Windshield cracked using defroster

[GregM]

Sounds like the same thing that I am dealing with...

Trust me when I say I feel your pain

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[jinja]

I had the opposite happen on a fairly new Honda civic. Very hot California day, probably 110. Drove the car 3 miles to get the oil changed (while blasting the AC inside), and by the time I got there, there was a crack across the entire windshield that wasn't there 3 miles ago. Didn't hit anything.... not even a pebble on the way. However, the crack did begin at a small chip in the windshield from months prior.

It happens when it's very hot or very cold, and the temp on one side is changing very rapidly.

 

[RANGER_MARC]

Took a trip from Florida to NC this past week for vacation. Woke up to 3 inches of snow so started up the truck and turned defroster on while I cleaned off the truck of snow. Went to clear off snow from windshield and as soon as I touched it it popped. Crack from side to side all along the heater area about 2 inches up from bottom of shield. Wtf. Are these shields this fragile?
Been reading other reports of shields cracking without being hit by anything and wondering why.

I have an appt for a paint issue on Tuesday. Should I let ford check this out or just get safelite to replace it? Hoping they use oem glass.

Definitely you should talk to the dealer, that is, tell the folks at your dealer what happened and demand that they replace it, free of charge for parts and labor. Not sure what the warranty says, but that should not matter: it is ridiculous that the defroster cannot be used for defrosting! Of course, having snow and/or ice on one side and hot air on the other stresses the glass, but somebody should have thought of that when they were deciding how much heat should be generated and how strong the glass needed to be....

 

[ryyck]

My son came up to Charlotte from Atlanta over Christmas. Parked his Titan on the driveway for 3 days, when he left yesterday, he used the auto start to pre warm up his truck. No problem with the windshield. I've only had cracks enlarge with defrosters - caused by previous rock damage. Good luck with the dealer.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

To my knowledge FoMoCo makes their own OEM glass, I knew a number of guys with the last Ranger design that had re-occurring glass 'issues'.. I would say check with the dealer on coverage.

 

[RANGER_MARC]

i think all the manufacturers have noted hot/cold issues since they've been doing it for a billion years in hot and cold climates
that's why things get warranties, because even the best products and practices have the select few that fail.
no need to demand anything, nor is it ridiculous.

take it in, discuss the problem and how it happened. and good luck.

Apparently, I am not the only one who finds this situation "ridiculous": https://fordauthority.com/2020/10/2...uthority exclusively,from the mid-size pickup.

 

[port43]

Apparently, I am not the only one who finds this situation "ridiculous": https://fordauthority.com/2020/10/2021-ford-ranger-will-no-longer-offer-heated-wipers/#:~:text=Last month, Ford Authority exclusively,from the mid-size pickup.

This could be the cause of all the Lariat issues; too much heat.

Side note: That white Tremor doesn't look so bad with the decals.

 

[The Donald]

I had my Ranger delivered to my local dealer from another dealer last year in December and had the giant crack along the bottom from one side to the other. I always wondered what happened, know I think I know.

 

[arhodenizer]

Well add me to this cracked windshield club Me and the wife were out yesterday after the
blizzard we just went through. First sunny day in a while and she said there is a crack in your windshield. I was like your kidding right, no wrong. When we arrived home I got out to see if it was hit with something, nope.
The crack is at the bottom runs along from the center speaker towards the driver side and dives down about 3 inches from the A pillar.
You can not feel the crack on the outside or inside. When you look from different angles it seems to be in-between the front and back.
Not a happy camper right now. OK im done ranting. Off to dealer soon

Same thing on my new 2019 ranger lariat. Ran defroster for a few minutes and windshield cracked. Ford dealer would not help me. Safelite replaced windshield and my insurance paid all but $250. I have had it with Ford. No more of their vehicles

 

[cory1848]

Same thing on my new 2019 ranger lariat. Ran defroster for a few minutes and windshield cracked. Ford dealer would not help me. Safelite replaced windshield and my insurance paid all but $250. I have had it with Ford. No more of their vehicles

My issues seems to be pretty widespread... ugh. I wonder if it will happen on the new replacement shield as well. I can only guess my dealer will say tough shit as well and I will have to use my insurance for it.

 

[cory1848]

you must have quite the story to tell, please start a thread so we can all follow the problems that have made you swear off Ford products.

Not sure where this is coming from but I share his frustration. I have had Fords since 96 and this will be my last. No more brand loyalty with the crap quality Ford is putting out. I am sure all of the other brands have similar issues but its time to try something else. I could easily make a list of why I can no longer recommend this truck to anyone. I have friends ask how I like it and I can only say that I wouldnt buy another and if a good deal came along I wouldnt hesitate trading it. This whole windshield issue is just another tick on the checklist of failures. The thing that sucks is that I reallly want that new Bronco but after this, no way can I trust Ford with $50k for a new vehicle. End of year deals with any brand don't seem to be great this year so I may be stuck with it. And that is how I feel, that I am stuck with it. I should love it, I want to love it, but I don't. Ford Tough doesn't mean anything anymore.

 

[port43]

did i miss the "ridiculous" remarks, or did you post the wrong link?

I think he's just talking about the amount of cracked windshields being "ridiculous" to the point that Ford is no longer offering the heated wipers. Even though the article doesn't mention windshield cracking being a factor for stopping the option, I am guessing that is the reason. Plausible deniability?

 

[port43]

Not sure where this is coming from but I share his frustration. I have had Fords since 96 and this will be my last. No more brand loyalty with the crap quality Ford is putting out. I am sure all of the other brands have similar issues but its time to try something else. I could easily make a list of why I can no longer recommend this truck to anyone. I have friends ask how I like it and I can only say that I wouldnt buy another and if a good deal came along I wouldnt hesitate trading it. This whole windshield sage is just another tick on the checklist of failures. The thing that sucks is that I reallly want that new Bronco but after this, no way can I trust Ford with $50k for a new vehicle. End of year deals with any brand don't seem to be great this year so I may be stuck with it. And that is how I feel, that I am stuck with it. I should love it, I want to love it, but I don't. Ford Tough doesn't mean anything anymore.

That's too bad that your experience has driven you off Ford. I have only ever owned US branded vehicles but I have never been brand loyal either - each new vehicle was always a different brand than the previous one. However, my 2012 Fusion was my first new Ford and it treated me so well that I opted to go right back to them with the Ranger and I am extremely happy that I did. I do understand your frustration but I also imagine that odds are good that sooner or later, when dealing with the same manufacturer, you are bound to wind up with a dud. For the amount these things cost, that makes it extremely frustrating.

 

[GregM]

Not sure where this is coming from but I share his frustration. I have had Fords since 96 and this will be my last. No more brand loyalty with the crap quality Ford is putting out. I am sure all of the other brands have similar issues but its time to try something else. I could easily make a list of why I can no longer recommend this truck to anyone. I have friends ask how I like it and I can only say that I wouldnt buy another and if a good deal came along I wouldnt hesitate trading it. This whole windshield issue is just another tick on the checklist of failures. The thing that sucks is that I reallly want that new Bronco but after this, no way can I trust Ford with $50k for a new vehicle. End of year deals with any brand don't seem to be great this year so I may be stuck with it. And that is how I feel, that I am stuck with it. I should love it, I want to love it, but I don't. Ford Tough doesn't mean anything anymore.

Hey Cory I wanted to ask if you can feel the crack or is it internal like mine. Still waiting for return call from dealer on how to proceed. haha

 

[cory1848]

That's too bad that your experience has driven you off Ford. I have only ever owned US branded vehicles but I have never been brand loyal either - each new vehicle was always a different brand than the previous one. However, my 2012 Fusion was my first new Ford and it treated me so well that I opted to go right back to them with the Ranger and I am extremely happy that I did. I do understand your frustration but I also imagine that odds are good that sooner or later, when dealing with the same manufacturer, you are bound to wind up with a dud. For the amount these things cost, that makes it extremely frustrating.

My last before this was an 08 Focus that I loved. Bought it with 14k miles on it and drove it 11 years and over 205K miles. Prior to that I had a 96 ranger that I loved until the AC went out, then sold it with 180K miles. I tend to keep my vehicles for 10 years and they have had only minor repairs needs. I have the 5 year 60k warranty with Ford but after that, I am scared if something happens I will have to remortgage my house to pay for it. At the rate things are going, I have no confidence it will make it past 60k without issues. The transmission alone worries me the most and is one of the most annoying things with the downshifting. I digress though...

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