Windshield cracked out of nowhere

Driving to lunch yesterday about 30mph down a residential street and I heard a pop and my windshield cracked out of nowhere... nothing hit my window and there was no rock chip near it. Went back to work and parked my car, came out after work, and the crack had doubled in size to where it covers about 1/3 the width of my windshield.

I suspect there was some sort of defect in the window. It was hot - 95F - but it's been hotter over the last few weeks. Anyway, a window should be able to handle hot temps without cracking. I did use my windshield washer fluid about 10-20 seconds before the windshield cracked. Not sure if that had anything to do with it.

So, I have 2 questions:

1) Any chance in hell this would be covered under warranty?
2) What's the ballpark cost on a new windshield?

 

It's most likely the hot and cold effect on glass. Usually happens in the winter as well. It does happen, rarely, but it still does.

1. Dealer discretion---they may be willing to help you out if they find no chips or anything in the glass

2. DO you have comprehensive insurance? It should be covered under that.

 

yep, it happens. Just file an autoglass claim and have it changed out. You can specify through insurance company that you want oem, not "oem quality." In az, its free replacement, and they have to use oem if you specify. Not sure where you are at, so good luck!

 

Seems to be happening way more than I remember with 2nd gens. It's definitely hot here in FL so I'll be on the lookout for that.

 

As long as there are absolutely no chips on the inside or outside of the windshield, your local dealership should replace it under warranty at no charge to you due to a "stress" crack.

 

Nah 2nd gen owners definitely replace windshields (I replaced 3 on prior Tacomas), they're just less whiny about it when they do, so you don't hear about it online. 3rd gen owners seem to be more.... how do I put this nicely, "vocal"

OP you offroad the shit out of your truck, its two years old and what 30k+ miles?? You can't honestly say "nothing caused it", even an extremely small nearly microscopic chip can be a weak point and cause a crack from torsional (offroading) and thermal stress (its been really really hot lately). Ever heard of ninja rocks?? The tiniest piece of ceramic shard can SHATTER an entire windshield, same concept.

Call your insurance and get it replaced.

 

My first tacoma, so I can't compare to a 2nd gen but I can say that in 20 years of driving and 9 vehicles I've owned in that time I've had to replace exactly ONE windshield. That was in my first car, a Datsun 810 and a chip was present on the windshield when I bought it that took a year or more to actually become a crack. Rav4s, Xterra, T4R, etc., never had any cracked windshields driving the same way I do today. Maybe I was lucky.

I've replaced my Taco's windshield 2x in 18 months. The first time even if there was a chip it must have been tiny b/c I hadn't seen anything and I keep my windshield cleaned so i would have noticed anything sizable. First time I turned on my defrost the winter I bought the truck it cracked when I had owned the truck less than 6 weeks. the last time a small pebble flung from the tires of a truck in front of me on the interstate so I could at least see the reason for the 2nd crack.

Your dealership is unlikely to help you aside form recommending a good glass shop they use and are familiar with the replacement process on the Tacos with the wired rearview, etc.,

 

Please. There is no such thing as an OEM windshield. There are several glass companies that make windshields for Toyota. Low bid and still meet spec is the rule. Toyota does not make their own glass or tires or oil or a bunch of things.

 

It's happened to me twice. Once at the car wash it was mid to hi 90s, came out with a vertical crack that was completely across the windshield, and once just like you, hot ass day (100+) hit the wipers, 10 seconds later had a crack about a foot wide that grew to about 3 feet.

In Los Angeles we dont get insurance coverage on windshields though...

 

I did not realize Toyota didn't, some manufacturers like Ford at minimum put their emblem on the glass, they are real proud of their shit like that. Local glass guys had to go to Ford dealers to pick up windshields when we would call them in to do work trucks.

 

I had the same thing happen $290

 

If there are no chips then clearly a stress crack and dealer could warranty it. However, those two broken slices are now tectonic plates so they will rub each other as you drive and go up driveways/inclines at an angle, or just bumps on the road. One small chip and the dealer will not cover it regardless. Already went through this, my advice is to take close up pictures and zoomed up video before a piece chips from rubbing.

Insurance companies repair certain sized chips/cracks for free to mitigate the cost of a new windshield. However based on your description of size, some insurance policies cover windshields with a $100 co pay or somewhere around there but typically non OEM...start with the dealer.

 

i have the same problem. It's been real hot lately. Came out to get in my truck today and there's a 2 foot crack. Starts on the drivers side goes vertical for 8" or so then turns and goes straight horizontally across towards the drivers side and is now curving up towards the roof.
I called Toyota corporate. They told me to take it into any dealership and they look at it determine if its a cracked caused by defect - it's covered by Toyota. If they determine its caused by a rock then I pay. How can it not be defect. Cracked sitting in the driveway over night. It was 33c yesterday and 100%rh - went down to 13c overnight ... so temps cooled off a lot over night. Hard to believe a window on a 4x4 pickup is so fragile.
Wish me luck, appointment at dealer tomorrow 10am.

 

literally just had a golf ball sized rock smack my windshield on the my to work yesterday morning, so i called Safelite, almost dropped my phone when they said $840 IF i brought it to them $40 more if they come to me ( its a 20 mile drive from them to where i work) lucky for me its $100 out of my pocket....at that cost i'll replace it every month and let the insurance pick up the rest...i mean that is why i pay for it after all... but good luck to everyone with their windshields...on a side note not sure what 33c is ( and no i'm googling it lol i'm lazy) but today its 91 degrees Fahrenheit and feels like 101 with 100% humidity...stay hydrated people

 

My windshield cost me $700 for an OEM windshield with no insurance. I am ultra paranoid about driving behind big trucks now. I know I'm pissing people off leaving a huge gap but they have to deal with it. I really don't want to replace it again.

 

Yeah, I had 6 chips in the first year. Never had a windshield this weak. Anyone know if Toyota skimped? I got mine done for $315.

 

Thinner glass, less weight, better EPA fuel economy.

 

The windshields in these trucks are very cheaply made for some reason,and the glass seems to be soft ,prone too millions of tiny knicks that can be seen at certain times of day.

 

Toyota is skimping in a lot of areas.

 

I just had mine replaced by safelite $472. I heard a very small "tic"( did not sound like a rock hit my windshield) and 30 mins later a crack covered all the passenger side. Temp was around 98 F. On the other hand I had very solid, audible hits on this windshield before and it never cracked.