I were back in the business. These FJ's are a goldmine for glass.

CURIOUSGEORGE · 05-26-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

FJD08SE previously said:

You can tell by the poll that this is the experience of most people. Its not a design flaw, its a design choice, and we all chose to buy it that way. Just my opinion.

agreed - FJ was delivered 31 May 06 - 3 yrs old on Sunday.. I live in Colorado (where they SAND the roads in the winter & frequently gravel is mixed in with the sand), several trips off road, many interstate trips between here & AR/ TX... currently 50K miles and no cracks or runners (knock on wood)... a couple small stars & a lot of pitting but overall in good shape for 50K... pre-FJ I drove a Chevy 2500 HD crew cab & replaced the windsheild twice in 2 years with similar mileage...

**MelloFJYellow** · 05-27-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

FJD08SE previously said:

I've had my TT a year now. Driven 30K miles. Been to the desert twice, offroad many times. Windshield is great. No problems. Even driven behind gravel trucks and gotten hit; expected problems due to the design, but not yet.

You can tell by the poll that this is the experience of most people. Its not a design flaw, its a design choice, and we all chose to buy it that way. Just my opinion.

I agree with FJD08SE, as well. When I got my FJ, I really did not care if things might not be perfect with it. It was a first-year vehicle, after all, and ALL of these have at least some flaws, even if they are minor ones.

fjtroy · 05-27-2009, 09:29 AM

After 37k mi, i have a couple nice nicks in the windshield, a lot of trail rash on the passenger side, and paint has nicks in it as well in the front facing areas. The design is why I bought the FJ, so I guess it was worth these small drawbacks. Got a new paint pen in the mail last week, and hoping the windshield doesnt split, but so far so good.

richbradbury · 05-27-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

65-fj45 previously said:

I had 3k on the Fj when a small rock broke the windshield, I have not replaced it yet. I am waiting for the price to drop first.

That should be covered with no deductable by your Insurance Company.

fuel80 · 05-28-2009, 05:02 PM

just had mine replaced and the guy installing it broke the new window. geez. My insurance is covering it. $50 deductable.

imjeffnyernot · 05-28-2009, 08:24 PM

I'm looking to buy one very soon, guess I better get glass coverage....

mmont0 · 05-31-2009, 03:02 PM

I think this windshield poll is great, but there should be another consideration to take into account for the - has your windshield broken more than once - question. The consideration is whether the windshield that replaced the original was a Toyota part. Most replacements are aftermarkets that actually are better than the Toyota so they don't break as easily.

I personally don't have any issues seeing that mine cracked. I've been hit by many rocks on the highway with a lot of small, almost unnoticable chips, everywhere. The one that finally cracked it was LOUD and I'm assuming much larger. It split the glass immediately up to a 4 inch crack and then a few days later it was up to a foot.

It is just by car's design that these windshields are more prone to catching the full force of a stone than any other vehicle Toyota makes. XB's are in the same category. The rocks have no where else to go but into the glass for a vertical windshield. So your probability of getting a crack is much higher than any other car. I'm a little surprised by the 30% in the poll right now. I would think it would be much higher than that.

Quote:

imjeffnyernot previously said:

I'm looking to buy one very soon, guess I better get glass coverage....

Yes, great point! Everyone that owns an FJ should have glass coverage. I have a no-deductible coverage so replacing it will cost me nothing --> in the short term.