Sparkles?

Are the windshields on the 5th gen super sparkly when in bright low sun? My runner only has 2300 Miles, garaged kept, hand washed. Never sat under a sappy tree. Hasn’t been hit by rock or debris. It seems excessive to be dust or sandblasted and haven’t been on highway much and don’t tail people. Tried claybar and good cleaning but nada. Never in decades of owning vehicles have I had this experience. Curious if mine is defective or is it normal? It’s very distracting.

update: dealership didn’t think normal and to try a detail shop first. Went by windshield glass shop and they said it was not normal and not pitting. They advised to try a solvent. Detail shop tried solvent and steel wool but nothing came out. They said maybe try a hydroponic coating. I’m at a loss.

 

No. It's either dirty or damaged

 

My 23 was parked out side for six months before it was brought inside to the garage, saw a lot of rain and tree debris. I don't see any alarming glare when sun is low in the horizon.

 

Not normal.

 

I noticed this also early on with my 2018. The sun just has to be at the right angle to show it. Ive tried washes, clay bars, glass polishing and sealer and it always looks pristine until that low angle sun hits it at a certain angle. Like it's peppered with small sand specks. If you research a bit many comments on new Toyotas; 4R, Tacoma, Rav4, Venza etc... same issue. I thought maybe it was due to location, salted or sanded streets in the winter but seems to have popped up on brand new vehicles also.

 

Granted my 19 has 80k miles on it, but mine is really bad too. Sun has to hit it just right and it almost looks like it was made that way. Complete coverage of speckles.
My Sequoia had 250k miles on it and it wasnt this bad - at least not in the same manner the 4 Runner is.
In SC, windshield replacement is no deductible with comp coverage so I might get this replaced too.

 

driving into a sunset is a glitter show.

 

I don’t think I’ve noticed any sparkles other than some faint but large scratches that show up when the light hits it just right.

Edit: I'll keep that in mind.

 

Maybe catch some pix next time
Dont see how you would call it defective, can you see out of it, is it protecting you from wind and rain? If yes to both, i dont see where you could call it defective

 

not the best pix and is more glittery and brighter but when driving into the light it challenging to see. Never had an issue like this in the 45 years of owning rigs. Wondering if windshield has manufacturing flaw or normal.the glass is super smooth on the outside no pitting. If the sun were to the right or left, those sides would sparkle.

 

Try wiping down the dash...you might be seeing reflections off dust on the dash.

 

Did you use a microfiber towel on it? Looks like shedding from that.

 

What are you using to clean your windshield?
Windex? Windex leaves sparkly residue IMHO.
I don't use it anymore.
I use this:

 

From what you are picturing it would appear like
1) lint from a towel or paper towel
2) tiny pecks from sand / rocks at highway speeds

I would rub a flat razor blade over a section, see if you can feel any "outties" or places that poke up. Scratch over the surface with a razor blade to make sure there are no high spots then clean it real good. Look closely at the surface, if there are tiny pits, that is from small sand / rocks at highway speeds. Glass inherently doesnt have pits in it when its rolled out. It can have air bubbles in it but any windshield with air bubbles would not pass and be scrapped.

 

Mine was sparkly, but then it was about 8 years old. The sparkles are 100s and 1000s of really tiny cracks from road stones etc.

 

My windshield is pitted and sparkly like as you show, OP. I believe it is from road trips in desert regions with blowing sand or perhaps even driving behind a sand or cement truck. Maybe the glass is a bit soft on the OEM windshield, not sure. You say your windshield is super smooth with no pitting but I doubt that.

 

Mine is a 24 black ORP KDSS it also has this look to the windshield. But I also put a ceramic tint on the inside so I figured it was something in the tint layer. I can’t say I notice it at all unless I’m looking at an angle from the inside in bright sunlight. Even then, it’s very minor.

 

I'm speaking from absolutely no knowledge but if it is some kind of damage, is there a product to "reglaze" the surface?

 

My 2019 is like this, too. When the sun hits it head on it's very apparent. I always thought it was from highway driving and almost like sandblasting from road debris. My 4Runner spent its 1st 3 years in AZ which I call the rock chip Capital of the Country.

 

Can you tell if it is on interior, exterior, or middle layer?

 

it doesn’t seem like interior or exterior. It’s not lint and has been cleaned baby smooth, no roughness. I used windex a couple times long ago, rainex 2 in 1 once. Since then only use invisible glass. I clay barred it. A detailer tried a few techniques with solvents and steel wool but didn’t improve. Windshield guy didn’t think it was normal. I’m wondering if it’s inside the glass.

 

Time for the dealer. Glass defect do happen.

 

I agree that it's dealership time. Still under warranty, I assume?

You might get a better idea what you're seeing if you look at it in the dark with an LED or other type of light at varying angles. Might be able to tell if it's inside the glass as you suspect.

 

If you live in the rust belt, it may be sand pitting.

 

I have it on my 2 year old windshield too. I notice it now that the winter sun is at a low angle toward sunset. If you google around you’ll see that this has been a common problem for a long time. Not just on Toyota glass. Here’s one thread:
https://priuschat.com/threads/tiny-windshield-specks-in-bright-sunlight.98979/

 

It may be the laminate, but that should never passed QC !

 

Other time of year sunsets/sunrises aren’t as bad?

 

in my opinion, this is not something I’d want my factory glass uninstalled for. It’s really a negligible thing and eventually you’re gonna get stone chips on your windshield. That would be the time to see if a new piece of glass is different.

 

My windshield is the same. I always assumed it was the 60,000 miles the previous owner drove it in one year but now I'm not so sure. My Tundra has 200,000 miles and the windshield looks brand new

 

Since the winter sun sweeps a lower arc in the sky, for us in the northern hemisphere, you tend to have more time to notice any windshield flaws when driving toward the sun.