The replacement was done at the VA Beach Toyota dealership where he purchased the Highlander (and I think it was the Platinum model, not Limited because it has the HUD). He did not complain only because his insurance covered all of it minus his $500 out-of-pocket deductible. Maybe the final billing was inflated to bilk the insurance claim?
Bad Luck with cracked windshields
- Thread starter SammyChevelleTypeS3
- Start date
Possibly, but believe me when I say insurance companies absolutely know the wholesale cost of that windshield as well as the going “retail rate” in geographical areas.
Dealerships rarely install windshields, instead relying on a third party vendor to do the work.
The dealership may have ordered the windshield to ensure compatibility and added a markup simply because they can, but $4,500 is off the chain………
Dealerships rarely install windshields, instead relying on a third party vendor to do the work.
The dealership may have ordered the windshield to ensure compatibility and added a markup simply because they can, but $4,500 is off the chain………
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Might have something to do with how much of a stressed member your windshield was in your S2000, and how much it is in a more chewing-gummy frame on some econobox.
Windshields have been integral part of a car's rigidity at least since the early eighties, and a lot depends on how they are used by the car and where the car is being driven.
If you imagine your windshield as being a tightened drum skin, how crap will bounce off it will depends on the windshield's qualities but also on how it sits in the car's chassis and how it's "tightened". If it's held in a well balanced way, it will bounce mucho much many rocks before cracking. If it's under unequal stress, it will eventually get stress fractures or chip by just being looked at ugly.
And if there's one car that was well thought in all regards chassis related - I'd nominate the S2000
It's like the same brand hallogen bulbs burning in one car and never needing replacement in another. One has a stable electrical system, the other is Italian.
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
VW Atlas. 5 windshields in 18mos. Got rid of the car for that reason, and only that reason.
Before I traded in my 2018 Mazda3 I replaced the windshield and it only cost me my 100.00 deductible (for what's it's worth windshield damage falls under Comprehensive coverage, not Collision coverage on most policies). Anyway..... Safelite charged a flat fee of 300.00 to calibrate the windshield sensors. It took the service tech about 5 minutes to do that (I watched)! The tech said he would do 4 to 6 windshields a day (home service). That's 1200 to 1800 bucks just in calibration fees alone per day. Talk about a profit maker!
No, but without a doubt I am the NAIL GOD when it comes to tires. I keep 2 plug kits in the truck. I went ahead and bought the tire and wheel warranty on the Ranger last month - after picking up 2 nails right where tread met sidewall with a hair over 2k on the truck. Bought the warranty on a Thursday, used it Friday
The "18 F150 with 120k miles I just traded in was crack free. Had a few dings, no true cracks. It WAS awfully rough though. Thousands of tiny little road mars from tiny little rocks.
EDIT: 3 more tires and the warranty pays for itself lol.
The "18 F150 with 120k miles I just traded in was crack free. Had a few dings, no true cracks. It WAS awfully rough though. Thousands of tiny little road mars from tiny little rocks.
EDIT: 3 more tires and the warranty pays for itself lol.
Same here. Just 2 weeks ago after a number of chips my baby got it right where the registration sticker is. Of course its cracking right into my view. Ughhhh. Aggregate haulers everywhere (Central Texas) around me it seems. I can be 3 cars back and the stone never fails to hit me. The bumper and hood take a lot a of abuse as well.
Living in Utah most of my life, where highways frequently get the chip and seal treatment, My father always carried $0 deductible on comprehensive, thus paying 100% for glass replacement. I have always done the same. The premium difference is not that significant. I'm sure glad I had full coverage a couple years ago when a rock hit the windshield on my motorhome. Total bill was $2700, installed.
Before chip repair became a thing, I used to replace a windshield about every 18 months. Now, not so often. My wife's Outback, now sold, had 5 chip repairs during the 11 years and 160k miles that we drove it.
In comparison, my '14 MB E350, which I have been driving for over 6 years and 70k miles doesn't have a single chip or crack. Not for lack of trying. I've had 2 or 3 times when I have heard something hit the windshield like an explosion. But thorough inspection afterwards finds no evidence of anything hitting the windshield. I suspect the previous owner never had any windshield replacements either, as the windshield is still OEM.
Before chip repair became a thing, I used to replace a windshield about every 18 months. Now, not so often. My wife's Outback, now sold, had 5 chip repairs during the 11 years and 160k miles that we drove it.
In comparison, my '14 MB E350, which I have been driving for over 6 years and 70k miles doesn't have a single chip or crack. Not for lack of trying. I've had 2 or 3 times when I have heard something hit the windshield like an explosion. But thorough inspection afterwards finds no evidence of anything hitting the windshield. I suspect the previous owner never had any windshield replacements either, as the windshield is still OEM.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
Believe me, you are not alone. I caught so many nails around us the last 2-3 years it was driving me insane. Thank GOD I had the road hazard because the tire shops was getting tired of seeing us. There was so much construction and road work around us that it was happening either to my vehicle, the wife's and even mother-in-law. One week I was at the tire shop three times.No, but without a doubt I am the NAIL GOD when it comes to tires. I keep 2 plug kits in the truck. I went ahead and bought the tire and wheel warranty on the Ranger last month - after picking up 2 nails right where tread met sidewall with a hair over 2k on the truck. Bought the warranty on a Thursday, used it Friday
The "18 F150 with 120k miles I just traded in was crack free. Had a few dings, no true cracks. It WAS awfully rough though. Thousands of tiny little road mars from tiny little rocks.
EDIT: 3 more tires and the warranty pays for itself lol.
Reminded me when you mentioned that tire warranty. I was so worn out over all the nails ,etc.. that the tire warranty was one of those add on things at the dealership I definitely decided to go with. Coverage is for 5 years/50,000mi. All tire work covered from balance rotation and to flat repairs and road hazard, tire replacements. I got a feeling of going there soon to ask how much that "glass breakage coverage"
costs per year. I had not really noticed all the electronic looking things attached to the windshield in our SUV.
For me yep too many windshield cracks and deer attacks, not sure why it’s just constant now days.
Safelite puts a vacuum on the chip and then applies a sealant thats cured with UV light they shine. So a little more than clear nail polish.
We had two chips in two cars repaired at two different Safelite shops. One I cannot see. The other one is visible. Different type of chip? Maybe? One Safelite shop better than the other? Maybe?
I have a 2005 Jeep Unlimited (LJ) that I bought new. Like most Jeeps, it has a flat windshield, which is a definite rock magnet. I have multiple chips and several cracks. It never fails - practically every time I think of replacing it - another rock chip happens. It's a Jeep thing.
On the other hand, my wife has a 2021 Subaru Forester with the Eyesight system. We got a chip in it in June 2024, that developed into a crack. Got a quote for a windshield replacement - $1800. Seems the Eyesight system needs recalibration after windshield replacement. Been delaying replacement, due to other time-consuming things. Thought about replacing it around last Christmas and got another rock chip and crack the next day. SMH.
I need to check with my insurance company to get details on windshield replacement.
On the other hand, my wife has a 2021 Subaru Forester with the Eyesight system. We got a chip in it in June 2024, that developed into a crack. Got a quote for a windshield replacement - $1800. Seems the Eyesight system needs recalibration after windshield replacement. Been delaying replacement, due to other time-consuming things. Thought about replacing it around last Christmas and got another rock chip and crack the next day. SMH.
I need to check with my insurance company to get details on windshield replacement.
Sammy, I feel your pain. Shortly after getting my 2022 Canyon, I was traveling in NJ and got passed by a maniac in a triaxle dump truck going faster than the speed of sound. As you can imagine, a dump truck doing 100 mph with a load on will spray aggregate everywhere. Apparently he was hauling 2" stone, because one caught my new truck dead in the center. Sounded like a shotgun blast. It didn't crack, but it excavated a huge divot in the windshield.
A local place fixed it with epoxy, but it was still noticeable. Anything that requires that much epoxy would be.
The wife has a good chip in hers too. We refuse to fix it because another one will come and destroy the windshield right after.
Is it me or does this happen only on new or cherished vehicles? I've been driving either company vehicles or junk for years without any hint of damage.
A local place fixed it with epoxy, but it was still noticeable. Anything that requires that much epoxy would be.
The wife has a good chip in hers too. We refuse to fix it because another one will come and destroy the windshield right after.
Is it me or does this happen only on new or cherished vehicles? I've been driving either company vehicles or junk for years without any hint of damage.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
YES, I am finally looking to add windshield coverage to our auto policies.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
Mighty interesting. None of my work, hunting and fishing trucks nor my Bronco ever had a chip or crack. Actually none of my Chevelles either but they all had very limited road use. I mostly only drove them on weekends or to car shows.
The new vehicle.... I was driving it around with a buddy earlier that day and told him all about the dealer trying to sell me windshield protection insurance.
We laughed about it and I got the chip that very same day after dropping him at his house. Jinxed myself if I did not know better after all flats from the nails I usually catch too.
There is just so much construction work in my area and running up and down the highways they are either knocking stuff up or dropping nails, screws, broken concrete etc.... I guess we are all lucky if we can manage a chip free one these days. I know for a fact around me we never had the amount of traffic it seems like we now have all day long passing thru town. Sometimes we will think. "wow, does anyone work anymore or go to school?" Who are or how are all these people (young + older) driving all over the roads in the middle of the days
Mon thru Fri? Sorry ..... Boomer Rant: #489!
Rock hit the windshield on my new F150 today, while driving down I95 in FL. Nice big star with 1 inch cracks, right in the middle.
Ya just can't win.
Ya just can't win.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
Getting to the point we gonna need those windshields that they use in NASCAR, those poly type that are crack resistant. Probably cost a lot more than average Joe could afford...
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When I was a kid, drivers would reach out and press a palm on the inside of the windshield when rocks were flying.
I remember a tool in the early 90s which looked like a nowadays phone mount - two suction cups (or were they glued foam pads), one going on the dash - the other on the lower-middle part of the windshield. A plastic turnbuckle in the middle, that would put (very moderate) tension on the windshield from the inside. The thing was tested in a trusted magazine and actually worked. It did sort of "split" the windshield in two zones that were each able to handle stronger impacts.
I don't know at all how the physics would work on a modern windshield, but I do believe this is something that could work. Maybe there are tools that can be used by smarter people than me to model such things.
Speacking of which - maybe it does matter for the strenght of the windshield WHAT is hanging off from it at any current time. Some phone mounts are quite long and might exercise some leverage.
I remember a tool in the early 90s which looked like a nowadays phone mount - two suction cups (or were they glued foam pads), one going on the dash - the other on the lower-middle part of the windshield. A plastic turnbuckle in the middle, that would put (very moderate) tension on the windshield from the inside. The thing was tested in a trusted magazine and actually worked. It did sort of "split" the windshield in two zones that were each able to handle stronger impacts.
I don't know at all how the physics would work on a modern windshield, but I do believe this is something that could work. Maybe there are tools that can be used by smarter people than me to model such things.
Speacking of which - maybe it does matter for the strenght of the windshield WHAT is hanging off from it at any current time. Some phone mounts are quite long and might exercise some leverage.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
Well I finally have given in. I have lined up the company with the most annoying commercial jingle on radio and Tv to come do a chip repair on the 2025 Tucson in my garage this week. Estimates I found out (could be off a bit I am sure) for replacement windshield with required recalibrations run anywhere from $690 to $900+ so I am opting for the "chip repair" service they offer with at the very least some type of guarantee.
I have always gotten away with the old clear fingernail polish repair on nearly every chip we have ever had but this one has crept a bit and I do not want to chance letting it grow until I have to replace it.
I have always gotten away with the old clear fingernail polish repair on nearly every chip we have ever had but this one has crept a bit and I do not want to chance letting it grow until I have to replace it.
