Windshield crack journal

[Shiloh JT]

I discovered my windshield crack one morning, after a day trip to a local beach the day prior.
The crack starts at the base of the windshield, and runs about 8" upwards toward the driver's side "A" pillar.
There is not a chip anywhere in the glass to indicate a point of impact.
That said, I was quoted about $150 to complete the repair from Safelite, and drove an hour to their VA facility the following day.
I was promptly told that the windshield could not be repaired, and that it would be roughly $650 to replace it.
Additionally, I discovered that this was a common problem on the Jeep JK and JL/JT models, and when I returned home I discovered the Jeep Crack Club on this very forum.
As someone who has been around a while, and has owned vehicles from many manufacturers, I find the crack to be inconsistent with what I would expect in a vehicle professed to be ready to conquer just about anything, let alone a leisurely drive to the local beach.
I also don't buy into the "It's a Jeep Thing" mentality, or that flat windshields are inherently weaker than curved ones.
If that is the case, they should have made them stronger, given the nature of the vehicle, and I also find it suspicious that there is now a Gorilla Glass option out there, perhaps an attempt to bury this crack issue by feeding upon the Jeep owner's insatiable propensity to modify and upgrade their vehicles.
Nonetheless, the next step was to file a warranty claim with Jeep Customer Care, siting the windshield to be sub-standard / defective, to which I was given a prompt reply of "call your insurance company", all the while being refused the opportunity to submit any evidence to make my case.
I followed up by opening a case with NCDS, which is supposedly a mediator for Jeep warranty disputes, and from whom I received the exact reply that I did from Jeep, interestingly, verbatim.
Long story short, I am prepared to pursue this issue until I feel that I have been met with the level of respect befitting a member of the "Jeep Family", the one I was told about upon taking possession of the truck.

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[Seansmd]

I discovered my windshield crack one morning, after a day trip to a local beach the day prior.
The crack starts at the base of the windshield, and runs about 8" upwards toward the driver's side "A" pillar.
There is not a chip anywhere in the glass to indicate a point of impact.
That said, I was quoted about $150 to complete the repair from Safelite, and drove an hour to their VA facility the following day.
I was promptly told that the windshield could not be repaired, and that it would be roughly $650 to replace it.
Additionally, I discovered that this was a common problem on the Jeep JK and JL/JT models, and when I returned home I discovered the Jeep Crack Club on this very forum.
As someone who has been around a while, and has owned vehicles from many manufacturers, I find the crack to be inconsistent with what I would expect in a vehicle professed to be ready to conquer just about anything, let alone a leisurely drive to the local beach.
I also don't buy into the "It's a Jeep Thing" mentality, or that flat windshields are inherently weaker than curved ones.
If that is the case, they should have made them stronger, given the nature of the vehicle, and I find it suspicious that there is now a Gorilla Glass option out there, perhaps an attempt to bury this crack issue by feeding upon the Jeep owner's insatiable propensity to modify and upgrade their vehicles.
Nonetheless, the next step was to file a warranty claim with Jeep Customer Care, siting the windshield to be sub-standard / defective, to which I was given a prompt reply of "call your insurance company", all the while being refused the opportunity to submit any evidence to make my case.
I followed up by opening a case with NCDS, which is supposedly a mediator for Jeep warranty disputes, and from whom I received the exact reply that I did from Jeep, interestingly, verbatim.
Long story short, I am prepared to pursue this issue until I feel that I have been met with the level of respect befitting a member of the "Jeep Family", the one I was told about upon taking possession of the truck.

I saw a youtube vid with LiteBrite that mentioned and aftermarket windshield that has stood up much beating. I can't remember the mfg.

 

[5JeepsAz]

Welcome to the family!

 

[ALVagabond]

My Jeep wrangler had 2 windshields crack and get replaced in 1 month a couple summers ago. Jeeps are notorious for cracked windshields.

 

[Hootbro]

Good luck, you are pissing in the wind on this battle. No one is going to write on your tombstone about this tale.

 

[Sorbs]

$650 is robbery. Use a local installer. Replaced mine for $330 on my JL, aftermarket glass now w/15k miles no break; and when I bought my JTR, paid for a glass warranty, $550. Replaced my JTR glass 10k miles ago, warranty covers 4 more full replacements.

I hear you, factory glass is made of eggshells, but it also depends on where you live. Here in Colorado windshield glass is a consumable. If the 18-wheelers in the fast lane or road gravel doesn’t get you, hail will.

 

[Mjolnir]

Unless you got the added glass warranty from the dealership you're shit out of luck.

It is not so much flat windshields are weaker, it's simple physics. Rock hitting dead on with full momentum vs glancing off.

There is an issue with the windshields but you won't get dick until a class action lawsuit happens. Keep your receipts and once it does get in to get a full refund.

Boy do I love happy endings

 

[Clendennan]

Looking for the update to this

So ... have you "met with the level of respect befitting a member of the "Jeep Family" yet?

 

[Shiloh JT]

Looking for the update to this

So ... have you "met with the level of respect befitting a member of the "Jeep Family" yet?

Absolutely not.
As my NC state inspection was up at the end of September, I went ahead and replaced the windshield with an aftermarket unit, and my daughter made me a custom Easter Egg for the passenger side lower corner. So, all's well with the Jeep again.
Love the truck but I will not be contacting "Jeep Cares" any time soon, not even for the current open recall on the clutch.
I will simply go it alone from here on in, and save myself the time, energy, and frustration.

 

[cecaa850]

I've had broken windshields on Porsches, BMW's and GM products. Jeep doesn't have the market cornered on this. They're just worse because the glass stands almost straight up. I have to clean the bugs off the windshield of my JT 2 to 3 times more often than anything else I own due to the orientation of the glass. I get more bugs and rock chips on this vehicle than anything I've ever owned but I'm certainly not shocked nor do I think that we have defective glass.

 

[cecaa850]

There is not a chip anywhere in the glass to indicate a point of impact.

I'd be willing to bet there is. Normally right below the wiper. Raise the wiper away from the glass. Take a ball point pen and put the ball at the top of the crack and follow it downward with the pen while keeping the ball in the crack. You'll feel it grab or catch where the rock hit it.

 

[Higher_Ground]

So, with every other vehicle I've owned, the insurance will repair or replace "auto safety glass" at no charge. I think it may be a state mandated thing... or at least I hope it is. I don't remember seeing a "this doesn't apply to Jeeps" clause in my declarations.

(looks it up)

It seems only South Carolina, Kentucky, and Florida have the free windshield replacement clause. Small concession for all the other things we put up with, but one less thing to worry about.

 

[cecaa850]

So, with every other vehicle I've owned, the insurance will repair or replace "auto safety glass" at no charge. I think it may be a state mandated thing... or at least I hope it is. I don't remember seeing a "this doesn't apply to Jeeps" clause in my declarations.

(looks it up)

It seems only South Carolina, Kentucky, and Florida have the free windshield replacement clause. Small concession for all the other things we put up with, but one less thing to worry about.

In TX ins will pay for a chip repair for free. Windshield replacement is subject to a deductible. People bitch about the price of a Jeep glass. Try an OEM Porsche windshield, LOL.

 

[Jeep350]

I discovered my windshield crack one morning, after a day trip to a local beach the day prior.
The crack starts at the base of the windshield, and runs about 8" upwards toward the driver's side "A" pillar.
There is not a chip anywhere in the glass to indicate a point of impact.
That said, I was quoted about $150 to complete the repair from Safelite, and drove an hour to their VA facility the following day.
I was promptly told that the windshield could not be repaired, and that it would be roughly $650 to replace it.
Additionally, I discovered that this was a common problem on the Jeep JK and JL/JT models, and when I returned home I discovered the Jeep Crack Club on this very forum.
As someone who has been around a while, and has owned vehicles from many manufacturers, I find the crack to be inconsistent with what I would expect in a vehicle professed to be ready to conquer just about anything, let alone a leisurely drive to the local beach.
I also don't buy into the "It's a Jeep Thing" mentality, or that flat windshields are inherently weaker than curved ones.
If that is the case, they should have made them stronger, given the nature of the vehicle, and I also find it suspicious that there is now a Gorilla Glass option out there, perhaps an attempt to bury this crack issue by feeding upon the Jeep owner's insatiable propensity to modify and upgrade their vehicles.
Nonetheless, the next step was to file a warranty claim with Jeep Customer Care, siting the windshield to be sub-standard / defective, to which I was given a prompt reply of "call your insurance company", all the while being refused the opportunity to submit any evidence to make my case.
I followed up by opening a case with NCDS, which is supposedly a mediator for Jeep warranty disputes, and from whom I received the exact reply that I did from Jeep, interestingly, verbatim.
Long story short, I am prepared to pursue this issue until I feel that I have been met with the level of respect befitting a member of the "Jeep Family", the one I was told about upon taking possession of the truck.

Excellent post. I experienced the same type crack today without an impact point. Disappointed that Jeep not standing by this common issue.

 

[KVJ]

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