Cracked Windshield
 

So I was driving to work on Friday when all of a sudden the windshield starts cracking. I have a nice crack about where drivers side windshield wiper is. Its about 17 inches in length. I checked no stone chip. It would have to have been a heck of a stone. Actually I saw the crack grow before my eyes. It was surreal. Obviously a stress crack and a faulty windshield. I took it into the dealership. I explained that it just appeared before my eyes, no stone. They came out and ran a pen along it looking for chips I suppose. Anyway some photos were taken. They sent it off to Jeep. Today told they needed a few more pics. A three quarter shot with my plate and the VIN number from two locations of the vehicle. No problem. By the time I got home a message on phone said it was approved and they'd set up a time this week to replace front windshield glass. Anyone ever heard of this or experienced it?

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

Greetings,
Wow Quarryman, good dealer service! It could well have been a faulty windshield. It doesn't take much to initiate a crack in glass. Any microscopic fault is a potential fracture site. It could be that there was a fault at one of the edges of the windshield, from new, where a crack started and propagated.
The fact that the crack grew before your eyes suggests there was some strain/pressure somewhere. Possibly the frame was too tight at one spot or just the temperature difference between the inside and the outside or even just the wind buffeting whilst driving down the road.
Glass is wonderful yet strange stuff. Ask me about it sometime.....
Peter.

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

Thanks. Peter I'd love to learn more about this. I'll take a pic and post it as the crack follows a strange path begins at bottom edge near centre of windshield and then migrates to driver side edge then moveves downward towards bottom edge again.

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

Actually ALL Jeeps are prone to cracked windshields due to their angle (stones don't bounce off like a car windshield). Cracks are generally started by a stone bruise but a small chip at the very edge of the glass will also start a crack. Cold weather coupled with the heater on will quickly make a crack appear and grow before your eyes no stress or tension on the glass required, just sudden temperature change.. You are fortunate that the dealer is changing it for you, but be forewarned, be prepared to change your windshield frequently, they are stone magnets. I am on my original windshield, but I have no less then 15 stone chips and a small crack all were sealed within a day of happening before cracks could ------..
FYI if you should get a stone chip refrain from using the defroster on high heat until the chip can be sealed/repaired... We have 3 Jeeps in the family, 2 have major cracks because my son and daughter didn't bother to get them in fast enough for repair after a stone bruise..

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

I've had mine crack right up the middle in the winter. Didn't see it happen but it was cold out and I had the heat cranked up. Came out after work and had the crack.

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

Morning all,
JT, there IS stress involved with crack propagation in the winter with the heater on-thermal stress. I've cut/trimmed/worked more glass, of many types, than I care to remember. I worked for 35 years at NRC in the capacity of Scientific Glassblower. As I mentioned, glass is wonderful yet strange stuff.
You're absolutely right about stone bruises and edge cracks. As soon as a piece of glass comes off the production line, the surface is attacked by contaminants in the air thereby weakening it from the get-go. Add surface defects, or bruises and chips and it is further weakened eventually to the point of failure if enough stress is applied to initiate said failure.
You're also right about having chips etc. repaired ASAP and as far as your kids go.....mine are exactly the same BUT gotta love 'em.
Funny story...Had a star crack in my K-car windshield many years ago, and an auto glass outfit came to my parking lot for repair. The technician did his thing and then proceeded to heat the area with a small butane torch. I mentioned he might not want to apply so much heat in such a small area but he assured me he knew what he was doing. Hmmmm.....the "repaired" stone chip ran in about 10 different directions at once leaving the poor fellow scratching his head. "No charge sir"...I then gave him a tour of my lab.
I felt a bit PO'd but at the same time a bit sorry for the lad. Hopefully he learned something that day.
Peter.

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

Yep,happened to me last winter,sitting in traffic early morn,lo and behold a crack appeared before my eyes-about 20 inches in length.
1 week later,exact same scenario-crack on passenger side.I chalked it up to being very cold,coupled with the heater on low defrost=cracked windshield.
I still haven't changed it.It's 214$ installed-I figured I'll go through another winter before replacing.
And yeah,these windshields are rock magnets,every other day I get a rock or stone bouncing off the glass.oh well..I still love my Jeep!

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

Dealership will replace this coming Monday. Have to say they've been good about it. I wonder if they'll let me keep the old windshield. I'd like to put it in a frame to hang over my bar.

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

I very recently purchased a 2021 Gladiator Landover. It's my Wife's baby. It gets much TLC and she drives it to the grocery store. The truck was in immaculate condition when it was parked in the garage. We opened the garage door to find a 12" horizontal Crack across the driver's side of the windshield. There is absolutely no impact mark what so ever.. INSANE!!!!
we were scheduled for our 1st oil change at 3500 miles, so we took it to the dealer where we purchased it. Upon 1st inspection, the service tech confirmed that he saw 0 impact so we left the truck for the service. Upon returning to the dealership, we were told that there was nothing that they could do for us and it would cost us for a replacement windshield.
I am very disappointed and wish to pursue this matter as a warranty or faulty part issue

Re: Cracked Windshield
 

"Sizemoreelectric" Contact Chrysler direct. as what your receiving for a reply from your dealership is BS. you have a NEW truck