Front Windshield crack

Hey devden, did your insurance pay for the calibration? $500 actually sounds more reasonable, but for that or $900 you would think the Toyota dealers would be doing backflips to assist their costomers.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! My less than two weeks old PRIME PREMIUM got windshield crack
On my second trip on interstate, when I stopped at store, I noticed those cracks, which looks like two small cracks. I did not notice anything hitting the windshield while driving, but it is behind rear view mirror unit where I could not see from my driving position, and I did have music on so I may have missed sound of something hitting. It probably was flying stones or something.

I stopped at the dealer on my way home, and explained what happened. They checked with a glass repair shop they subcontract the installation of glasses, but I was told there is nationwide back order of PRIME windshield. I am on the waiting list for 176th place NOW. Soooo SAD.

 

Will you show me where would I find that information? I am going to contact Toyota HQ, and would like to site the data.

 

The link is in this post. 2016 Prius cracked windshield | PriusChat

Another thread is here. Windshield Replacement | PriusChat

 

Thanks. I placed my complaint as well. I see a class action lawsuits brewing.

 

The strange thing is my Trim Two windshield appears to be fine. I wonder if the issue is related to the heat reducing glass on the higher trims.

 

You may also want to PM @Prius Team in PriusChat. They are the Toyota US marketing team for these vehicles.

 

I checked NHTSA complaint on 2016-17 Prius HB and 2017 Prius prime, while it seems nonproportional complaints about windshield crack on those models, the total number doesn't seems to be that large. I wonder what is the threshold number NHTSA will take some action.

 

The Prius Team user didn't make a new post in years, I doubt they are active and/or read this forum anymore...

 

Thanks. I am taking all the way up to the top at Plano, TX.

 

It’s NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it may be less about the number of reports than the nature of the incidents and whether they indicate a problem that falls within the agency’s statutory responsibilities. Remember that NHTSA is not an all-purpose regulator of vehicle quality; their mandate is to make and enforce safety standards. They will be most interested in reported failures that are likely to have been caused by safety-related defects in design or manufacture—for example, windshields that fail to protect vehicle occupants in debris strikes that would not ordinarily have been expected to result in injuries.

If the windshields are just being damaged beyond repair, but no one is getting hurt, and the windshields comply with the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (like No. 205 and No. 212), then as far as I know, NHTSA has no authority to intervene. Once the minimum safety standards are met, durability is up to the marketplace: if Toyota’s products are more vulnerable to expensive damage, they will presumably become less appealing to buyers, directly or because of higher insurance costs.

I suppose NHTSA might look into the parts availability problem if it’s causing people to drive with damaged, unsafe windshields because they can’t get new ones, but considering the lengthy delays allowed for Takata airbag replacements, I wouldn’t make any bets on seeing enforcement action on this, either.

 

Thanks. Your points are well taken. While I don't expect a quick action from any government agency, I think it is still worth an effort to bring about change in right direction. I corrected "NHTSA".

 

They last posted March 27, 2017
Am I under warranty? | PriusChat

 

OK, got it, but still - they made a number of posts in Jan, Feb & March ... and since March, NOTHING... doesn't look good to me.

 

Look at the OP photos of damaged windshield... very interesting and not like any cracked shield I've seen before. You can clearly see the plastic laminate deformed between the glass plates. Looks like a plastic grocery bag stretched almost to the breaking point. The photo from the inside looks like an insect nest. Strange. And not comforting. The OP said he didn't even hear the rock, or rocks, strike the windshield.

 

Thanks for the heads up advise. I was told by the glass shop who supplies Prime windshield that it is AT LEAST 2-3 weeks wait before they receive the windshield in shop. I live in rural Maine and there is only one Toyota dealer within 50 miles, and next closest is 200 miles away. Sounded like they can do calibration, but I am not at that step yet, so I will find out when the parts comes in. For now I am keep driving the car with the crack on it. I hope it does not spread.

 

Just to update on my cracked windshield case. With daily drive after the incident 5 days ago, so far the crack has not spread any bigger. The glass shop who received the work order has confirmed me that the PRIME windshield is on nationwide backorder, and they have no ETA at this time. They only said "at least a few weeks" waiting. I have contacted Toyota's National headquarter and was assigned to a case manager, but they are still "researching" the incidence. When I pointed out to Toyota customer care rep about NHTSA complaints on PRIME and 4th Gen Prius windshield crack being disproportionately large, rep told me Toyota has no documented case report of manufacturing defect on those windshield. Looks like, for now this waiting game continues.

 

Just received a call from glasshop. The windshield for my PRIME is in. I am taking my car to my dealer for replacement and camera calibration tomorrow. It has been exactly two weeks since the crack. I have zero deductible on my glass coverage, so I hope everything is taken care of after the replacement. The Toyota Headquarter's Toyota Care case manager wasn't very helpful, but maybe he did pull some strings for me to expedite the parts delivery. Who knows.