The saga of a broken windshield

If curious about the crack. It’s unfortunately getting bigger since this photo

I have an after market WS in my 21 and have no problems with any of the safety features. Installed by Safelight.

After getting my Bronco, it took 2 months for my first chip to arrive on the upper driver side. It eventually spread from top to bottom. Received roughly 20 chips over the next year, no others spread until about a month ago, one spread going left to right. Now it looks ridiculous.

Finally got a new windshield two weeks ago, already 2 pits, no cracks yet.

Life of vertical windshields, get used to it.

I am waiting for a Safelite appointment to have mine replaced. USAA covered it with a $500 deductible unfortunately. the previous two chips/cracks were repairable for free. Safelite said OEM glass was the only option.

I haven't had to replace mine - YET. This is not an "if" kind a thing-it is a "when". What I had forgotten about (didn't drive a Wrangler for 5 years) is how much pitting the vertical windshields can get out in the Southwest. I saw something on FB, but didn't write it down. It was a film that goes on the outside of your windshield - probably like the Ecoshield does. But, it has a clear ceramic tint in it. It is suppose to help with chips and pitting. I don't see how anything would stop a chip. But, if this would help with the pitting, that would be awesome. Also, if the ceramic helps cut down on the heat like the ceramic tint in my front 2 windows, that would be a bonus. If I find something on this again, I will share here on this thread, if I remember. :oops:

Everglades23

If curious about the crack. It’s unfortunately getting bigger since this photo

Kind of looks like my windshield, have a crack in about the same place.

To give you a little back story, last June (or so), caught a rock on the highway, nice crack in upper right hand corner. Took awhile to get new windshield (mostly because I didn't want to pay the $500 deductible). Had windshield replaced on a friday (at work) some time in August. Oh she was beautiful. 😍 But then, driving to work that following Monday (yes 3 days later), caught another rock on the highway! 😡 Nice crack (like the one you pictured above). Since then have caught another rock (crack halfway up on passenger side) and even another, small chip about 2" diagonally up from 1st crack.

My trick, get some of that Rain X WIndshield repair! (There are other brands as well) Get a crack, fill it in, and crack won't move any further. It's activated by the sun. Thing of beauty. Now I don't bother with the stress of cracks. Is what it is at this point. I will say though, wife has had her Jeep for 6 years now, no cracks (knock on wood). In the 12 years of owning my Mustang (I know, sloped windshield), I only lost one windshield. In year and a half of owning this Bronco, 3 cracks, 1 chip 💩

EvlNvrDys

Kind of looks like my windshield, have a crack in about the same place.

To give you a little back story, last June (or so), caught a rock on the highway, nice crack in upper right hand corner. Took awhile to get new windshield (mostly because I didn't want to pay the $500 deductible). Had windshield replaced on a friday (at work) some time in August. Oh she was beautiful. 😍 But then, driving to work that following Monday (yes 3 days later), caught another rock on the highway! 😡 Nice crack (like the one you pictured above). Since then have caught another rock (crack halfway up on passenger side) and even another, small chip about 2" diagonally up from 1st crack.

My trick, get some of that Rain X WIndshield repair! (There are other brands as well) Get a crack, fill it in, and crack won't move any further. It's activated by the sun. Thing of beauty. Now I don't bother with the stress of cracks. Is what it is at this point. I will say though, wife has had her Jeep for 6 years now, no cracks (knock on wood). In the 12 years of owning my Mustang (I know, sloped windshield), I only lost one windshield. In year and a half of owning this Bronco, 3 cracks, 1 chip 💩

10 Days is all the longer I could get a replacement windshield to last in my Wranglers. LOL. So, I would do what you are doing, if the crack doesn't drive me bat :poop: crazy, then I'm not going to replace the windshield.

I will usually ignore breaks till they are obnoxious. This was obnoxious from the start.

got a chip in my Eqinox 1 month after I bought it. had it replace a few months later and that windshield all ways looked like it had a fine glitter in glass I could never get it clean, it was an After Market from Safelite. I was washing my F250 one spring day and the water from the hose was cold and the windshield was hot and cracked it had it replaced by safelite and AM windshield and it has been fine. My daily i have had a crack in the windshield from passenger to driver side just above the wipers for the past 12 years as long as it doesn't leak or obstruct my view I will leave it. don't want to jinx anything so I will stop right here. but I am thinking of giving this a go.
https://www.grab-gard.com/products/ford-bronco-windshield-protection-kit

Everglades23

Well as I’ve seen on many other threads only a short while into my ownership I have a pretty bad cracked windshield from what I assume was a massive rock on the interstate.

The most frustrating part of it was I was watching my distance between the vehicles around me and there weren’t any larger trucks around me so I don’t know what threw it up but it was LOUD and caused a huge crack that requires full windshield replacement.

My insurance unfortunately won’t cover an OEM windshield and after calling my local dealer they highly recommended sticking with the OEM windshield for other manufacturer warranty and quality guarantees. So that is frustrating.

Beyond that I called what I believe to be reputable off road after market places in town and after reading about products like exo shield thought shame on me if I don’t now protect it but they don’t stand behind products like exoshield. They indicated to me that the warranties are iffy at best with these products and that often the protection really isn’t there (and to top it off mentioned with the massive amount of pollen and spring rain we get here just looks really bad and hazy after using the wipers a good bit).

So this may just be a frustrating part of owning the Bronco. I still love it and maybe this short into ownership it’s a fluke and it never happens again but a lot of what I’ve read online and here and then talking to those I trust in this space don’t seem to agree on how to avoid or manage with products like exoshield

I would not work with Safelite. They will not fight for an OEM shield. I had to replace my F-150. I spoke to my dealer. They used a local glass company. They were abe to tell my insurance company that they had to use an OEM shield for saftey reasons. Two days later I had an OEM shield in then truck.

I opted for the ExoShield and I have taken four direct hits in five months/9000+ miles, and it has worked like a champ. My biggest gripe about this damn flat windshield is the bug splatter! Just horrible! Just broke down and installed the Ford Aero Bug deflector on the hood. Haven’t driven it a ton since the install, but I did notice a big fat bumblebee coming right at the windshield. That sucker hit the jet stream and shot straight up and over. So I am hoping this really helps out.

When we had our other vehicles sides PPF'd I talked to the installer about windscreen protection, and he suggested we not bother. Vertical windscreens are going to get cracked and chipped. I keep a repair kit in the toolbox at home and in the vehicles kit. Tried to find a kit while on a trip before and its not a fun time.

TK1215

I opted for the ExoShield and I have taken four direct hits in five months/9000+ miles, and it has worked like a champ. My biggest gripe about this damn flat windshield is the bug splatter! Just horrible! Just broke down and installed the Ford Aero Bug deflector on the hood. Haven’t driven it a ton since the install, but I did notice a big fat bumblebee coming right at the windshield. That sucker hit the jet stream and shot straight up and over. So I am hoping this really helps out.

Hello @TK1215, I wonder if the deflector's jet stream is strong enough to deflect small rock strikes. Please let us know if you notice a difference.

My dealership sold me a warranty for my windshield when I purchased my Bronco. If I remember correctly it was around $600.00. They will pay for 3 replacements. I went this direction after my insurance company told me they didn't offer a glass policy that would cover the windshield unless it was in an accident.

Mobius 1

Hello @TK1215, I wonder if the deflector's jet stream is strong enough to deflect small rock strikes. Please let us know if you notice a difference.

I can answer that one for you, no the deflector doesn't help with rocks. The tiny chip I got a few months ago is proof of that.

And, it does help slightly with bug splatter, but I still get bug guts on the windshield.

JediMcMuffin

I am waiting for a Safelite appointment to have mine replaced. USAA covered it with a $500 deductible unfortunately. the previous two chips/cracks were repairable for free. Safelite said OEM glass was the only option.

seems like Safelite may be inconsistent market to market maybe

TK1215

I opted for the ExoShield and I have taken four direct hits in five months/9000+ miles, and it has worked like a champ. My biggest gripe about this damn flat windshield is the bug splatter! Just horrible! Just broke down and installed the Ford Aero Bug deflector on the hood. Haven’t driven it a ton since the install, but I did notice a big fat bumblebee coming right at the windshield. That sucker hit the jet stream and shot straight up and over. So I am hoping this really helps out.

good to hear someone with positive things to say about exoshield. seems like only potential option from my research

EvlNvrDys

I can answer that one for you, no the deflector doesn't help with rocks. The tiny chip I got a few months ago is proof of that.

And, it does help slightly with bug splatter, but I still get bug guts on the windshield.

Thanks @EvlNvrDys, back to the thinking tank. Too bad Lexan windshields are not feasible yet.

Safelite glass is crap!!! Optically… structurally… you name it …it’s cheap less than standard glass… the problem is they have a monopoly with the insurance companies… go with OEM if you can.

I had Targe windshield protection film installed because I knew the Bronco windshield is a rock magnet ….
Anyway on route to the King of the Hammers I received a major Rock hit … however my Targe protective film minimized the damage…
After peeling back the film you could make out a slight chip/crack. Had it professionally filled … it’s not perfect… but had the Targe film not been there it would have most likely resulted in replacing the windshield.

It’s kind of like a screen cover for your cell phone…

Targe made good and installed another protective film…. More than happy with them… totally stand up company.

Pic below my Bronco windshield after a severe rock strike (with Targe film installed)… other pics of Targe reinstalling another protective film. Following pics of peeled back film damage…

Final pic is after the Targe protective film has been added aka today👍🏼😁.

Summary: These companies … which includes Targe that test their products firing 99mph pellet gun/BB gun at test glass… is definitely misleading… they can still be damaged by rock strikes….
The only thing is …..
typical pitting and such from normal wear and tear of driving can be completely protected…. So… after a couple years of pitting you can remove/replace the Targe protective film and start out from square one with a new windshield….
At around $100.00 - $200.00 glass insurance deductible plus differential of OEM Windsheild cost….It’s a better deal…(financially speaking)

Still I think it is worth the investment for saving your original glass…obviously in my case I won’t be able to turn back the hands of time…
I will always have a souvenir from KOH.

So…if you could care less about that and put in cheap Safelite glass….and pay the 1-200 dollar glass deductible….then clearly this protective film its not for you…. It’s considerably cheaper to just keep replacing the crappy glass with more cheap crappy glass.