Windshield Cracked While Washing Car
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: California
Windshield Cracked While Washing Car
This was a novel experience. I was washing my 6 week old SC430 this morning on the driveway around 9:00 a.m. (sunny and 69 degrees) when I heard a noise I'd never heard before. It turned out to be the windshield cracking; a 12" vertical line starting at the header right in the center, then a zag to the driver side about 8" (in the shape of an "L" of all things!) Has anyone heard about this before??
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by Pinball
This was a novel experience. I was washing my 6 week old SC430 this morning on the driveway around 9:00 a.m. (sunny and 69 degrees) when I heard a noise I'd never heard before. It turned out to be the windshield cracking; a 12" vertical line starting at the header right in the center, then a zag to the driver side about 8" (in the shape of an "L" of all things!) Has anyone heard about this before??
The exact same thing happened to me with my '05 about 3 months after I picked it up from the dealer in the exact same spot. Since then, I have had 2 other windshields replaced due to stress cracking. BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT COMPANY YOU USE TO REPLACE IT!. My insurance company uses Safelite Auto Glass and they ended up causing $1100 in damages to the interior and exterior moldings which they are now paying my body shop to have fixed. Watch out for poor alignment of the outside body moldings as they should sit flush with the top.
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by ARISTO*7
WOW! sorry to hear about your windshield
MultiTasking Mom
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: California
that is really odd; could something like this be covered under warranty? 6 wks old! 
if not, why not get the windshield replaced by the dealer and pay the deductible to your insurance company. i've messed with outside windshield companies and even though they claim it's the exact same part, they never install it as well (we've only done this once to an old honda accord, and you'd think it would be perfect given the # of accords out there, but they did a terrible job with the moldings) since then, i've had a GS windshield replaced by dealer and paid the $500 ded to AAA.
if not, why not get the windshield replaced by the dealer and pay the deductible to your insurance company. i've messed with outside windshield companies and even though they claim it's the exact same part, they never install it as well (we've only done this once to an old honda accord, and you'd think it would be perfect given the # of accords out there, but they did a terrible job with the moldings) since then, i've had a GS windshield replaced by dealer and paid the $500 ded to AAA.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: California
Sorry to hear about your windshield. I am on my third windshield and I have had my SC for less than a year. Unfortunately both times they have cracked has been from a small pebble hitting the bottom in the black area. I do have windshield coverage on my insurance and have only had to pay $100 each time. I have always asked for OEM glass even thought I get hassled about that (the Lexus windshield cost a lot more than the aftermarket). I hope that this does not happen again. I am almost afraid to drive it on the freeway anymore.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by mlbpbg
The exact same thing happened to me with my '05 about 3 months after I picked it up from the dealer in the exact same spot. Since then, I have had 2 other windshields replaced due to stress cracking. BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT COMPANY YOU USE TO REPLACE IT!. My insurance company uses Safelite Auto Glass and they ended up causing $1100 in damages to the interior and exterior moldings which they are now paying my body shop to have fixed. Watch out for poor alignment of the outside body moldings as they should sit flush with the top.
This is not a good news to hear.... Any other 05' owner has this issue? I think if you take the car back to the dealership and show them there is no rock chip mark when the crack line is then the dealership should cover it under warranty. If it happens to a few people, maybe this might be a potential defected windshield that Lexus put on those SC....
Any input??? Henry??? or other people?
Any input??? Henry??? or other people?
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by GSXOTIC
This is not a good news to hear.... Any other 05' owner has this issue? I think if you take the car back to the dealership and show them there is no rock chip mark when the crack line is then the dealership should cover it under warranty. If it happens to a few people, maybe this might be a potential defected windshield that Lexus put on those SC....
Any input??? Henry??? or other people?
Any input??? Henry??? or other people?
wow, wha?! this is odd man, i can't believe how washing a car in a normal day could be a problem, unless it's a manufacturing defect (say on stress point or so, which is very vulunable to heat)
and in any case, no need to use your own insurance. stuff like these they should be covered under warranty for sure.
damn that's scary.... now i feel scared washing my car @_@
and in any case, no need to use your own insurance. stuff like these they should be covered under warranty for sure.
damn that's scary.... now i feel scared washing my car @_@
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 370
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From: CA
Take a ball point pen and run it down the crack. If it does catch anywhere (rock chip) then you should be able to have it replaced under warranty. We had a windshield crack on our '00 E-Class and they replaced it no problem.
Smells to me like there was abnormal stress on the windshield. You really should have the whole mounting surface inspected for abnormalities before allowing a new windshield to be mounted.
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From: California
Windshield Update
Hi Guys - I dropped the car off at Longo today and they have agreed to cover it under warranty. As to the "pen" test, the advisor identified a tiny (as in half the size of a pinhead; that's right, 1/2 the size of a pinhead; nearly invisible!) impact area that may have allowed this to happen. While it's comforting that they are covering it under warranty, this seems like a real design problem. If the integrity of the windshield can be so easily compromised, has too much of the structural integrity of the car been placed in this area? Thanks for everyone's support! Paul