Windshield crack?

[Russ M]

I noticed a crack in my windshield the other day at the base of it. It seems to be a stress fracture of some sort because it is right below the molding which surrounds the windshield. And it is obviously something that started further below, and there is no damage there or anywhere for that matter.

Anyone else have this happen to them? I do not road race the car(Much), only on closed circut canyon roads.

Will Dodge replace this under warranty or am I SOL?

Thanks

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

I had the same problem when the car was just 3 months old. My insurance covered it--0 deductible. When the glass guy put the window in, he said it was improperly sealed from the factory.
They had not used enough sealer ar the base which created a pocket that eventually broke the glass. My crack was on the passenger side at the very bottom coming out of the molding. I alerted the insurance company as they probably could have gone after Dodge for the repair. I think it was $700 or $800 dollars. Sounds similar to mine. I'd go after the factory first.

Steve

 

[red98GTS]

If Dodge won't cover the broken w/shield, I'm sure your insurance will.... depending if you have full glass coverage with no deductible, so don't worry about it. If there is a "gap" somewhere in the sealer
(urethane) on the bottom, I'm sure the new installer will fill that and you should be all set in the future. It's not a big job or a complicated one, so rest easy. pete the ex glass guy (15 yrs. of installations) PS>>insurance companies usually don't care about whether it was a stress crack, the size of the rock that hit it, if a bird flew into it, etc etc.....they often ask when you call in a claim, but it's really only another replacement to them.

 

[RockyTop]

Mine did it at the curve of the galss in the lower driver's side corner. It clearly started at the edge below the cowl. Dodge refused to cover it because my car has seen the track ! It was a bunch of BS, but I decided to save my battle for a blown enigne or other really bad problem.

As far as insurance, my deductible was high enough it wasn't worth it.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

Pete, the glass guy is right. It's not a big job, although they told me not to drive the car for a day to let the sealer set up good. My repair was $700.

The reason I would go after Dodge first is because when I pay $75K for a car, I don't expect the windshield to break from faulty factory installation. This seems to have happened to several cars. I have owned many cars in my 50 yrs. and have never had a windshield crack from being installed improperly. Also, it may not seem like much, but the cost of that glass is in our insurance premiums in its own little way. Rates are based on claims experience. Maybe if few more went after Dodge, they would exercise a little more quality control in this area.

Steve

 

[Herman Buehrle]

When I had my '96 roadster, I had a had a "stress crack" show up at the bottom drivers side. The dealer looked at it under magnification, to determine that a rock or something hadn't hit the windshield causing the crack. Since there was no incidental damage, just the crack, the windshield was replaced, under warranty, no problems, no questions.

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

Here's one thing that will cause the glass to break. If you let the wiper arms fall on the windshield from the folded up position, the impact will often cause a crack to start at the bottom. So, lower them gently next time.
Jerry

 

[red98GTS]

Just one more thought on the broken w/shield topic....I have always made it a point to have insurance on my cars to protect against glass breakage...it used to be just part of your comprehensive but now, depending on your insurance company, they might have a separate "full glass coverage" available with no deductible. Without this, you get a rock chip, break, etc. and your deductible kicks in on the replacement, and you have no choice but to pay it. It might be wise to call your insurance company and ask them if they offer this coverage and how much does it cost. I guess I'm not lucky with broken w/shields, and have more than paid for the cost of the coverage many times. Also, should there ever be a "stress crack" issue, you've got the full glass coverage with no deductible and you can just have it replaced without trying to assess blame on anything. Something to think about. pete the ex glass guy

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Taking Pete's advice, I called my insurance company, Allstate. They have glass covered under comp and it costs an additional $8 per 6 months to change the deductable from $100.00 to zero which I'd have to do in order to get glass 100% covered.

While a glass claim doesn't raise the premium, it does cause you to loose your "No Claim" discount. That would cost me for example $350.00 in additional premiums over the 3 years period when I would again qualify for the discount, assuming I was "claim free".

So, there is no "Free Glass" at least with Allstate.....</FONT f>

 

[red98GTS]

Ron....you said the "A" word! Allstate! The "good hands people"! I loved that no-claim discount thing. What a deal. I remember people coming in our shop for a broken w/shield and telling us they had Allstate and watching my employer's face droop! It was a continuous fight with them over the price, the labor charges they would pay, the brand of the w/shield they would pay for, etc. etc. What a nightmare. I know a lot of you have this company and I don't want to get into an insurance discussion, but there should not be a penalty to you for a glass claim you didn't cause yourself. My opinion, of course. pete the ex glass guy and full glass coverage...ha!