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Broken windshield: Warranty?


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About 3 weeks outside the 12 month ownership clause on windshields I noticed a hairline crack snaking up the passenger side of the windshield. Further inspection turned up a point shatter exactly on the edge of the windshield, under the lip of the hood, just past the windshield wiper mount point (passenger side).

 

It's unlikely that anything struck it, the car has been in for zero servicing, and stays mostly in a garage. The point where the break starts is exactly at the edge--and there's no evidence of impact on the material that abuts the glass.

 

I don't know but it seems like a stress fracture on a mount point? Maybe a defect that finally broke--I'm sure the dealership will have a different idea. Any opinions or ideas what or how this could have happened?

 

 

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About 3 weeks outside the 12 month ownership clause on windshields I noticed a hairline crack snaking up the passenger side of the windshield. Further inspection turned up a point shatter exactly on the edge of the windshield, under the lip of the hood, just past the windshield wiper mount point (passenger side). ...

 

Michael,

 

I'll take a peek and see what I can find out. PM me your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info. 

 

Ashley

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  • 3 weeks later...

About 3 weeks outside the 12 month ownership clause on windshields I noticed a hairline crack snaking up the passenger side of the windshield. Further inspection turned up a point shatter exactly on the edge of the windshield, under the lip of the hood, just past the windshield wiper mount point (passenger side).

 

It's unlikely that anything struck it, the car has been in for zero servicing, and stays mostly in a garage. The point where the break starts is exactly at the edge--and there's no evidence of impact on the material that abuts the glass.

 

I don't know but it seems like a stress fracture on a mount point? Maybe a defect that finally broke--I'm sure the dealership will have a different idea. Any opinions or ideas what or how this could have happened?

Same thing happened to me, also about three weeks past my purchase anniversary (April 30 2013) but on the driver side. Was about 10 inches long yesterday (and this morning), but then by the afternoon had cracked another 6 inches. Strange that there's no impact mark or spider-webbing - just one long, snaking hairline crack. I can't swear it wasn't initially caused by impact but I noticed it when I came out to my car after being inside. The new cracking definitely happened all on its own.

 

I called my insurance for a quote on replacing the glass and it's just over $500 (unfortunately that's also my deductible...) but at this point I'm afraid that if I don't fix it the whole windshield might fail after a couple more thermal expansion cycles.

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I called my insurance for a quote on replacing the glass and it's just over $500 (unfortunately that's also my deductible...) but at this point I'm afraid that if I don't fix it the whole windshield might fail after a couple more thermal expansion cycles.

 

Try Safelite.com online to get a quote without insurance if they serve your region. Glass is often SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper without insurance than with insurance, though installation fees are probably the same. If the first $500 is coming out of your pocket anyway, it's worth getting a quote.

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Try Safelite.com online to get a quote without insurance if they serve your region. Glass is often SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper without insurance than with insurance, though installation fees are probably the same. If the first $500 is coming out of your pocket anyway, it's worth getting a quote.

A quick check shows it virtually the same as I posted in the link above (insurance or no insurance). ;)

 

Windshield - $265 (list $715)

Install kit - $30

Labor - $124

Total -$419 + tax 

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Good to know the price is the same, because it's certainly not true for all glass suppliers and all insurance companies in all states.

 

When the rear window shattered on my Vibe in 2011, my insurance company claims service recommended a different glass supplier (who shall remain nameless for the moment) who would have charged a total of $662 and taken a week to replace the glass while filing the insurance claim: $162 billed to my insurer and $500 to me for my deductible. Safelite did the job the next day for $330 without filing insurance.

Edited by kostby
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Well my hairline crack has spread to become a visibility issue (long horizontal line right at eye level on driver's side) so I'm going for the replacement. Tried the safelight web site for a quote and it came out to $484.95 for parts/labor in my ZIP code and once you throw taxes and disposal fee on top of that it, doesn't look like I would save anything by paying cash vs filing a claim with a $500 deductible. At least I was able to get a quick appointment for on-site service and my insurance works directly with safelight to file the paperwork.

 

Hopefully the price will come down in the future and thanks for the tip!

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