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Getting a chipped windshield in any car is almost as common as getting a flat tire. It’s happened to almost all of us and we either bought the repair kits or called the dealer and got it replaced. While more cumbersome and dangerous than a flat tire, the Windshield is designed to not shatter into a million pieces as regular glass would. Per the DOT’s regulations, windshields must be made out of laminated glass in an automobile so that on impact, it won’t rain glass on you.
On all Toyota cars, you will find laminated glass as your windshield which can break, chip, or crack but it won’t necessarily ruin the entire windshield. This is also based on what hits you. If I drop a boulder on your windshield from a 4-story building, no windshield has a chance. However, say a tiny pebble from another car gets airborne and hits your windshield, you may get a small chip or crack at minimum the size of a quarter. If it is small enough, you can fix it with the kits they sell online.
However, a recent post on Facebook’s Toyota Highlander Owners Club Group shows that the Toyota highlander’s glass is more prone to breaking than others. Some people with bad felicity may have experienced a crack screen more than once in their lifetime or even in the same car. Joshua Redding asked, “How many windshields have you had to replace in your Highlander?? This glass sucks.” Let’s look and see what some of the other owners said.
Almost none of these cars were 2022 Cars and only a few were sub-2015. Most of the cars mentioned in this post were anywhere from 2015-to 2021 models. However, your 2022 Highlander still uses the same glass with just a different shape.
Lisa Stephenson said, “2021: cracked (size of a quarter) from a rock 4 months into new ownership. Got a temporary fix by Safelight. As soon as 90-degree temps hit us it spread like wildfire.” It’s true, that a temporary fix is more likely to crack due to temperature changes. That’s why you should never pour hot water on your windshield if it is frosted. The resin they use to fix cracks is not the same material thus giving it different properties when in touch with heat.
Thomas Cone said, “On my 2019, I've replaced one and a few months later got a crack on the bottom which I'm not replacing until I have to.” Replacing a windshield is more expensive than fixing one. An OEM windshield from Toyota costs around $400 for select models and that doesn’t include installation.
There are many products you can use on your windshield to give it a longer life. For some cars, you can buy a whole screen protector like you could on your phone. For most, there are chemicals that you apply that create a new hydrophobic surface which let water drops slide off easier.
Toyota is trying to make things cheaper in their cars and make production as efficient as possible. We recently wrote an article about Toyota’s diminishing GPS reputation and how they are shying away from investing time and resources in GPS development. While the Toyota windshields are not the worst on the market, they certainly are not comparable to Tesla or German windshields. However, Toyota could be starting to shy away from stronger glass development without jeopardizing driver safety for the sake of re-allocating their resources to better MPG or better comfort.
What do you think? Has your Highlander ever gotten a cracked or chipped screen? Did you replace it or fix it? Let us know in the comments below.
Image source: Toyota Pressroom.
Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.
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Comments
I replaced my front
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I replaced my front windshield cost was 750.00
I have replaced 4 windshields
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In reply to I replaced my front by Joleta Casey (not verified)
I have replaced 4 windshields on my 2019 Highlander - cost of $900 each
Bought a used highlander. I
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Bought a used highlander. I have had it for a year. A rock hit the windshield and it cracked up into the middle of the window. I had to get a new windshield.
2022 Highlander. Last month
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2022 Highlander. Last month got a rock chip and had it fixed. Then two days ago got another rock that cracked the windshield and had to replace it.
It would be interesting to
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It would be interesting to know who made these windshields. That information is in the label on each and every windshield. I do find a fault in the article. If the 2022 Highlander windshield is a different shape than earlier models then it is not the same as earlier models. Likewise, Toyota may have changed suppliers. Have you ever driven a Wrangler or Gladiator? They attract rock chips like bugs.
Just had the windshield crack
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Just had the windshield crack today. Ninety degrees. This will be the 2nd windshield since I bought my Highlander new in August of 2018
I bought a pre-owned 2016
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I bought a pre-owned 2016 Highlander 2 years ago, and I'm about to order my 2nd windshield replacement, due to cracks. My insurance deductible was $500 in both cases.
I bought my 22 highlander in
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I bought my 22 highlander in February. I had a chip and crack the end of June. The windshield was replace with OEM glass and one week later another chip and crack. This happened when driving thought a neighborhood and a acorn fell from a tree hitting my windshield at 25-30mph.
I have had my 2019 Highlander
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I have had my 2019 Highlander for about 2.5 years. I will be getting my 4th windshiedl installed tomorrow. This one broke less than 48 hours after I had installed. All four have broken in the same place - lower corner passenger side. I have driven Toyotas over 30 years and maybe only replaced one or two windshilds. I cannot help but believe this is either a poor design/cheaper thinner glass The cost of the windshield is about $900
2022 Highlander have it owned
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2022 Highlander have it owned it for 1 month, found my windshield cracked in my garage. Nothing hit it...just cracked!
Same thing happened. a line
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In reply to 2022 Highlander have it owned by Jane (not verified)
Same thing happened. a line crack after one month of purchase.
Toyota Extra Care will not pay for replacement.
Is there any class action in place for windshield cracks against Toyota for new vehicles? This is not right..
2022 Highlander also
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In reply to Same thing happened. a line by Lilia Pena (not verified)
2022 Highlander also windshield cracked no impact sign at all! Less than 2month after purchase. Started at lower center at border. Started as 2” crack then grew to 16” within 4 days parked. Now I have a lovely crack in dead center of my still new car! Less than 5k miles. Install class action is you ask me! Thought I was getting better quality!
I have gone through 5…
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In reply to 2022 Highlander have it owned by Jane (not verified)
I have gone through 5 windshield in 6 months going to try and lemon law the car
Our 2017 Highlander has had a
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Our 2017 Highlander has had a total windshield replacement 2 times since we bought it in 2018. But LOTS of small rock have hit it since. We think it’s the front end design that attracts rock like a magnet. I’ve never had ANY OTHER CAR get hit by so many rocks!
2021 highlander. Front
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2021 highlander. Front windshield Crack in lower passenger side. The weather has been. Hugh 90-105 degrees. Getting it replaced Tuesday 8-9-22. After reading several comments I am concerned as my insurance covers the cost except for my deductible of $500.00. I'm going to contact Toyota also and see what they say.
Bought a new 2022 Highlander
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Bought a new 2022 Highlander and small rock hit hit the windshield on the way home from the dealer. Windshield had large crack the next day while in the garage. $500 deductible on my insurance for repair. I am getting concerned the insurance company (State Farm) will at some point say they won't cover the windshield with so many having this issue.
2022 Highlander -cracked
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2022 Highlander -cracked windshield from top down about 3/4th. Within a week all the way down. Drivers side. No rock. Was just parked facing the sun.
We have a 2017 HIHy. Gotten a
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We have a 2017 HIHy. Gotten a few dings over the past 5 Years, only one developed into a crack and that was because the ding was on the far right side in the black area where I didn’t notice until the crack developed. Safelight wasn’t able to make it disappear, but thankfully it’s never gotten any bigger, even her in Houston with our high heat. I hold my breath every morning after a cold snap, however. But a “cold snap” here usually means no lower than 45. If I had seen the ding I’d have repaired it as best I could immediately and maybe it wouldn’t have cracked. Have had 2 or three dings since that I treated and they’ve never cracked, knock on wood.
On my '21 Highlander with 34K
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On my '21 Highlander with 34K miles on it , and before the severe cold hit, I noticed a 3" crack on the lower drivers side of my windshield. I had been using the wiper heater as it was snowing while out Christmas shopping. With the severe cold the next day, we went nowhere for 24 hours. Got in the car and it was 2' longer running across to the passenger side. No trauma to the windshield before hand. This car is garage kept, our fourth Toyota, the eighth in the family and never a cracked windshield randomly or from trauma. Replacements are around $1000
I just got my 3rd rock chip.
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I just got my 3rd rock chip. This will be my 3rd windshield in less than two years. I have never had this many chips in my entire life.
I bought a new 2022
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I bought a new 2022 Highlander XLE in November 2022 with 80 miles, while I was on vacation in December, my windshield shattered (my car was parked and my dash cam showed no trauma to the windshield). I replaced it through Safelite with a new windshield, and while driving home today a truck kicked up a tiny pebble, and the same thing happened. Temp was in the 50’s
2022 Highlander - 5 months
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2022 Highlander - 5 months old. Didn't hear a rock hitting it but 6 inch crack top down right in drivers view. With HUD it was $1900 to replace and that is not a mistype - $1900. This was a OEE (original equipment equivalent) windshield. The Toyota one was $640.00 more.
2021 Highlander Hybrid -
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2021 Highlander Hybrid - Bought new and NEVER had any issues with a cracked windshield until I bought this car. I have worked for 35 years in the aircraft windshield mfg. plant (PPG) in Huntsville so I know alot about temper, etc. My windshield cracking when hit with a very small rock is not the make of a good windshield. Toyota needs to own up to this and at least extend the warranty on their windshields until they can redesign/have produced from a reliable supplier a decent strong windshield.
This is my second time having
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This is my second time having the windshield replace. First in transit to pick it up and secondly when a tree log had slid into my windshield. I am over it. It's time for me to choose another vehicle.
After work, I noticed a small
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After work, I noticed a small chip on the windshield of my 2022 Toyota Highlander, which is less than a year from when I purchased it. Two weeks after, I saw a bigger crack around the driver's side. The car was parked in my garage and nothing hit the windshield. I am going for replacement. This is my 4th Toyota, and the 6th in my family. This is going to be the first windshield replacement in my family.
Our first ever import. Even
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Our first ever import. Even though not an import per say. Nice car but the steering is horrible. Over sensitive. Wondering if there is a fix. This morning my wife went to her 5 month old vehicle to find that for no apparent reason the windshield had an 8” long crack that started at the upper edge directly in line of sight of the driver and continued toward the lower part of the glass. This afternoon it has started a left turn for 3” more to the lower left corner of glass. I suggested that she call the dealer but she just replied “they’re not gonna do anything about it”. Honestly I’m sure she’s right.
2022 Highlander. Spontaneous
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2022 Highlander. Spontaneous crack in the lower passenger side windshield. I was sitting in the car when it happened and heard the crack. There was no chip. The car had been parked in the sun for a couple of hours, I had just turned it on and was sitting there running the AC.
I have a 2023 Toyota…
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I have a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD I purchased 02/2023! I have noticed a numerous chips in the windshield and am unhappy about the glass used by Toyota! My prior Mercedes GL350 was 10 years old when I sold the vehicle and it had less chips from flying road rocks and was of better quality.
I hope a lawsuit is forthcoming so I can join in.
I have had to replace my…
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I have had to replace my windshield 4 times since we bought it in 2021. State Farm called today to tell us the underwriter is dropping comprehensive coverage on us, due to this.
2023 Rav4 had for 2 months…
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2023 Rav4 had for 2 months cracked windsheld and it blead about 16 inches the same day..$500 deductible
cause unknown..maybe rock?