Windshield Problems?

[TamiBarrow]

Just wondering if any GX470 owners had have excessive windshield chipping/cracking/breaking? I've had mine for 8 months and am on my 3rd windshield. The glass seems to chip very easily, and the windshield seems to crack very easily, even with a small pebble. Has anyone else experienced any similar problems?

Thanks!

[editor]

Had a chip a few days ago. What's up with that?

[advphoto]

1400 miles and just found a large crack on the windshield. Does not seem like a rock hit it.

Cold wether?? That is messed up

[adilkarim_9]

1400 miles and just found a large crack on the windshield. Does not seem like a rock hit it.

Cold wether?? That is messed up

Hey

I just bought a 04' GX 470 about 3 months ago. And yesterday i noticed a crack on it. i don't remember (heard) any rock hitting it. So seems like its a problem with lot of people. Do you think we all can complaint about it to lexus and see if they replace it for us.

Do you guys know if it can be repaired or not and how much would it cost?

[SW03ES]

Glass chipping is a common occurance in the winter, and extremely common on SUVs with poor aerodynamics like the GX. Not Lexus' fault, they're not going to do anything about it.

Windshield replacement should be covered under your comprehensive insurance coverage. No big deal, its part of the realities of owning a car.

If the glass cracked then a pebble hit it at some point. Bear in mind that when cold chips are much more likely to spread and crack, and it takes much less to damage the glass.

[adilkarim_9]

Glass chipping is a common occurance in the winter, and extremely common on SUVs with poor aerodynamics like the GX. Not Lexus' fault, they're not going to do anything about it.

Windshield replacement should be covered under your comprehensive insurance coverage. No big deal, its part of the realities of owning a car.

If the glass cracked then a pebble hit it at some point. Bear in mind that when cold chips are much more likely to spread and crack, and it takes much less to damage the glass.

Hey

Thanx for your reply. But now listen to my story. I did call lexus and complained about it ... they told me to take the car back to the dealership and insist on the Service Manager to take a look at it.

I did just that and the Service manager told me that this has been a problem with lot of GX's but majorly with the new RX330.

The crack is called Stress Fracture and its Because of Factory Manufacturing Defect. They replaced it for me Under Warranty.

By the way My comprehensive deductible was $1000 so insurance couldn't really help me... but i'm lucky that Lexus got it done...

Thanks for your Info though.

[mkhaira894]

My Lexus GX 470 which is only 2 months old, mysteriously developed a crack running diagonally from the bottom right hand corner. No pebble had hit the windshield to the best of my knowledge. The Lexus service staff asked their glass specialist to see if it was a stress fracture and it was determined that it was.

The windshield is being replaced under warranty which in my opinion speaks volumes for both the dealership and Lexus.

Judging from what I am reading in this forum, it seems to be a defect Lexus needs to be made aware off. Other than that, the Lexus GX 470 is a great SUV. Hopefully this does not happen again.

[lexus ls430]

my sequoias windshield was replaced 3 times

[Jim_Chow]

I wonder if it's the concave shape of the newer windshields (they seem to kind of bulge forward). My old 86 4runner is on it's original windshield, and just developed its first crack (1/8" long) a few months ago, I guess from a rock. I've been hit by some nasty rocks that I thought would/should have shattered the front windshield, especially at those speeds (about 100mph relative velocity since one truck was moving in the opposite direction), but only left tiny indentations in the surface. And the front windshield on my old 86 is a lot more vertical than on the newer vehicles, so it is subjected to a higher impact force.

[dchan865]

Couple weeks ago, we had a closed call. A pebble nearly hit the middle of our windshield on the freeway. It missed it by about 3 inches and hit the top of our rig. The impact was enough to cause a minor indentation. Ouch! :cries:

[strindl]

I just got back from a 4,000 mile cross country trip to Phoenix, and even with plenty of objects hitting the windshield, no chips or cracks. I never had anything big hit it, but lots noises of small dirt and gravel hitting when I was behind particularly dirty trucks . I had one that I was behind, that crossed off of the road a bit onto the shoulder..that kicked up lots of debris..that hit my windshield.

[cebu]

i was only trying to do a "windshield replacement" search to see what kind of windshield people opted for: oem or aftermarket (like safelite). and how good the install was, dealer vs. some company... then i found this thread. interesting...

just happened to my '05 this weekend. :cries:

crack coming from near bottom driver's side and went slightly diagonal towards the center about a foot long. my wife and i hadn't notice any rock hit the windshield but we simply dismissed it as 'must've been a rock'. i'm going to take it to dealer and have them take a look. hopefully, they'll cover it under warranty.

-joe

[cebu]

update: well, i was unsuccessful at getting the dealer to cover it under warranty. first of all, the service folks were a nice bunch. anyways, the guy did a pen test where he stick a pen thru where he thinks the point of impact is. it does look like it got hit... by a small peable! so i got a quote from dealer instead. here's for your future reference: dealer vs. aftermarket.

dealer: $1429. (oem glass was $1028. the rest are molding and labor)

safelite: $474. (safelite glass + molding + labor)

both oem and aftermarket glass have rain sensor.

[wbh3]

At 1 month old my 06 GX developed a crack for no apparent reason while sitting in the garage. Service Manager took his pen and ran along the crack and said it has a rough spot so it must be a rock and not a warrenty item. I believe anytime you have a stresscrack like that, it's NOT going to leave a smooth line with absolutely no roughness. Dealer: $1000. Major aftermarket windshield (with black dots): $350.

I don't believe the windshields have anytype of "moisture sensor", but the ability of that "little black box" up there to sense any impact viabration. With you finger, tap the outside glass over the "black box" and the wipers are activated. Tap the plastic "black box" housing inside the vehicle, and behold: the wipers come on too!! It's a miracle!!! That's my revelation for the day.

[LAMichael]

Just wondering if any GX470 owners had have excessive windshield chipping/cracking/breaking? I've had mine for 8 months and am on my 3rd windshield. The glass seems to chip very easily, and the windshield seems to crack very easily, even with a small pebble. Has anyone else experienced any similar problems?

Thanks!

yep, just replaced my first one on a 4 month old gx, didn't hear any sounds of impact, just noticed while driving that it was broke. It had signs of a rock (or less) strike, so I ended up paying for it ($1,600). I do think it is suspect. Mike

[lesg]

I have a 2003 SC430 and for no apparent reason a very long 1.5 foot crack appeared on the windshield. It was having the back bumper replaced at a body shop. The owner of the shop said the car wasn't jacked up or anything. They washed it after replacing the bumper and while moving it into the stall they noticed the very long crack that wasn't there 10 minutes ago. It starts on the driver's side top and runs down then curves at the center of the glass towards the middle of the glass. I just read this thread so I will call Lexus's Service Department to look into it being a Stress Fracture.

Went to Lexus - they took it to their Professional Glass shop. (Ace Glass Shop off of Ward Avenue) The expert there said it appears to be a stress fracture. He saw one start from the same place. It started at the point where the clip sits under the windshield. He could tell because it was popped up a little and was smoother at the tail end in the center of the windshield.

Out of warranty so the body shop will have it replaced.

[Shotze]

had some small crack due to impact of stones while traveling on I-40 through New Mexico but nothing out of the ordinary

[dragonzsoul]

hi everyone, i'm new here. my family has a RX350. on the way back from tahoe, it developed a crack from the bottom right hand corner. will my dealer cover this under warranty? i'm pretty sure it's a stress fracture seeing as how there's no "star" from a rock hitting it. i read through this thread, it looks like it depends on your luck whether or not the dealer will fix it under warranty. thanks!

on 2nd glance, there might be a small star. i'm gonna take a pic and see what you guys think. we did go off roading a little bit in tahoe, nothing extreme. think that had anything to do with it?

the star is in the middle of the picture, if it's too hard to see, i'll circle it in red or something

[The G Man]

I think I see a star.

[gx470dream]

1400 miles and just found a large crack on the windshield. Does not seem like a rock hit it.

Cold wether?? That is messed up

Hey

I just bought a 04' GX 470 about 3 months ago. And yesterday i noticed a crack on it. i don't remember (heard) any rock hitting it. So seems like its a problem with lot of people. Do you think we all can complaint about it to lexus and see if they replace it for us.

Do you guys know if it can be repaired or not and how much would it cost?

I have the same experience with my GX470, must of been a small pebble impact.

Called for estimate OEM = $1500, aftermarket ( Non-OEM or any generic windshield =450)

Not sure which way to go, no insurance coverage here.

[gx470dream]

update: well, i was unsuccessful at getting the dealer to cover it under warranty. first of all, the service folks were a nice bunch. anyways, the guy did a pen test where he stick a pen thru where he thinks the point of impact is. it does look like it got hit... by a small peable! so i got a quote from dealer instead. here's for your future reference: dealer vs. aftermarket.

dealer: $1429. (oem glass was $1028. the rest are molding and labor)

safelite: $474. (safelite glass + molding + labor)

both oem and aftermarket glass have rain sensor.

Have you replace your? OEM versus aftermarket? I am wondering if there is quality different, why so much different in price...

Thanks for your input.

[The G Man]

Anything OEM always cost more and the after markets are not acoustic windshields. Some major aftermarket windshield companies have very good quality.

[auto glass repair]

Anything OEM always cost more and the after markets are not acoustic windshields. Some major aftermarket windshield companies have very good quality.

Hey G Man, actually that is not always true NAGS the people who provide the part numbers for windshields, have issued new part numbers for non acoustic windshields. If you have a lexus the chances of you having ULN aka Pilkington glass in your car, or PPG is a really good chance. Most times a non "Dealer" windshield is the exact same part without the expensive price tag.

Larry Diesbach Jr

http://www.FixMyWindshield.com Memeber

15 Year NGA Certified Technician

[Rgf49er]

I have. 2004 with 155k u just got another crack but this time I could not fill it fast enough. This will be #3 in 9 years and that does not count the 3x's I've filled pits that would of been cracks.