Windshield Just CRACKED Today !!!

[kquickle]

While I was at work today, evidentally my windshield on my 3 week old AV decided to crack! Maybe it was from the heat today (98 degrees in the suburbs of Philadelphia.) It was the first day since I got it that I closed the inside sunroof shield (if that makes any difference). I've never left any windows ot the sunroof cracked before, and since I got it, we've probably only had about 5 days total that have been cooler than 90 degrees.

It seems like the crack is only on the outside, but starts near the bottom center of the windshield, goes up about 6", and then shoots off toward the passenger side at about a 35 degree angle for about 8"-10" more.

Anyone hear / have any similar problems with the AV windshields? I've read on here that they are considered "soft".

 

[steelheadchaser]

Do a search for "windshield" or "glass". You may have to go back 150 days or so. There have been a few of us with windshield casualties.

 

[k_favero]

i once had a windshield start to delaminate.
it started off in the bottom and grew in the shape
of a snow flake about the size of a tennis ball,in about
a week.
glass co. replaced it saying it was a defect, and that i
was lucky it did'nt shatter or have an accident.
dont know if this helps..probable not

 

[Chief]

Either it was a defect or you had a chip, possibly on the glass but below the dash where you couldn't see it and as it sat and roasted in the sun - poof! Crack. I had a chip on my S-10 turn into an 18" long crack before my eyes in the span of just 10 minutes.

If it's three weeks old I'd go to the dealer before the insurance company - but if they find a chip or star where it started - ugh just bad luck.

Please reply back - I'm interested in here what the finding is!

 

[goodwrench]

Take an ink pen and run it up the break line. If you find an indention or small hole, then it was caused by a rock chip. If no indention in the line then it is a stress crack and would be covered by warranty.

 

[ygmn]

It has been hotter than that here and no cracks from heat...probably a chip was the starting point.

 

[flynhigh]

It has been hotter than that here and no cracks from heat...probably a chip was the starting point.

Sorry to tell you but I agree with ygmn, it has been well in excess of 100 here for over a week and I have seen no problems with my windshield. Even from the stress of cool inside cabin to extreme heat outside.

Probably got a chip

 

[kquickle]

Either it was a defect or you had a chip, possibly on the glass but below the dash where you couldn't see it and as it sat and roasted in the sun - poof! ?Crack. ?I had a chip on my S-10 turn into an 18" long crack before my eyes in the span of just 10 minutes.

If it's three weeks old I'd go to the dealer before the insurance company - but if they find a chip or star where it started - ugh just bad luck.

Please reply back - I'm interested in here what the finding is!

Dealer was no help. They said that Insurance has to handle it. Insurance was more than helpful. My deductable is only $100, and I was able to pick a well-recommended local company to come out to change it out on Thursday while I'm at work.

They are switching it out for the PPG glass, which they said would have the same tint at the top as the Factory.

Upon further inspection today (after it grew another 2 inches) the crack starts at the base of the windshield - well below the level of the top edge of the hood - from the base of the black coloring across it. I just can't see how a rock or something hit that low on the windshield and missed the hood - it looks as if a rock would have had to hit it like a pop-up fly-ball.
I swear that it looks as if it started from way underneath the rubber strip along the bottom of the windshield, below the black 2" or so thick coloring along the bottom of the windshield. I am going to have the windshield guys check it out on Thursday and let me know (for my own peace of mind), but everyone that has seen it so far thinks it looks like it might have been an installation problem. I can't see / feel any chips in it at all (even though I'm not very tall, and haven't pulled out the step ladder yet to reach the center base of the windshield to double-check.)

 

[wrchism]

Ug. . . if there's absolutely no sign of a chip, I'm dissappointed in the dealer service that you got. ?Let us know what the glass supplier says - If he finds no evidence of a rock chip, I'd probably complain to the dealer, GM, etc. ?

If you've read the other threads on glass, there's some evidence that factory windshields aren't the best . . no personal experience . . yet - but Colorado's pretty famous for winter rock damage from the sand / gravel that they spread when it snows.

 

[Blueruck]

I 2nd Wrchism

My windshield has two large cracks across it and it is full of little and large pits (100's) (not pretty on a bright day)

I plan to wait until after next winter to put a new one in.

I would be upset with your dealer if the AV didn't have a chip.

 

[Congelado]

It was the first day since I got it that I closed the inside sunroof shield (if that makes any difference).

Sorry to hear about this, kquickle. Regarding the interior sunroof shield, I usually close mine whenever the Av is going to be parked for longer than 1/2 hour or so. Just checked, and no cracks (yet). Hope it works out okay with your insurance company.