omg window cracked

[Howie411]

Got in my car today and there was a foot long crack in

a z formation from about the passenger side wiper to the end of the window. Car has less than 3k miles on it and its 5 months old surely this cant be normal. The car is kept in a garage at night.

[xmech2k]

Could be a warranty replacement, but look REAL close along the crack for any pits or evidence of impact damage no matter how small. My wife's Hyundai Tuscon windshield cracked in a similar amount of time, and I took it to the dealer for warranty replacement, thinking it was a stress crack from a bad windshield or improper installation. They saw a tiny pit along the crack and wouldn't do it. So much for the amazing Hyundai warranty. Although they probably had something there, I've never had one crack from even bigger impacts. (More stories, but won't go there. Will say it influenced my decision to rule out the Sonata when looking for a sedan...) If it's clean along the crack, I'd push for warranty replacement.

[VonoreTn]

We had a truck go off the left side of the road taking the southern route around St. Louis a month ago in our FFH, and it kicked up stones, and one put a spider impact crack on the front left of the windshield. I wasn't drafting, although in the heavy traffic, I was too close to the truck, both of us being in the far left lane passing slower traffic.

 

We had the plastic infusion fix at a windshield repair shop in Knoxville when we got home, and it made it almost invisible except for 2 small dots that you would never notice. Our insurance paid for it 100%, because it is so much cheaper for them than replacing a windshield. Of course with our $500 deductible, we would have had to pay for the new windshield, so this fix was a free win-win.

 

This obviously has nothing to do with your huge Z crack. That sounds like a structural issue, or a plant mis-assembly, and unless there is some sign of a road impact incident, it should be fully covered by the Ford warranty.

Edited March 14, 2010 by VonoreTn

[Juris]

Cracks happen in the best of times. I would bet it was a stone -- could have been the size of a pea. My general impression is that windshields are not as thick as they used to be. On my last two cars I also had windshields replaced due to road pebble damage that eventually led to longer cracks, especially under the stress of temperature changes.

Edited March 14, 2010 by Juris

[Howie411]

Here is a picture of the crack, I slid my finger over the whole thing and I don't fell any rock chips anywhere near it. The Ford dealership is closed today but I was going to call them tomorrow.

 

 

*edit* ok so upload photos isn't working lets try this:

 

 

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/howie411/IMG_0352.jpg

Edited March 14, 2010 by Howie411

[oldschool1962]

Not calling you out on this at all but can you please explain the blemish that appears to start about 4" off the A pillar? Looks like a chip but I'm guessing a flash or ceiling light maybe. Hope it is.

 

Regardless of what the cause.....that really sucks.

[Howie411]

Sorry, ya thats just the flash from the camera, there are no imperfections on that line.

[Howie411]

Sorry, ya thats just the flash from the camera, there are no imperfections on that line.

 

 

Well just got back from the dealership, they said a rock cracked it, there was a chip the size of a pencil point, where the windshield meets the pillar and some how that causes a crack over a foot long. Now I gotta call Geico to come replace my windshield. I'm a bit annoyed, this is my 6th car I've owned and the first time I've ever had a cracked window, and the fact the car only has 2500 miles on it makes me concerned about the quality of the glass let along the car quality at this point.

[lordyourjosh]

Well just got back from the dealership, they said a rock cracked it, there was a chip the size of a pencil point, where the windshield meets the pillar and some how that causes a crack over a foot long. Now I gotta call Geico to come replace my windshield. I'm a bit annoyed, this is my 6th car I've owned and the first time I've ever had a cracked window, and the fact the car only has 2500 miles on it makes me concerned about the quality of the glass let along the car quality at this point.

 

It doesn't take much. I've had two rental cars (Both were not Ford vehicles, and neither were "low end" rental cars) that ended up with cracked windows from stones. I've also had cracks from a small stone chip in my Ranger. In fact, one small hit led to a crack that spread, so I replaced the windshield, only to have it get another stone chip 6 days later (which I had repaired before it spread). :banghead: Moisture and temperature changes can also really contribute to them spreading.

 

Maybe all of the manufacturers are using thinner glass or something. It's annoying and expensive, but I don't see it being a poor reflection on the quality of the car.

[akirby]

Well just got back from the dealership, they said a rock cracked it, there was a chip the size of a pencil point, where the windshield meets the pillar and some how that causes a crack over a foot long. Now I gotta call Geico to come replace my windshield. I'm a bit annoyed, this is my 6th car I've owned and the first time I've ever had a cracked window, and the fact the car only has 2500 miles on it makes me concerned about the quality of the glass let along the car quality at this point.

 

That's covered under Comprehensive, not Collision. The deductible may be lower.

[Howie411]

My deductible is $250 for both, I've heard windshield replaces run from $200 to $400, so I'm going to try to get a quote from the Safelite guy tomorrow when he comes.

[acdii]

My deductible is $250 for both, I've heard windshield replaces run from $200 to $400, so I'm going to try to get a quote from the Safelite guy tomorrow when he comes.

 

Most insurance companies will replace the windshield under comprehensive and only charge $100 as deductible, some replace them without a deductible.

 

Just to head off blame, this is NOT a warranty problem, Ford, Hyundai, any dealership will not replace a windshield under warranty if there is any impact evidence, no matter how small it is. I can take a screwdriver and tap a side window at just the right spot and shatter it. I don't mean striking the window, I mean tapping it, like tapping a pencil against a desk. A rock hitting at just the right spot, usually along the edge will cause the windshield to crack, no matter how thick the glass is. In fact, if you press lightly from the inside near a stone chip, there is a high probability that you will cause the window to crack. A chip destroys the surface tension of the glass, that is why filling a chip prevents the windshield from cracking, as the filler restores the integrity of the glass. There are do it yourself kits that cost $15 that you can use to repair a chip, and they work just as well as the ones used by glass companies. I used one on an Explorer I had. I had a 1985 Grand Marquis that got hit by a stone, I saw the chip and made the mistake of pressing on the inside by the chip and CRACK, all the way across the windshield. Using a defroster on a cold windshield can cause it to crack if there is a chip in it, same with cranking up the AC on a hot day.

[Riggo]

I got a chip in my windshield today :-(. It's only the size of the tip if a ball point pen, maybe even a little smaller, but it's in my line of sight. Makes me so mad. It was from a semi-truck.

I was wondering if anyone knows if safelite type repairs will fill it in such that I won't even see the chip anymore from inside the car or will it just fill it so it won't spread into a crack but I'll still be able to see it.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Riggo

[corncobs]

I got a chip in my windshield today :-(. It's only the size of the tip if a ball point pen, maybe even a little smaller, but it's in my line of sight. Makes me so mad. It was from a semi-truck.

I was wondering if anyone knows if safelite type repairs will fill it in such that I won't even see the chip anymore from inside the car or will it just fill it so it won't spread into a crack but I'll still be able to see it.

It will be gone almost to a point that you actually have to look for it once it's filled in. Yours seems to be very small which should be better to make invisible. I had one years ago pretty decent size larger than your chip for sure with some small cracks and it maybe left a pinhole size spot but only because it was so big to begin with.

 

Don't wait too long the next bump or pothole could potentially crack the window without a chance to repair it.

[acdii]

If its a chip on the surface, the repairs are invisible, if it goes through the outer layer and starred, then the repair will be visible, but you would have to look for it, but they do work. Even the stuff you get at the parts store does a decent job.

[Riggo]

If its a chip on the surface, the repairs are invisible, if it goes through the outer layer and starred, then the repair will be visible, but you would have to look for it, but they do work. Even the stuff you get at the parts store does a decent job.

 

Awesome. It's so small and there is no star, just a chip. I called my insurance broker and he insists my premium won't go up from having the insurance pay for it. I still have my doubts.

[corncobs]

 

Awesome. It's so small and there is no star, just a chip. I called my insurance broker and he insists my premium won't go up from having the insurance pay for it. I still have my doubts.

Don't have doubts since a full new window replacement would be much more costly to them they "happily" pay the small repair.

Without charging you more!

Edited July 9, 2013 by corncobs

[neod192]

 

Awesome. It's so small and there is no star, just a chip. I called my insurance broker and he insists my premium won't go up from having the insurance pay for it. I still have my doubts.

Your premium might not go up, but come renewal time you might not be eligible for some discounts, like the "no claims in the last 5 years" discount I get ... your out of pocket could go up, but it all depends on how the insurance does it.

 

How much would it cost to fix it yourself, pay out of pocket and leave the insurance out of it?

[Riggo]

Yeah. If it's not that expensive i'll just pay out of pocket.

[acdii]

Wish I could have gone without a claim, but that deer would have cost me over $4,000. I should take it out of its hide,

 

Oh Wait I did!

 

If any one remembers the Ford radio commercial with the oil change sticker, ^^ LOL