Windshield Replacement

I bought the base model 2016 Prius and it was my first Toyota purchase and within a week of purchase, I got a small crack that immediately spread over the entire windshield and I never heard a rock hitting it or anything and I reported it to the dealer I bought it from and they claimed it was normal and I complained with Toyota and they said they couldn't do anything. I don't know what to do now because I don't have glass coverage and the cheapest price is 600 dollars out of pocket. I see many other people are having this same issue with the 2016 prius so what can we do? This seems completely ridiculous and I will never buy a Prius again

 

I wonder if they changed the windshield for 2017. My wife had ours out last week and, I think caught the edge of a rainstorm, hailstorm, tornado that pushed the car sideways across a 2 lane road.
She said she was sure the windshield would break. It did not break and somehow, we see no hail damage.

 

Please report to the number DPConno posted in this thread on page 5. It helps everybody, including Toyota.

 

I encourage all of you guys to submit a complaint on the NTHSA website. I submitted my complaint and Toyota contacted me to offer a free windshield so they can test my broken one for safety issues.

 

Add me to the list. Big spider web crack in the lower right half of the windshield. It happened this morning in light urban traffic, not close to any vehicles in front of me, smooth road going 60 mph. On my way out of town for camping trip over the holiday. Bummer! I think a rock or small metal object such as a screw or bolt flew over the hood. Maybe kicked up by the front tire? It made a loud pop. Scared the crack out of me. Thought of priusChat immediately and all you unfortunate victims of this apparently flimsy glass. Roll down the side window, and feel the laminated glass sheets between your fingers, it really is thin.

I've only had the vehicle 6 months it's already happened to me. My USAA deductible is $300, Glass repair services are closed for the holiday weekend, and booked for days after that. So I drive around with a broken window for alwhile. I called ToyotaCare, they do not cover any of the cost. Where is the NTHSA contact information another user had posted?

 

I am on number 3. Hope the Prime is better.

 

File a Vehicle Safety Complaint | Safercar.gov | NHTSA

That is where I went to file a complaint for the 2016 toyota prius and I selected visibility/wiper and I suggest you all do the same

 

Thanks ooples. I filed the complaint, and called ToyotaCare again to more fully explain plain my case. It seems I need to bring my car back to the dealer after having the windshield replaced to recalibrate the TSSP sensors. I was quoted 5 hours at $180/hr. tucatz got rather upset, so Toyota is investigating the replacement as a good will gesture.

 

This is a tough issue to evaluate.
I mean nobody likes getting a crack in their windshield, and being forced to cover the cost of replacement.

But is it Toyota's fault?

How do you prove it's a fault with either the glass or design? The glass, which I'm sure meets standards that are required for all automotive windshield glass.

And design?
Well what do you do?
The Prius is not unique in having a large windshield, very horizontally slanted, to create a more fuel efficient aerodynamic reality.
That same reality that makes for smooth wind blowing over the windshield in a wind tunnel, also leads to it being a large target for rocks and debris being drawn to that same windshield.

This past Winter, my Honda Fit, which has a very "Prius Like" windshield and front end, picked up a rock, after sanding and gravel after a winter storm. I heard "something" hit the windshield, and then hours later discovered a fatal crack.
Auto Insurance covered "some" of the replacement cost, but I had to cover the deductible, as well as the time and trouble to go have it replaced.

While it was expensive, time consuming and a real pain, I never thought to blame Honda.
We want the fuel efficiency, and the open feeling of a large windshield. Horizontally slanted large windshields are just part of the cost.
I was told by the person scheduling my appointment at the glass replacement place, that they did a LOT of Honda Fits, and also KIA Souls.

The common denominator is large windshields, that are by default large targets.

I don't know how we change this. I don't know if it's fair to blame or hold accountable manufacturers. Unless there is a body design flaw that is directly causing the cracking? -This would be hard to prove. I think anyone can understand why saying "I didn't hear anything hit my windshield" isn't a good enough case to qualify for meeting the burden of proof.


I'll be right there complaining if I get another crack in too short a time with this new windshield. But really hard to prove or hold accountable the manufacturers for this reality.

PS.
I'm usually and have been against extended warranties or after vehicle purchase
extra's. BUT...if a windshield replacement coverage is available. With these vehicles, in this day and age, maybe ensuring coverage against this type of damage could be a good investment.

 

Electricme, I'm having a hard time with this repair. The TSSP Is new technology, and my insurance company can't find a glass repair that can do the work. I have to make all the calls, go to 2 shops, and spend an entire day waiting for repairs. And potentially stuck with a big bill afterwards. I've never had this happen before with 3 prius' and a dozen of other cars. So yes, I'm going to ask Toyota to help me. It doesn't help that you're negating my efforts on this blog.

 

Discovery?

If it got that far, of course.

As a sophisticated organization Toyota already has statistics in hand on the number of 2016 windshield replacements required, and how that number compares with a like number of 2016 Corollas and 2015 Prii etc.

They also have detailed engineering studies that helped them find the "right" balance between performance, safety and cost.

Just because that information in not readily available to consumers and dealers does not mean that it does not exist.

Thankfully, Prius Chat and the like provide good (yes, good) anecdotal evidence to people like Tucatz so they are not intimidated (or shamed) into not questioning thier bad "luck".

 

Well, curiously enough, here's my latest story: A couple of weeks ago I was returning home just as it was getting dark, and it had just started raining, and was on the highway cruising along at ~70mph, keeping up with the traffic, and was passed (by a Rav4) and there was a loud "CRACK!!!!", sounding not unlike a gun-shot, and sure enough right in my line-of sight appeared a tiny crack, not deep enough leak, but annoying enough to be noticeable. So next day I called my insurance company to make sure it was covered (with no loss of deductible) and they put me in touch with the local "Safelite" company, which I visited later that day, but was not over-impressed by the tech who looked at the damage (two tiny stars, each less than the size of a quarter). He explained to me the process and that it would take a total of about three hours to complete the repair which although might not be perfect, but would stop the tiny cracks from getting any worse! He told me he was the only tech on duty, so he was very busy, and I asked him what he would do, and he advised me to replace the whole windscreen, but he'd have to special order the glass as they didn't have it in stock! (???) I told him that I'd only accept OEM glass, and since he was so busy, I'd postpone the repair until the cracks got worse, or I caught another rock! My only other glass event happened with my old 1993 Corolla DX Wagon, where I'd been out of the country for two months during the dead of winter, and my car had sat outside in sub-zero temps for the whole of Jan & Feb, but when I returned, the car started first time, and I turned the heater on full (bad-move!) to warm up everything, and imagine my surprise when I heard a cracking sound and was dismayed to see, right before my very eyes, two horizontal cracks appear in the windscreen, directly above the heater-vents!
The two cracks eventually became one, which stretched across the whole screen! Damnation! New windscreen (J. N. Phillips Glass, from what I remember) They did a great job, and their only warning was leave the windows slightly cracked open for the next couple of days, and don't slam the doors! hope this helps - Wil
PS: Go with a new windscreen! It's like being fitted with new eyes! Everything is so clear! …but don't forget to get new wiper-blades, since the nasty sharp bits of glass edges tends to shred the wiper-blades!

 

Interesting story, yes. But does it help (me)? No. I'm studying ideas that the gen 4 prius have thin windshields prone to cracking, and TSSP sensor assemblies that are difficult and expensive for the owners to repair.

 

Don't worry, nobody listens to me anyway.

I'm not trying to undermine anyone's efforts to seek repair or assistance in repair. Nor am I trying to intimidate or shame anyone into questioning their "bad luck".

I recently went through windshield repair, and it is no fun, and even with insurance coverage, still expensive.

But the truth is two fold. At this point available information....on sites like Prius Chat IS anecdotal.
With all the Prius sold and operated, and all the gravel, rocks and other debris on the road? 10-15-20+ people chiming in that they to have had similar windshield problems, does not reflect to me that there is a defect or flaw in either Toyota's quality or windshield design. When you think of all the Prius windshields cutting through the air, all over the world? The total amount of people with this complaint is still statistically comparatively small.
I do think certain uniform standards are applied to auto glass, and at the least I suspect Toyota is meeting those standards. I know when Safelite replaced my auto glass, they went to great lengths to assure me their replacement glass, met or exceeded OEM quality. So I know standards do exist.

If premature failure of windshields continue to happen, unprovoked by outside forces, then I think it will become undeniably evident.
But at this point? I hate to say it, but a windshield crack.....CAN be simply bad luck. When we are faced with a bad outcome it is often human nature to want to blame some outside entity...manufacturer. But sometimes, it is as simple as "rock" meets windshield, and it's really nobodies fault.

If you REALLY feel it's a design flaw in either The Prius structure, or the glass itself? Then I wish anyone the best of luck in proving that reality.

Like I said, when I had my windshield replaced, I was told by the person handling my claim that they replaced a "lot" of Honda Fit windshields. Could I take that as evidence that there is something inherently wrong with the quality of the glass or design? Perhaps. But I do not. I do however, think modern vehicles that are designed for low fuel efficient drag coefficients, have large horizontally placed windshields that may be prone to being hit more often.

But if claims go up? If it passes the threshold of what would be a reasonable to assume natural average of happenings? Than I'm more than happy to embrace the reality that Toyota or any manufacturer may have a problem.
The difference? I don't default to that idea, because of my own singular personal event. Or even discovered information on a website, that I'm not the only one to have suffered a cracked windshield.

But if someone, anyone sincerely believes their windshield failure IS a result of substandard windshield quality or design flaw? I wish them the best of luck in proving this and gaining remedy, not only for themselves but for all owners of the same vehicles.

All I'm really suggesting is sometimes it's not a conspiracy, -sometimes it can simply be "Bad Luck".
But I'm certainly NOT an opponent of advancing the truth or reality. If an addressable, manufacturing defect exists? I will applaud if it is brought to light.

 

I agree with what you're saying. I'll add some counters though: engineers, under pressure and cost savings. Standards probably don't mean much in a fast growing industry if standards aren't keeping pace. In this case, there probably isn't that much data to prove what they are doing is a direct cause of a problem they need to address. Therefore, following old standards, or modifying their designs while loosely following old standards yielding undesired results might not get them in trouble. I think we see examples of this in the news all the time. I tend to lean toward believing that the cost balancing game is being played with more in the recent years.

Can you explain why a more horizontally positioned windshield increases risk of damage to the glass?

 

In short...No I can't. And concede I could be entirely wrong in this speculation.

Having lived through the 70's, 80's---onward, I can remember a time when the majority of vehicles paid far less attention to aerodynamics and drag coefficients. I can remember a time when the majority of automobile windshields were far more vertical.

I've seen video of Prius in wind tunnels with the added smoke to show the smooth, efficient air flow over the Prius, and the design promotes smooth air flow over the front, hood and over the pretty horizontal front windshield. It seems very possible to me that if the design purposely promotes smooth airflow over the front windshield, that same smooth airflow could also serve as a jet stream to carry rocks or debris close to the windshield.

Have I tested or scientifically quantified this opinon? No. I could be wrong. I don't remember as much complaint in this area, when windshields were more often smaller and more vertical. But could this also be related to the fact that the majority of all vehicles today pay at least some respect to promoting smooth air flow over the front and hood as well as windshield of vehicles.

Of course if a truck in front of you catches a piece of gravel and shoots it like a bullet towards your windshield? Horizontal or Vertical probably isn't going to matter too much. That's the "Rock Meet Windshield" speed dating round.

It was decades ago, but some may remember the period of time when seemingly everyone had a front hood protector. A added aftermarket usually plastic front baffle, that was suppose to aid in the deflection of rocks and debris from hitting the front hood.
This fad seems to of passed. As I don't see or see this product offered very much anymore. But it's operational premise seemed to rely on the idea that airflow could be adapted to deflect...
Today? I think design is aimed towards efficiency, which means smooth, uninterrupted air streaming over the length of the vehicle.
This includes the large windshields in many vehicles today, many of which are far more horizontal than in vehicles of the past.
Does this promote more risk to todays windshields?
I suppose I can only say...maybe. I can't prove it, it's only speculation, I could be wrong.

 

While Toyota may have data for windshield damage; it is probably only compiled from owners that have complained to Toyota or to a governmental organization. Insurance companies probably do not share claim data for their customers who have had to replace windshields.

 

Toyota has sold many hundreds of thousands of 2016 and 2017 Prii world-wide since the car was introduced.

Within thier multi-billion dollar operation, there are supply chain professionals who plan for all manner of replacement parts -- from windshields to brake calipers. They are not just winging it.

There are also engineers and buyers who monitor the performance of each and every component supplied by an outside vendor -- from windshields to tires.

As inheritors of the legacy of Edwards Deming, I am guessing they have more numbers and statistics than you and I can even imagine-- from both before and after the sale.

While a certain percentage of customers resolve issues with aftermarket parts and no dealership involvement, others will provide direct feedback by placing replacement orders. They probably have a good idea on how that breaks down.

Or not. My Toyota stock is not doing anything special, so perhaps I am giving them too much credit.

Truth of the matter is, you could be spot on!

 

Let's not forget, as Prius owners we live the phrase "to go before". As such we are test subjects for the latest technology. The problem for us is that if something goes wrong or needs repair the owner may know more than the dealer, insurance company or others involved. My insurance company knows nothing about TSSP. I called USAA to explain the safety features on my Prius, nothing. They could not find a glass shop to replace and recalibrate the radar sensor. So I went to a dealer. And called Toyota USA. It's been a big big headache for me 'to help' with my windscreen replacement.