Cracked Windshield due to Pressure/Temp change

[PolarVortex]

About a week ago when we had really low temps here in VA, it was about 10 degrees one morning. Started to drive up my driveway, after my Bronco had been slightly warmed up, climate control on, front defroster on etc, and I heard a crack. Looked at my windshield and watched as a crack steadily got longer and longer, about a foot and a half long after it was done. It's low, not directly in my road field of view thankfully, in the shape of a handlebar mustache so stopped/contained on left and right and then down on each side so it can't expand any further. Glass not covered under my warranty but I'm getting a factory replacement today installed under my insurance plan with zero deductible (through Safelite).

Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen in their Bronco or any other vehicle for that matter - guessing just an extreme temp change from cold to warm but it's never happened to me before.

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[HighVelocity]

Yep, happened to me a couple weeks ago in Missoula. Big crack going from top right, down to about midway in the windshield and ending about 3" from the edge of the left.

I'm not going to bother replacing it until at least Summer. It would likely just happen again.

It's happened before in my Jeeps. Part of the 'ownership experience', I guess.

 

[PolarVortex]

Thanks to Peetuhr - here's his post too:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...windshield-cracked-with-weather-change.61775/

Ford - please address thanks!

 

[rayhil67]

This same thing happened to me last year, I got a chip in windshield over summer I quickly glued it and all was fine till cold day in September and I turned on the defrost and watched it crack right across the whole windshield

 

[Ducati1098]

Happened to me also. However, I already had a small chip, so I wasn’t surprised when it happened.

 

[frdfan]

Had it happen on an F150 a few years ago. and my mom just had it happen last weekend on her Ford Edge.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Getting a dealer to cover it will be a chore, I'm sure but it's nice to know this....

Windshields are covered under 12/12 for stress cracks, so even though it’s probably a rare occurrence, it happens. Hopefully your dealer can get it taken care of for you.

 

[FoxFour281]

I've had both windshields crack in cooler temps. In both cases the cracks started from really tiny rock chips that was close to the edge of the glass.

 

[Ducati1098]

Getting a dealer to cover it will be a chore, I'm sure but it's nice to know this....

I was lucky because I still had the windshield adhesion recall open on mine, so I got a new one for free. Also got Ford to pay for my window tint I already had installed.

 

[Steed76]

Chances are if you take an ink pen and trace the crack to both ends you'll find the POI its likely a chip that you didn't know you even had. I've seen it several times.

 

[PolarVortex]

Getting a dealer to cover it will be a chore, I'm sure but it's nice to know this....

Thanks but already checked with my dealer and they said I didn't have extra glass coverage. But it's ok my insurance is covering it free of charge. I had choice between aftermarket and a genuine Ford one like I have now (with "Bronco" and "1966" on it) so that's what I'm getting installed today. Though now I'm wondering if I should have just gotten aftermarket! LOL

 

[HighVelocity]

Though now I'm wondering if I should have just gotten aftermarket!

No. Never.

 

[flip]

Stress cracks are 12mo/12,000 miles. The hard part for the dealer is proving it is a stress crack so Ford pays the claim. If it is a stress crack, you have to find the root cause (glass not centered in opening and contacting frame, some other hard object or trim putting pressure on glass) or it could happen again. There have been some outside cases of some A-pillars not being welded well to the roof or cowl panels which let everything flex and eventually crack but that was years ago.

 

[Dan-O]

Most likely small chip that went unnoticed. It will happen with extreme heat in AZ summers

 

[SubmarineNuke]

My first windshied crack came drom driving down the interstate with the back windows off...heard a snap, and few seconds later saw the crack. Not a pop like a rock hit it, no chip, just a snap and the crack started. Few months later I'm washing the Bronco and it went all the way top to bottom...replaced shortly thereafter.

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