OK- my second windshield crack a couple of days ago & this one is not going to be one i can ignore. Below is contents of my email to toyota canada.
the address is
toyota_feedback@toyota.ca if you want to send something in- and you should if we are ever going to get them to do something about this
Toyota Canada,
I am writing you with feedback on the 2007 FJ Cruiser, at the suggestion of Linda Leo from my local Toyota Dealership in Maple Ridge, BC. Firstly, I would like to point out that my decision to go with Toyota for my new vehicle was based on many years of excellent service I got out of my Toyota 4-Runner and my purchase decision was also based on the excellent reputation that the older FJ models have. As far as I have been able to ascertain, my FJ Cruiser was perhaps the first one driven off a lot in north america. I paid a down payment well in advance of the vehicle release and was excited to see that Toyota was bringing back the FJ series truck.
Overall I have been very happy with the vehicle, but one significant issue that myself and many other owners have been concerned about is the poor quality of the front windshield. At first I was pleased to give people a high recommendation when they asked me how I like the truck. Now, I would be reticent to recommend anyone purchase the FJ Cruiser, based solely on the ongoing maintenance and costs that would be required to keep the front windshield crack free. In short, the front windshield is extremely susceptible to cracking by very small objects hitting the glass. Some have attributed this to the near-vertical angle of the windshield, but it should be noted that I have owned 3 other vehicles with more vertical and even flatter windshields than the FJ cruiser and I never once had to replace a windshield nor did I ever even get a crack in any of those windshields over 20+ years of driving. The location and type of driving I am doing now is not in any way different from when I drove those vehicles so I feel this clearly this points to the FJ's windshield quality as the issue. Some other FJ Cruiser owners have indicated the same thing- they owned other flat windshield vehicles prior to their '07 FJ purchase and had little to no trouble with them when compared to the new FJ Cruiser.
Within the first 3 months of driving I received the first crack. What hit the windshield I am not sure as it was so small it did not make a noticeable sound so it was not a large rock. Recently another small object hit the window and caused a more severe crack which is now spidering across the windshield. I am reticent to go and replace this windshield and pay the deductible when I am fairly certain, from other owners reports, that the new window will be cracked again in no time. On the other hand, I recognize that driving with a cracked windshield represents an unsafe condition and in the event of an accident a cracked window will not function as it should and could result in passenger injury . I think Toyota should be concerned that many FJ Cruiser owners are not bothering or avoiding replacing cracked windshields (they know they will break again in short order) and are therefore driving around in potentially unsafe vehicles. This situation is made worse by the high cost and complexity of replacing the FJ Cruiser windshield as has been indicated by various glass installers.
I am a member of an internet forum group of FJ Cruiser enthusiasts- fjcruiserforums.com. By all accounts this is the definitive site on the internet for FJ Cruiser information and it currently has over 12,200 members. A poll has been running on that web site for some time now in regards to windshield cracks. When I last checked there had been 1,555 votes on that poll and 467 members registered one of more cracks- fully 30% of respondents have indicated broken windshields and the truck has only been out for a little over one year. Note that that this poll only allows the forum members to vote once, and we already know that many that voted 'my windshield is OK', now have had cracks, so the actual percentage of forum members with cracked windshields is likely more like 40% or more, rather than 30%. Further to this, the forum thread related to this poll has numerous accounts from FJ Cruiser owners. Many owners have already replaced the windshield once, twice, three or more times. Some owners have replaced windshields only to have them crack within hours or days of making the repair. I believe a US consumer advocate television show also did a piece on the FJ cruiser windshield and it propensity for cracking.
The link to this poll and the associated forum thread is as follows:
New Windshield Poll - Please Respond
This is the highest viewed poll on the FJ cruiser forum website and has been viewed over 25,000 times, so this gives some indication of the interest in this windshield issue. It should be noted that this is an FJ Cruiser enthusiast site, not a complaint forum. By and large, the members are FJ enthusiasts and would rather be hailing the vehicles capability rather than posting negative comments about the windshield. In fact, other than the the windshield complaint, the only other major issue that seems to cropping up is some paint adhesion & chipping problems.
Clearly there is something wrong when so many vehicles are going through so many windshields in such a short period of time. I would sincerely ask that Toyota look at this issue and consider measures to improve the durability of the windshield. The FJ Cruiser follows a long legacy of excellence in 4 wheel drive vehicles and it seems a shame that the '07 reintroduction it is now developing a bad reputation based on poor quality glass.
I would appreciate if Toyota Canada would keep me appraised of any developments regarding this issue and it is my sincere hope that some resolution to this defect is arrived at in short order.
Sincerely,
Rory Dafoe
p.s.- and pppllleeeeaasssee- can people stop posting 'its because the windshield is near vertical- get over it & deal with it' & postings to that effect. That is just absolute bull based on mine & others years & years & years of experiences driving other vehicles with flatter and steeper windshields. The emperical evidence is there without question- the windshield sucks-end of story.
2007 FJ, 5AT, Sun Fusion Yellow, CQ, UP, GY, RB, 2Q, EL, VS.
"Enjoying the Journey"
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