Back Window Smashed by Unknown Object

My bet is on a walnut. If they can ding your sheet metal, they could break glass.

 

Is there anybody in that rural Georgia area that just hates seeing a Prius? Does the OP have any enemies? The front windshield kind of looks like it may have been shot with a BB? And the back window... damn, looks like a bowling ball hit it! And both incidents happened right in his driveway?

If it is a tree, get a carport tent! Or don't park there. That's crazy.

 

These may not be the result of a single strike. Impacts bruise glass, and may not be visible to the naked eye. These become weak points that may break under another impact. These are usually the cause of old or well used glass cookware suddenly breaking for apparently no reason.

 

Hello:

A few days ago I was driving my Prius Prime when I heard a balloon-like pop and then the rear window completely shattered. I didn’t see or hear anything hit the vehicle. My first instinct based on the condition of the glass was that damage had been caused by a gunshot. I know it sounds silly, but I called the highway patrol. When I finally pulled over I found that glass was completely shattered but still intact with no clear point of impact. Once I opened the hatchback the glass crumbled. My rear window looks like the pics you have posted. I’ve been trying to come to terms with what could have happened. (Later hwy patrol confirmed their technology had not picked up gunshots in the area.) It has come to my attention through online reasearch that spontaneous tempered glass breakage can occur. Especially if the glass is defective. I have notified Toyota corporate and they state there are no recalls for defective glass. I am convinced that the glass is defective. Last year, I someone tried to break into my car using an air/bb gun to shatter the passenger side window. The incident was caught on video and the damage created star-shaped and hairline cracks from the point of impact. The glass didn’t shatter into a thousand pieces like the incident a few days ago involving the rear window.

Thanks for sharing your story. I feel a bit better about what happened, although it doesn’t feel great to pay out a few hundred dollars for the repair. I will follow-up with Toyota on the matter.

 

Wow... that is crazy...

 

If you carry "Comprehensive" coverage on your auto insurance it would cover it.
Comprehensive is relatively inexpensive such that your can carry a low even zero dollar deductible.
Comprehensive covers damage to the auto from other than collision. Things like theft, vandalism, broken glass etc.

 

Reactionary rednecks. My car has been spit on (tobacco juice) and boxed in. It is now in the shop with a bent rear suspension part that no one can explain. I wouldn't be surprised it was an irate mechanic. Plug-ins don't require much shop work.

 

This product (3M has a similar film) might be of interest. I considered having it put on my car, mostly for hail. Some storm chasers apply this to their windows so they don't get blown out as easily or busted by large hail.... doesn't necessarily keep it from breaking but will keep the glass in place kind of like your front windshield.

Safety and Security Films | Products | For Home | LLumar Window Films -

 

Bizarrely this just happened to my wife yesterday - she was putting things in her car (2017 Prime) and she heard a weird sound when she shut the door (not the hatch). She finally saw that the hatch window had shattered into pieces and was quite surprised (to say the least).

She took the car to the dealer and they said they did find an impact point in a corner and agreed to pay for the window itself ($700) if we'd pay for the labor to install it ($400). As that's lower than our insurance deductible we thought that was a good deal. They say they'll have it finished by Friday (first they have to get the window...).