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Toyota Camry Windshield Defect?

10 messages,  Last post on Jan 26, 2013 at 9:49 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Exterior, Sedan

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#1 of 10 Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm by richardren

Jan 22, 2007 (3:55 pm)

I am in Austin, TX. I have a 2005 Camry LE 4D Sedan. Last week, we had a severe winter storm down here for around 4 days. My car was covered with ice all around for around 3 days before I cleaned up the ice with a piece of plastic scraper and the built-in heater in back windshield last Wednesday.
 
Then I used the car for two day's daily commute and weekend shopping without seen any problem.
 
But this Monday morning, I found out that the back windshiled was totally cracked but still in shape, fully with fine cracks all over the place. It looks just like someone used a small hammer cracked the back windshield carefully and did not break it. Then I wanted to drive to a Toyota dealership in town to have them check it out and fix it. But on the way to the dealership place, the back windshiled started falling down pieces by pieces. Each piece is in size of green pea.
 
In one Toyota dealership, I was told that this kind of damage is not coverd by Toyota warrantee. And then this was confirmed by North America Toyota Customer Service Center.
 
I do not believe that this should be the case! It definitely caused by the bad quality of the back windshiled. It should be the defect during the manufacturing of this piece of windshield. I am just out of luck and got this bad quality windshield.
 
Of course, I will have my insurance company to fix it as a damage case. But I do not believe that Toyota is out of the situation. They are the one that should take the full responsibility and pay for my lost.
 
I am wondering if anyone else here knows/experienced this problem. And any suggestions on arguing with Toyota on my situation will be appreciated.
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Best regards,
Richard

#2 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [richardren] by kiawah

Jan 22, 2007 (7:39 pm)

Replying to: richardren (Jan 22, 2007 3:55 pm)
The glass is safety glass, which breaks into the very small pieces you reference, as opposed to long sharp edges that normal window pane glass would break into.
 
Unfortunately, you really have no idea why the window broke, and would be probably hard pressed to prove a case w/Toyota. If they saw a number of these break, or folks on the board here started reporting the same thing....they "might" think something was wrong.
 
Somebody could have thrown a rock, shot it out, hit it with a bat, or it could have been somehow defective or installed incorrectly.
 
Be glad you have insurance to cover it.

#3 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [kiawah] by richardren

Jan 22, 2007 (11:07 pm)

Replying to: kiawah (Jan 22, 2007 7:39 pm)
thanks you for the reply. yes, i really can not prove that is caused by some kind of defect. And I did not take a picture of it before it started falling down.
Too bad.

#4 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [richardren] by zuojli

Sep 07, 2007 (10:41 am)

Replying to: richardren (Jan 22, 2007 3:55 pm)
I have a similar case with my 2006 Camry. The back glass shattered into small pieces while it was parked in our backyard. My wife drove it home at 5:35 PM without seeing a prolem, and later she talked with friends in front yard. At around 5:50-6:00 PM we found the back glass shattered. There is no observable external impact such as a stone or other things. The glass pieces fell down straighlty instead of scattering everywhere in the car. It is very likely that the strain caused this problem.
 
The dealer don't think it is quality related and refuse to cover it with warranty. I have a $500 deductible so basically we need to pay for the repair.
 
I knew one case that the door glass of my friend's 10 year old camry automatically shattered, but my car is only 1.5 year old.
 
Please share your information if you have similar experience.

#5 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [zuojli] by zuojli

Sep 09, 2007 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: zuojli (Sep 07, 2007 10:41 am)
I got some new information regarding broken of the back glass of my 2006 Toyota Camry. After long talk with my son, he finally admitted that he was responsible for that. He was playing near the car at that time. He dared not to admit it in the begining because he know it is a big trouble.
 
I'm Very Sorry for the inaccurate message above.

#6 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter st by pat

Sep 10, 2007 (5:09 am)

Replying to: zuojli (Sep 09, 2007 6:59 pm)
Uh oh... so how much trouble is he in?
 
Thanks for letting us know!

#7 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [richardren] by gigibeaumont

Feb 27, 2010 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: richardren (Jan 22, 2007 3:55 pm)
We had a similar incident with our 2010 Toyota Camry. Back windshield shattered for no apparent reason. Anyone else with same problem?

#9 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [richardren] by cobalt4874

Aug 31, 2011 (10:53 am)

Replying to: richardren (Jan 22, 2007 3:55 pm)
This just happened to me! I live in PA and have a 2007 Camry and all of the sudden the back glass shattered. The car was parked in my driveway! Does anyone have any updated information on the problem? Thanks!

#10 of 10 Re: Camry LE 2005: back windshiled broken to piece because of the winter storm [cobalt4874] by imoxie

Jan 26, 2013 (9:49 pm)

Replying to: cobalt4874 (Aug 31, 2011 10:53 am)
I have an Avalon that it just happened to. Has anyone got Toyota to pony up? My car was parked out in the cold and I had used the rear defroster earlier.

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