Random Windshield Crack
 

So, this morning I wake up to go to work with the FRS parked in the garage and notice there is about a 8-10" crack in my windshield, bottom/dead center. I know it was not there yesterday when I came home because of the location, I am sure I would have noticed. My FRS is lowered...quite a bit, but this is not the first lowered car that I have owned/driven. I did a google search as well as a search on this Forum and realized that I may not be the only one having this issue. So my question is, have you had this happen or seen someone else with an FRS/BRZ have this issue (want to know how common this is, remember Not from a rock or any impact to the windshield....just randomly cracked)...and is there any possibility that this could be covered under the Scion/Toyota warranty?? has anyone received a replacement under warranty?

...oh and if you paid for an FRS/BRZ windshield from a Toyota/Scion dealer, how much did you pay would be helpful too (I am hoping I don't have to pay though)

Thank you in advance for your help :thanks:

Has it been hot and cold in your area?

Just mostly hot, but no more than the usual in Socal in the summer time.

I had this happen on a Nissan sentra the edge of the glass was chipped. Which is why it cracked. They didn't warranty it though and fought me on everything else.... Sigh! Haven't even looked at a Nissan since.
I would take a pic before the crack travels and go show them, see what they say. If there's no rock impact, then it has to be a defect on the edge of the glass. Stand your ground if they back peddle, and start asking for names and write them down. People start thinking twice once you have their name, because you're not just naming the dealership when you phone corporate.

There might've been a small rock chip from before that you didn't notice and the temperature difference could've made it crack. I didn't notice mine and when I went back to my car a couple of hours later, I saw a huge 5-6 inch crack.

Check closely at the crack to see if there's a chip anywhere along the crack. If not and it originated from the edge of the windshield, it is a defect and should be warrantied.

When I got my windshield replaced, it was around $650, if I remember correctly.

Have a crack about 16" long in my windshield that hooked at the very end toward the drivers side. Had a guy fix it on the side of the road for $30. Re cracked 6 months later except hooked the opposite way toward passenger side. Had him fix that one too.

What I'm getting at is I would just have them fix it until it's too much of a pain then buy a new one. I'm of the belief that it will just crack again unless the aftermarket ones are stronger.

I got a rock in mine about two weeks after I bought it. Still had the dealer plates on...

I had it replaced by the dealership:

$429 Windshield
$34 Sales Tax
$225 Labor

Total of $688.

I also got some quotes from safelite before hand. If I remember right these were the prices...

~$660 for OEM glass
~$480 for safelite glass

Exact same thing happened to me, but I waited until this week to finally get it fixed.

My dealership said they don't do glass work. They actually farm it out to Safelite.

Safelite quoted me $520 for their glass and couldn't pencil me in for an appointment until the following week.

A local place that got high reviews on line did it for $420 all in with no appointment necessary. They were supposed to install Pilkington glass, but for some reason I ended up with APTech instead. Either brand would have been fine, as both of them are OEM manufacturers for a variety of vehicles.

After going through it, I would strongly suggest shopping around, reading reviews and asking what glass brands they use. Then get the most reputable brand at the cheapest price from the most reputable installer. I got better glass and saved $100.

At first look, it does not appear there are any chips at all. I had a friend who works at a larger Toyota dealership here check it and unfortunately there appears to be a really tiny one, the size of the pin...so I guess I am stuck since he told me the Toyota reps are pretty strict in their inspections for warranty work.

Uh oh. In that case, I hope you have glass coverage :(

After paying the $500 comprehensive deductible, I immediately got full glass coverage ($50 deductible) for a few extra dollars each month - no brainer. Funny thing was, I got another rock chip right after I got the first one replaced. That one didn't crack yet, though.

Definitely not warranty because windshields don't just crack. I have warrantied a windshield on an Avalon ONCE but that was because the two panes were separating and causing air pockets in the middle making the whole windshield hazy. It was quite a sight. Toyota sent a rep down same day (which is RARE) and they approved it, also taking down the lot number and build date and all that to see if others were affected.
If you try for warranty, you can be sure a rep will come down to inspect it CAREFULLY. Wouldn't count on it. Go through insurance, shouldn't hike up rates and probably only a $100 deductible.

In Florida if you have a cracked windshield the insurance has to pay 100% with no deductible.
I know because I cracked the windshield on my GTI and had it replaced for free by Safelite.
Two months later I cracked the windshield on the FR-S and also had that replaced for free.
And I didn't have to do anything. I just called Safelite and the guy came over to my house and replaced it. They dealt with the insurance company.
The funny thing is, a month later I cracked the windshield again on the GTI. Now I'm driving around with a cracked windshield because I don't want to press my luck. I hardly ever drive the VW anyway.

Full coverage, insurance will pay 100% of new windshield. At least I know Geico does

Our windshields seem especially weak. It seems like a lot of people are having this issue.