Cracked windshield?!?!?

[ElAviator72]

My car has spent the last week in the garage at my house due to the weather.

I finally pulled her out today, and took her to work. On my way home from work, I notice that the windshield has a crack in it (way beyond repair it size...). The crack starts at the lower edge of the windshield, goes up, makes an "s" curve, and ends about 10 inches above where it started. It is probably about 3-4 inches left of the right edge of the defrost vent.

There is no star associated with the crack anywhere, and it can't be felt either on the inside or the outside of the windshield.

Has this happened to anyone else, and can I warranty it out? :frusty:

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[nightmare702]

I seriously just went on my insurance app (geico) and filed a claim and they charge me 25$ at my local safelite windshield repair. They replaced the whole windshield and it was the oem ford logo windshield

 

[ryant601]

I wasn't carrying glass coverage at the time mine cracked, had it replaced at Safelite...~$500, aftermarket with soundproofing.

As for warranty, might be a tough fight, but if there's no evidence of impact you might have a shot. Worth a try.

 

[jasonstang]

Should be easy with a warranty if there is no impact.

 

[robertwsimpson]

I've been working at franchised dealers in service for 15 years. I've never seen a windshield get warrantied. There has always been a little chip that the crack spread from.

That being said, I'm curious to see how this turns out. Let us know what happens.

 

[PatrickGT]

Just be careful that they properly align and reinstall the wiper arms after replacing your windshield, the idiots at SanTan Ford in Gilbert, AZ couldn't figure this simple step out and it ended up damaging the wiper arm, motor, and my hood... that was a fun fight convincing them that my 3 week old car that they were the only ones ever to touch was in fact mishandled by them...

 

[ElAviator72]

Turns out there was a tiny stone chip, about 1-2 mm above the wiper blade (I looked at it in the sunlight at lunch today). Here in Oregon, they put down "cinders" when there's snow and ice (more like pea gravel) The weather has been absolute crap for the last week...at least I caught that before I embarrassed myself at the dealership ;) P.S. the crack grew today, and is now shaped like a question mark.

 

[robertwsimpson]

Do you have windshield replacement as part of your insurance policy? It's quick and painless if you do!

 

[Nick]

If it was below freezing and you turned your defrost way up then the quick change in temperature combined with the existent rock chip is what caused the crack. I did this to my windshield one year after an ice storm.

 

[robertwsimpson]

If it was below freezing and you turned your defrost way up then the quick change in temperature combined with the existent rock chip is what caused the crack. I did this to my windshield one year after an ice storm.

That or hitting a bump and getting some chassis flex. Happens all the time around here.

 

[FordService]

I've been working at franchised dealers in service for 15 years. I've never seen a windshield get warrantied. There has always been a little chip that the crack spread from.

That being said, I'm curious to see how this turns out. Let us know what happens.

As per the warranty guide, robertwsimpson, limited coverage on windshield stress cracks will be provided for the first 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever occurs first), even though caused by use and/or exposure to the elements.

Deysha

 

[robertwsimpson]

As per the warranty guide, robertwsimpson, limited coverage on windshield stress cracks will be provided for the first 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever occurs first), even though caused by use and/or exposure to the elements.

Deysha

thank you for the insight Deysha. I am new to Ford. Does "use and/or exposure to the elements" include rock chips? From my experience with other manufacturers, that has always been considered outside influence and any claim denied coverage. This would be very useful information to me and others on the boards, I am sure as rock chips are quite common!

 

[ElAviator72]

thank you for the insight Deysha. I am new to Ford. Does "use and/or exposure to the elements" include rock chips? From my experience with other manufacturers, that has always been considered outside influence and any claim denied coverage. This would be very useful information to me and others on the boards, I am sure as rock chips are quite common!

Thanks, Deysha. I'm out of warranty on mileage, though :doh: Been loving the car way too much to keep it parked for long :ford:

 

[ElAviator72]

If it was below freezing and you turned your defrost way up then the quick change in temperature combined with the existent rock chip is what caused the crack. I did this to my windshield one year after an ice storm.

Nah, it was about 46 deg. out when the crack started. I did turn on the defrost (with the compressor on), because it was really rainy and the inside of the windshield was fogging up...I'm guessing I got a "cinder" (see my eariler response) from a truck right above the wiper blade. Wasn't running the heat full blast, either...probably had the temp knob at about 1 o'clock. I usually drive with my Columbia ski jacket on this time of the year, so I don't crank the heat too high (just enough to keep my feet warm!).

 

[ElAviator72]

Do you have windshield replacement as part of your insurance policy? It's quick and painless if you do!

I don't remember explicitly getting that, guess I'll be reading my insurance policy tonight. My deductible is $500 for normal damage :tsk:

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