Had ours replaced with aftermarket glass by Apple auto glass in summer of 2020. No issues.

 

I had to look up the FYG brand. They're a Chinese manufacturer which would be a no go for me. They do make some OE windshields for GM, so maybe they're OK. I try to stick with Pilkington, (British manufacturer, Carlite, (also British) or Fuyao (Made in Dayton Ohio & a large OEM manufacturer.) I usually attempt to get OEM glass, but have had good luck with the 3 brands mentioned. I've had 6 windshields replaced over the past 25-30 years.

 

This made me wonder, so I went to look it up. FYG is Fuyao: https://www.fygi.com/about

Hearing @RobertB and @Pattenp have had good luck with aftermarket glass, even with the Apple Auto Glass people.

 

I just had my windshield replaced. Had to go with aftermarket because OEM wasn't available in the near future and I was up against needing a state inspection done. The windshield came with a lifetime warranty from breaking from stress or heat related. Obviously physical damage not covered.

 

The quality of the installation is far more important than the actual glass. A lot of glass shops cause extensive collateral damage when they remove the old windshield, finding a decent installer is the hardest part.

I live in the broken windshield capital of Canada, the average life expectancy of my windshields is about 9-12 months. Longest I had one last was about 18 months. The windshield in my new 2023 lasted 4 months.

I wouldn't bother with an OEM windshield, they're very hard to source and expensive. And it is only going to get broken again. The insurance premium here to cover the windshield is about $500 a year and no insurance company will pay for OEM glass. Most people remove the windshield from their insurance coverage.

The price you were quoted is a bit high for my location. I last paid $330CDN for the glass and $170CDN for the calibration.

 

The quality of the installation is far more important than the actual glass. A lot of glass shops cause extensive collateral damage when they remove the old windshield, finding a decent installer is the hardest part.

I live in the broken windshield capital of Canada, the average life expectancy of my windshields is about 9-12 months. Longest I had one last was about 18 months. The windshield in my new 2023 lasted 4 months.

I wouldn't bother with an OEM windshield, they're very hard to source and expensive. And it is only going to get broken again. The insurance premium here to cover the windshield is about $500 a year and no insurance company will pay for OEM glass. Most people remove the windshield from their insurance coverage.

The price you were quoted is a bit high for my location. When you have to choose OEM glass or aftermarket glass for the repair of your car? I last paid $330CDN for the glass and $170CDN for the calibration.

If FYG is the brand they’re quoting, that’s a reputable aftermarket manufacturer and commonly used in professional shops. For most Toyotas, aftermarket glass performs just as well in terms of safety, clarity, and durability. The critical part is making sure the recalibration is done properly, since that ensures your safety systems keep working as intended. Toyota OEM glass mainly gives you the factory logo and the guarantee it’s identical to what came with the car, but functionally there’s usually no difference once calibrated. Unless you strongly prefer OEM for peace of mind or resale, the FYG option should be perfectly fine and far more cost-effective.

 

As I found out on my Subaru (since sold) that aftermarket glass can be thinner that factory glass. After having the windshield replaced I noticed an increase in wind noise. At first I thought it was all in my head, but a comparison of the aftermarket windshield with a new car on the dealer lot confirmed that the aftermarket one was thinner.

 

Is there any reason to prefer Toyota considering it is more expensive?

Do you have windshield wiper deicers? (Heated strips at the bottom of the windshield where the wipers rest). If so, be careful of after market windshields; there are earlier reports on the forum of people with after market windshields and the wiper deicers over heating and cracking the glass.

 

OP, I guess that those of us in the desert Southwest 🏜 must go through a lot of windshields 🤣 . We don't.
As others have said, there are a number of reasons your windshield cracked.

 

@Yuma Ultimately I will never know what cracked the windshield. It doesn't matter how it happened, I've got to replace it.

@FKHeath I've got a request in with Toyota to see what their total price is. FWIW Apple AutoGlass offer a lifetime warranty so I assume if the windshield heaters (that we rarely use) crack the windshield they will cover it.

@Mr. LargeCoffee Interesting

@cold What part of our great country is the broken windshield capital? Your comments on the quality of the installation tie in with comments I heard on: ATP 598: Three-Burner Stove — Accidental Tech Podcast late in the episode they discuss a repair to the side panel of a Rivan. It dovetails with your comments. You really want the people repairing on your car to put effort into quality.

 

What part of our great country is the broken windshield capital?

Calgary. Instead of properly clearing the snow and ice during the winter, the city spreads a mix of salt brine and granite chips on the roads. Broken windshields, paint chips and lots of rust.

 

I had to replace the tailgate glass as a result of an accident and the repair company (FIX Auto) initially used after-market glass. The glass distorted the image, whether via the rearview mirror or looking directly through from inside the vehicle. I complained to FIX and my insurance company and the glass was replaced with OEM. Now I will always specify OEM, along with quality installation.

 

ClearPlex: Ultimate Windshield Protection Film

Safeguard your windshield with ClearPlex Classic and Contour, the optically clear film that protects against rock chips, debris, and UV rays while maintaining visibility and safety.

madico.com

ExoShield Windshield Protection Film (PET) | GT3+

GT3+ windshield protection film offers 3-year warranty and advanced coating technology. Prevent chips, cracks, and extend your windshield's life.

www.getexoshield.com

Windshield Skin®: Windshield Protection Film Product Lines

Windshield Skin® offers a variety of windshield protection films to meet your needs, with five different materials to choose from. Our Super Stretch line is especially popular, featuring a DIY installation that takes just 20 minutes and includes all the necessary tools. You can also explore our...

windshieldskin.com

Automotive Windshield Protection Film – Find An XPEL Installer Near You

Find an installer for XPEL's Automotive Windshield Protection Film, designed to guard against chips and cracks. Locate an installer near you today.

www.xpel.com

I'd doubt a crack developed on a 'hot day'. For impact protection, consider an external windshield protection film. Can also be used on sunroofs or panonightmaric roofs which tend to magnetically attract impacts that no one notices and always claims shattered 'all of sudden'.

 

I had a guy come to my house once to repair some chips in the windshield of my 2012 RAV4. We were talking, and I can’t remember his reasons, but he said to stick with OEM glass.

Different vehicle, different story…
While driving down the road years ago, a big nut (or something similar) fell off a flatbed work truck going in the opposite direction. It skipped off my hood and hit the windshield. I was blasted in the face with pulverized glass, with glass flying all the way to the rear of my SUV. Luckily only one piece went in my eye, and it fell out when I leaned forward and shook my head while blinking. I think my eyelash basically caught it. The only thing that kept the projectile from actually hitting me was the layer of plastic… the inner and outer glass was pulverized and gone, leaving a baseball sized crater inside and out. Get the best windshield you can… your face might thank you later.

 

We have Xpel on both of our RAV4s But it is on the inside. We got it to reduce the infrared light to reduce the heat build up. It works great for that. It might be as good on the outside.

 

My wife RAV got "stoned" from incoming traffic ~3wk ago. As result there was guide big "chip" on windshield.

I did choose original Toyota windshield. Good that I had full insurance with class coverage - replacement calculation was >1400€

 

I'm scheduled for an OEM glass windshield replacement next week for a small but unrepairable crack I never noticed for several days. Fortunately I purchased windshield insurance when I bought my '21 SE and it's paid off.

 

Had to have the tailgate glass replaced a couple years ago and the aftermarket glass was so distorted that I insisted on it being replaced with OEM. State Farm, my insurer, authorized the replacement when the body shop doing the work confirmed the distorted view through the aftermarket glass. But I've also done a windshield replacement (another vehicle) with aftermarket glass without a problem. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

Another issue concerning OEM verses after market windshields: if you have heated wipers, part of the weather package, there have been reports of the heat tape traces being too large on after market windshields. This will lead to overheating and cracking the glass.

 

I just recently got a 2024 Rav4 Hybrid from Carmax with only 4500 miles on it. I had the car a week when the windshield in front of me got crack from a rock while driving on the interstate. I have not even made first payment on the car. I filed a claim with my insurance and paid the $250 deductible. I had the windshield replaced with an OEM one and had it installed by Safelite. They had a shop near where I lived. I had same experience several years before. Bought my wife a Rav4 from Carmax and the same thing happened. Did not have the car a month and it got a cracked windshield. Replaced it with OEM. Back then Safelite came to the car and installed windshield. But now you have to go to shop with the newer cars to recalibrate the sensors. I always go with OEM.