Cracked at Last: My Year-Long Windshield Luck Finally Runs Out

[jerrisn]

FYI I had windshield replacement under warranty. They run a ball point pen down the crack and it will drop into fissure/impact point, if it does no warranty. The service manager said he only sees 2 in 100 that are really stress cracks. Mine had no fissure..

I bought a warranty from the dealer and I checked today and it's full replacement.

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[RickG]

I've not been as lucky. Every vehicle I have owned in the last 20 years has multiple window replacements. I was getting chips so frequently I held off on replacement until I had a huge crack and multiple stars in the glass. My insurance has a $100 deductible on glass replacement, and it's free if it's a fixable star.

 

[Optimus]

Looks like Optimus Prime was slacking on the job in the cubby! Guess even Autobots need a day off from stopping Decepticons.

Wise man once say:

One shall stand, one shall fall!

Optimus will have no problem defeating that Decepticon duck copter (triple-changer??).

 

[Tim d]

Since the day I picked up my 2023 XLT Hybrid in June of last year, I’ve been bracing myself for the dreaded windshield crack. I’d seen enough posts about how easily the windshields on this model can chip or crack, and although I hadn’t had a single issue in over a year and 25,000 miles, I knew my luck might eventually run out.

That day finally came today.

As my daughter was leaving the house, she paused and asked, “What happened to your windshield?” Confused, I went out to take a look—and there it was: a huge crack. It was impossible to miss from the outside and glaringly obvious from the inside. I was certain it wasn’t there last night when I was out around 8 PM or even at midnight when I parked the car in the garage.

Looking closer, I could see a small chip at the starting point of the crack, but when it happened? No idea. I avoid tailgating trucks, and even though I live in the rust belt, it’s not winter yet, so there’s no salt or gravel on the roads. It’s a bit of a mystery, especially since I’d expect to hear the impact if something big enough had hit the windshield.

Now, I have a cracked windshield that’ll need replacing. Thankfully, I bought a windshield warranty for $400 when I got the car, which covers up to five years of repairs/replacement. While I’m not thrilled to see this crack, I might hold off on the repair for now in hopes that replacement options improve over time. I’ve owned over 15 vehicles, and this is my first cracked windshield—guess it was bound to happen eventually.

Didn't know this was a thing with the maverick. Did they put subpar windshields in them?

 

[Frankd71864]

Since the day I picked up my 2023 XLT Hybrid in June of last year, I’ve been bracing myself for the dreaded windshield crack. I’d seen enough posts about how easily the windshields on this model can chip or crack, and although I hadn’t had a single issue in over a year and 25,000 miles, I knew my luck might eventually run out.

That day finally came today.

As my daughter was leaving the house, she paused and asked, “What happened to your windshield?” Confused, I went out to take a look—and there it was: a huge crack. It was impossible to miss from the outside and glaringly obvious from the inside. I was certain it wasn’t there last night when I was out around 8 PM or even at midnight when I parked the car in the garage.

Looking closer, I could see a small chip at the starting point of the crack, but when it happened? No idea. I avoid tailgating trucks, and even though I live in the rust belt, it’s not winter yet, so there’s no salt or gravel on the roads. It’s a bit of a mystery, especially since I’d expect to hear the impact if something big enough had hit the windshield.

Now, I have a cracked windshield that’ll need replacing. Thankfully, I bought a windshield warranty for $400 when I got the car, which covers up to five years of repairs/replacement. While I’m not thrilled to see this crack, I might hold off on the repair for now in hopes that replacement options improve over time. I’ve owned over 15 vehicles, and this is my first cracked windshield—guess it was bound to happen eventually.

Similar to mine, but on the driver side. I heard the impact just as a Mustang passed me, and by the time I reached my destination it had spread to the center of the windshield. The frustrating thing about it is It had been less than a month since I took delivery.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Thank you for the pictures.
You can see where something impacted your windshield.
The mystery is when?
Do you think the acoustical glass is any thicker? Will your windshield policy cover that ?

This is nice to know also.
Three states with no deductible windshield replacement if you have comprehensive.

I live in Florida. I just changed insurance companies because no one wants to give home owners policies, so you can bundle. I switched to Progressive, and they wouldn't give me a credit for no claims, because I had a windshield replaced 4 years ago on a 2005 GMC canyon. So I'm paying for it now.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I live in Florida. I just changed insurance companies because no one wants to give home owners policies, so you can bundle. I switched to Progressive, and they wouldn't give me a credit for no claims, because I had a windshield replaced 4 years ago on a 2005 GMC canyon. So I'm paying for it now.

Windshield replacement
Florida Statutes Title XXXVIII
Florida Statute 627.7288
Give your your state insurance board a phone call see if the law allows that.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Give your your state insurance board a phone call see if the law allows that.

I will look into that, it's to late now, I already paid for my policy, but when it's due for renewal I'll bring that up with what information I receive. Thank you.

 

[Bret1t]

Bought a used 22 XLT back in august.
It had the weirdest crack windshield. There was a circle about 6" across, maybe 6-8" to the left to of the rearview mirror up near the top, not really in line of sight. It was maybe 3/4 of a full circle and very round. No splinters or cracks radiating from it, just a circle. How it didn't shatter when it was done is beyond me.
Talked the dealership into replacing windshield before we closed the deal.

Take it back a few weeks later to get replaced and the new windshield was cracked either in shipment or during install.
Shop said it was on them either way and few weeks later, second windshield in, no issues.

Really wish I had thought to take a pic of that circle tho, no clue how that was pulled off.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I will look into that, it's to late now, I already paid for my policy, but when it's due for renewal I'll bring that up with what information I receive. Thank you.

More than likely, Progressive had you sign a waiver, waiving your rights to the replacement law.
I realize you're kind of limited there in Florida with types of insurance you can get. I have found that bundling isn't always the cheapest. Folks will overpay just to have the convenience of bundling.
You are lucky to get insured by Progressive.

 

[CajunMick]

Cracked windshield bothers me, especially if a unibody vehicle.

Our driveway is at upward angle in a cul-da-sac dead end. vehicle entry point is at an angle. Truck right wheel makes contact first, follow by left wheel. Could twist the body? And way windshield attached to body frame, any flex/twisting might cause windshield to see stress.

just guessing. I try to make truck do straight in approach to driveway to minimize any twisting.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Cracked windshield bothers me, especially if a unibody vehicle.

Our driveway is at upward angle in a cul-da-sac dead end. vehicle entry point is at an angle. Truck right wheel makes contact first, follow by left wheel. Could twist the body? And way windshield attached to body frame, any flex/twisting might cause windshield to see stress.

just guessing. I try to make truck do straight in approach to driveway to minimize any twisting.

Would it be any different than a unibody car or SUV??

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Didn't know this was a thing with the maverick. Did they put subpar windshields in them?

No. Some of it is the rake of the windshield and the fact it sits lower to the ground than bigger trucks.

Where I live, broken windshields are common. So bad, I have no-deductible windshield coverage on my vehicles, since replacement is almost a given. So far, 18K and over a year old, my Maverick hasn't needed a new windshield. Yet.

To OP: On the bright side, if your truck has any rattles from the existing OEM windshield, a replacement may fix that for you.

 

[OXHB619]

I am on my 2nd windshield.

I have not made it 1,000 miles on either without a chip.

Also have 5-6 rock chips, including on my drivers side doors, a door handle, and a few on the leading edge of the hood / bumper.

No avoiding it no matter how careful you drive. If it is my driving maybe the internet ninjas can explain how that causes rock chips on the door.

I changed my insurance to increase my deductible but add $0 glass. It was a little pain, but my replacement was OEM acoustic glass, and was a pretty easy experience other than waiting on a reimbursement for the price difference between factory and a generic brand.

I probably should ask the dealer and safelight their cost, it may be better to change my insurance again next go round and just throw the savings into a high yield account for the eventual replacement.

 

[Tim d]

No. Some of it is the rake of the windshield and the fact it sits lower to the ground than bigger trucks.

Where I live, broken windshields are common. So bad, I have no-deductible windshield coverage on my vehicles, since replacement is almost a given. So far, 18K and over a year old, my Maverick hasn't needed a new windshield. Yet.

To OP: On the bright side, if your truck has any rattles from the existing OEM windshield, a replacement may fix that for you.

Yikes,I have been driving almost 50 years and have never had a cracked windshield. A cpl small chips here and there over that time that were small and never progressed to a crack.

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