CADM23

OEM windshield is back ordered nationally. Wait could be 8 months. Looking for experience with aftermarket windshield. Is it even a good idea?

tks

nuclearn8

We forced safelite to use OEM glass when our 2017 windshield got a nice rock crack 1 month after we bought it in 2019. I wouldn't use aftermarket glass on practically a brand new vehicle that is still under factory warranty but that's just me... I'd wait it out for oem,...

CFAI

Is the backorder because 2023 is different glass than pre 2021? I think that is when they moved to acoustic/laminated glass? Maybe you can use a windshield from an earlier year - might not be as quiet in the cabin.

Randyman

Just had my second Safelight aftermarket windshield installed yesterday (and went through 2 or 3 on the old 4Runner). No complaints, and if you play the discounts right, you can get one installed for under $310.

Even with a $500 deductible (and a chance rates might go up), paying the difference is not worth going with OEM IMO (closer to $1100-$1200 - or 4x the cost of a Safelite). Knowing I'll end up with a crack in a few years (I ALWAYS do!) makes OEM unattractive...

MrTorgue

I'll never put a Chinese Safelite (Fuyao) piece of glass in my rig. Ever. If I gotta wait months I gotta wait months for an OEM from Japan.

CADM23

The wait is about 8 months.
I have a 18 to 24 inch line from the upper passenger corner.

jphowey

How do you folks navigate state inspection with a cracked windshield.....and an 8 month wait. Is there a waiver? I'm in Pennsylvania.

Acrad

I’d probably insist on OEM too if still under warranty but I haven’t had any issues with Pilkinton or the Fuyao which appears to have factories in the US as well. I use an independent installer and not Safelite. IMO… the installation/installer is more important that the glass brand.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...l#post11328274

I also live in one of the 13-15 states that doesn’t require annual vehicle inspections.

MrTorgue

I'm lucky to not live in a state with annual inspections either. My crack is almost the entire horizontal length of the windscreen. Not looking forward to waiting for a new one. But it is what it is. This one was replaced last year so it's still "new".

ASE

My experience with non-OEM windshields ... some have had optical anomalies, and are not as resistant to pitting and small rock impact damage, meaning you get what you pay for ...

Acrad

My OEM glass experience probably set me down the path of aftermarket.

My ‘12 was a little less than 5 years old when I purchased it and still had OEM windshield with nothing in service record indicating it had been changed. (Trusted installer also believed it was stock)

IIRC… week one got a standard ding in windshield and was going to get fixed by next day. This happened in the morning.. and by end of workday… it was cracked across the windshield

I get lots of dings in the passes and nothing substantial came of it until a few years back one hit near the edge and forced a crack during one of our bitter January chills after turning on the windshield wiper heater element.

It wasn’t worth the insurance battle or cost to justify OEM for me… just my opinion