2016 Excessive Windshield Chips/Cracks

Ok, before everyone goes off and demands that I search the forums for answers, I have.

I was wanting to get a poll of how many people with 2016's have had issues with excessive windshield chips, or cracks.

I have had my new Tacoma since January and have had one chip fixed, and just found 3 additional chips. I drive 95% highway miles and most of the time there is no one in front of me. The first chip was literally caused by a bug, because I watched it happen. I know chips and cracks because of chips is considered road hazard damage, but 4 chips in 4 months is a bit excessive. My 2010 Tacoma made the same trip for about the same amount of time, and I had 0 chips from that. I know a few of you have had issues with random cracks, and gotten them replaced under warranty.

How did you get that accomplished?

Is anyone else experiencing excessive chips from bugs?

**Side note, I have already had it at the dealership 3 times. Twice for checking/filling the low transmission fluid, and once to have them send it to a body shop to fix the hood coming apart (both known issues with several members). I have also had a OEM tire split at 8300 miles, GoodYear doesn't warranty OEM products and the dealership said it was road hazard damage which is B.S., because again I was on a clear highway. Not sure how much longer the dealership is going to put up with me demanding things be fixed.**

 

Perhaps the 3rd Gen windshields are at a different angle than the previous models and that causes a greater liklihood of contact with road grit (I had a Scion Xb (insert joke here______) years ago and had all kinds of problems with rocks, etc. hitting the w/s. Aerodynamics just absorbed instead of deflected, it seemed).
Or perhaps it is just a run of bad luck...

 

Very well could just be bad luck, however I wanted to poll some people to see if this was a common problem or just me. Hopefully for the community it is just my bad luck lol.

 

Same exact windshield angle as the 2ng gen.

 

I figured it was, however I don't know if the windshield supplier changed with the new model or maybe the aerodynamics of the hood+grill changed just enough that stuff is thrown into the windshield rather than grazing past it. Like I said there could be several things that might contribute, but hopefully its just my bad luck.

 

The front end of the new truck is definitely boxier with sharper lines for aerodynamics, I'm thinking that's a big factor into why you seeing more chips. I do know one thing that is different from the 2nd gen windshield, is that the 3rd gen has an acoustic windshield to help eliminate road noise so maybe it has something to do with the hardness of the windshield.
I would get a bug protector on my hood. I have one on my 2nd gen and it helps somewhat, not a 100% but better then nothing

 

I'd vote, but you didn't add a 4th option of "No issues to date".

 

I never claimed to be smart lol. Fixed it.

 

I might add that I have ZERO paint chips on the front end/fenders/hood/A-Pillars.

 

I do quite a bit of highway driving. I have at least two hood chips and two minor windshield chips. I have a 2010 4runner before this and I had a bunch of chips on it too. I have a feeling I am getting a normal number of impacts, but I am just extra sensitive to them because this truck is so awesome and I want to baby it. Oh and I got an AVS deflector on the hood and it at least helps with hood chips.

 

How about chip then crack then replace then chip then replace because it wasn't properly installed and leaking? I'd vote for that!

 

I definitely dont think all glass is created equal. I had a vw with 130k and the original windshield, watched rocks smash it on the highway and nothing happen. Now I have a subaru forester with 27k getting a new windshield today.

 

Now I am just posting what I heard from the lead foreman of my local Toyota service department, but he told me that Toyota made all the glass on the 3rd gen just a hair thinner than last model. He said it was to cut down weight and or cost.

Don't shoot the messenger. I have noticed that my 3rd gen is collecting cracks and chips far more than my 2011 did while in the same state. I have had to replace one windshield already ($150 deductible) and the local safelite knows me by name.

So from my experience the so called thinner glass on the 3rd gen makes mor sense. Who knows for sure.

 

Sounds like typical service writer tall tales to me, they're experts in making up answers on the spot.

 

It was the shop foreman though. Not a service writer.

 

Yep even my windshield sucks ass

 

Same birds.

 

Except not. I'm not saying he was right or wrong. But him saying that would make more sense then not.

 

The Skewp does work to suck up all the debris before it can smash the windshield. So That's what its really for.

Can't forget to dump the scoop after a few debris sucking rides.....lest it seem to do nothing but implant a fake pec.......

 

Ever lighter windshields are just one of the weight saving attempts to increase gas mileage. Been that way since AT LEAST the 70's when I sold cars.