Cracked Windshield Advice Wanted

[Gearman]

Safelite........ I say stay away.

My last car, installer shattered during removal of old windshield. didnt clean up inside the car, broken glass everywhere. Scratch all the paint around the windshield opening. 1 year old car. I was very unhappy with how they handled.

New aftermarket windshield, they couldnt get cameras to calibrate correctly, lane departure never worked right again. When I asked for a OEM glass replacement, they said they dont use OEM, only aftermarket.

I personally will never take a vehicle back to safelite.

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[CrispyTacoLover]

Safelite........ I say stay away.

My last car, installer shattered during removal of old windshield. didnt clean up inside the car, broken glass everywhere. Scratch all the paint around the windshield opening. 1 year old car. I was very unhappy with how they handled.

New aftermarket windshield, they couldnt get cameras to calibrate correctly, lane departure never worked right again. When I asked for a OEM glass replacement, they said they dont use OEM, only aftermarket.

I personally will never take a vehicle back to safelite.

Where do you take it?

 

[maxx075]

Where do you take it?

I called like 4 different local installers and went with the cheapest.

 

[Gearman]

Anywhere that will install OEM glass

or dealer

 

[CanyonFisherSummitSeeker]

Got hit with a rock on the highway that cracked the windshield. My insurance company steered me to Safelite and I have an appointment next week. I asked for OEM glass which they said they would install. However in checking with my local Toyota dealer, I was told windshields are on a long back order. What are people’s thoughts on if I get to Safelite next week and they can only install a non OEM windshield? Also, does anyone have any experience with Safelite in terms of quality, etc? It looks like this will be quite a job with all the cameras and sensors, it’s no longer just a piece of glass like the old days.

I got my one and only chipped windshield in a decade or more about a month after buying my truck last year. Insurance recommended safelite and they came out and completely shattered my window. I’ve seen chips repaired before with very precise drills or light gentle taps and this guy literally punched my window with a tool that looked like it was meant to bust through a windshield. Tiny chip turned to spiderweb shatter. I didn’t even get the standard lecture about how this could possibly make things worse. I knew that, but wasn’t expecting him to use a tool like that and would have refused if I knew that was his plan. Could have done a better job on my own.

I’ll never use them again. Looked up reviews for local glass companies and had a wonderful experience. Just my two cents.

Edit: the glass guy I used advocated for OEM glass at no extra cost. He said usually if car is under two years he’s able to get insurance to use OEM.

 

[EastonTaco]

I have a 2024 Tacoma TRD Offroad Premium. I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We have a couple of high speed roads that are bad for kicking up winter salt and gravel and busting windshields. Front glass insurance coverage is always extra. I opted for it and sure enough, I got a large crack during a drive in the winter. I went through the insurance in April and their recommended glass shop informed me that there is no aftermarket glass available for my truck, so they had to order OE from Toyota. It finally came in last week but they said it was damaged in transit. They reordered it and (optimistically) estimated a late July delivery and install. I don't understand why Toyota is so backlogged with factory parts, not just windshields. They seem to be dropping the ball on that side of their business.

To me it seems they are focusing more on building new trucks than supplying needed parts to their existing customers. Perhaps trying to get as many trucks into the US as future tariffs possibly loom ahead.

 

[EastonTaco]

Safelite........ I say stay away.

My last car, installer shattered during removal of old windshield. didnt clean up inside the car, broken glass everywhere. Scratch all the paint around the windshield opening. 1 year old car. I was very unhappy with how they handled.

New aftermarket windshield, they couldnt get cameras to calibrate correctly, lane departure never worked right again. When I asked for a OEM glass replacement, they said they dont use OEM, only aftermarket.

I personally will never take a vehicle back to safelite.

Yikes!

 

[EastonTaco]

As a follow-up, my windshield arrived at Safelite in Whitehall (Allentown) two weeks earlier than expected. I went there today and it was installed with no problems within 90 minutes. I am very happy with the service I received from Safelite, including keeping me posted on the order status from Toyota.

 

[Gear_yyc]

For others that look at this thread in the future, just something of note: If you are LEASING your vehicle, check the contract. Some require OEM glass on it when it's returned at the end of the lease or you're left paying for a new OEM windshield (BMW has this requirement).

In Calgary, everyone goes through windshields quickly and my own experience is that quality of aftermarket glass varies heavily by the manufacturer. Typically PGW, Pilkington and I think XYG are typically quite good quality with minimal distortion.

 

[EastonTaco]

For others that look at this thread in the future, just something of note: If you are LEASING your vehicle, check the contract. Some require OEM glass on it when it's returned at the end of the lease or you're left paying for a new OEM windshield (BMW has this requirement).

In Calgary, everyone goes through windshields quickly and my own experience is that quality of aftermarket glass varies heavily by the manufacturer. Typically PGW, Pilkington and I think XYG are typically quite good quality with minimal distortion.

Great advice! This was not the case here and I don't think there is aftermarket glass for Gen 4 Tacos yet. Also, I own the truck for the long haul. However definitely something I did not consider or even know about since we at times lease my wife's cars. Thank you.

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