poll: rear window frame cracks

[flyfish4life]

I can imagine how you feel. My 03 is my newest and by far, most expensive vehicle. Even my '86 4Runner has no cracks around the windows (they used metal back then, plus the windows are the sliding type like on the 80 series). No cracks on my '01 honda, either. I'm surprised a '06 would have cracks. That should be covered under the new car warranty (at least the lexus new car warranty [4 yr/50K mi] covers everything short of paint chips from rocks). The problem is you run the risk of a tech pulling the upper and lower inner quarter body panels to replace the window, and that means possible creaks that weren't there before. You'd think Toyota would have improved the QC on their flagship vehicle and used aluminum instead of plastic! Would have only cost maybe $50/vehicle for all the windows.

Well I looked again tonight (been a very cold week here) and my passenger side is cracked as well. Looks like a straight split as if it was the way it was designed. But we know its a defect. Unreal.

 

[Augie]

Mine develop cracks on both side. It seems that happen a few years ago when we went to Minnesota winter of 05.

It seems this is a design / manufacturing problem. The plastic shrink/expand a lot more than the glass in extreme weather. The material probably will become pretty brittle after a few years also. It seems the trim are glued the whole length which will stress it even more. The problem develop from running AC in hot weather and heater in cold weather. The temperature differences just make plastic trim to expand or contract a lot more than the glass.

 

[e9999]

I guess the real issue is more what does that crack do or not in terms of potential damage or problems. Anybody looked seriously under there yet? Water ingress issues?

 

[Rowdy_Rod]

I guess the real issue is more what does that crack do or not in terms of potential damage or problems. Anybody looked seriously under there yet? Water ingress issues?

No e9999 and I don't think that I want to just in case it is still sealed and if I start pushing and prodding at it and that breaks the seal then I will be P*ssed right off with Mr Toyota. Did have the inner cargo trim off the other day when I was fitting the electric rust guard and couldn't see anything that looked like water had been getting in but with that said they are only hairline cracks in my cruiser. So my guess is that no it does not leak just makes the cruiser look sh*tty

 

[aedgington]

No cracks...

 

[gjh]

Anyone have a photo of where/what this looks like? I assume you are talking about the window frame?

I'll have to check out my '00 tomorrow.

 

[scooterp7]

99 LC cracked passenger side. Not a problem.

 

[ArizonaCruiser]

2001 - both sides have one crack at or above midpoint of the plastic

I bought my 100 used with those cracks already present. I think I paid extra for them... along with the silver paint peel/fade in the middle of the plastic body side mouldings.

In my experience, most 100s I have seen over the years have these aesthetic defects. Has anyone achieved some sort of cosmetic fix that visually resolves this defect in the plastic?

If so, please post a how-to.

 

[Steph23]

'03 with no cracks.

 

[BJEC69]

2003 LC, 74K, Passenger side, 1/2 way up.

 

[LandCruisers4Life]

Both with cracks. One side is a little wider than the other. I figure it's stress cracks. The plastic not flexible enough and it gives out. It doesn't bother me too much, I figure I know how to mask it to make it un-noticable anyway. It looks to me like it is just to cover the edge of the glass and not to keep water out.

 

[cruiserheadrat]

98 both sides have been cracked for at least 5 years.