Well, I finally got my Zaino...so I go to wash my car first, to then be followed up by claybar. Well, it was probably about 70 degrees, 2:30ish, so sun was fairly "hot" overhead.

After spraying down the car, giving it a scrub, I get to the windshield...and see about a FOOT long jagged crack starting from 1" from the bottom of the windshield, to the middle.

Now am I stupid for washing the car in the "heat" like that? I've always washed my cars that way...

That crack was definitely not there before the wash, and I hadn't driven on a freeway for over a week. The spot that it looks like it originally fractured at has a small, what looks like impact point. However rather than being a chip, the outside of the glass is untouched at that point, the "chip" is on the interior?

Covered by warranty? Or am I out the several hundred bucks on my 3 week old '8...

 

I wonder if this guys windshield will be covered under warranty.
Cracked windshield

- Mike

 

It probably will not be covered by your warranty, but most likely will be covered by your insurance with little or no deductible and it usually does not impact your rates either.

 

insurance will pay for it at no charge to you, no deductable for that type of comp. coverage which glass is considered.

 

Oh Deer! :D

 

Go to the dealership and check! Mine was covered under warranty when it cracked. Similar to your situation there were not any situations in which a rock or pebble hit it. I woke up and went out one day and noticed a foot long crack in the windshield. The only thing I could tlhink of that might have caused it was there were a few drastic temperature changes in this particular area around the time it happened.

 

If the crack is not from impact it might be covered. My friends Cooper S windshield cracked 4 times and was covered all 4 times by the warranty. Something with the windshield frame or chassis stressed the windshield and it would break.

 

Mine cracked, yesterday. Started on the top just in front of the driver and curves down to the right, about 8". Has since grown about 4" more. No temp swings (spring So Calif) and occured over night! One really minor rock strike about 2/3 down from the crack, but just a 1/16" nick, penetrating only 1/8 of the glass. If the crack doesn't grow much, will wait until my 22.5K maintenance to have it fixed. Will call dealer tomorrow, to see if they want to see it sooner.

 

I would go sooner since I'm not sure how many windsheilds are available in the US and I know at least one more person is looking for one...

 

Windshield is not covered under warranty. Trust me have the same problem.

 

Well..... At the temps you are referring to, it should have never done that. Even if you threw Ice water on it.

If there is absolutley no chips in the glass or any kind of strike of an object near the trim where the crack starts, then I would definitely be seeing the dealer.

As for just letting insurance do it.... Not all insurance co. will just replace the glass because of the comprehensive coverage. You'll have to see what your comprehensive deductible is and what your policy states.

 

I think the windshields are defective. There seems like too many people with cracked windshields here. Yes I know tens of thousands of owners with perfectly fine windshields are not posting about their fine windows. But even one out of a thousand seems to be to high of a failure rate. I have a 14-16 inch crack and the dealer pointed to a chip near one end. Well I have tons of small chips all over my windshield, so pick any random spot to lay a 14 inch piece of string and there's going to be a chip someplace close. See this thread also https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...202#post392202

I hope the ppg glass is better than the OEM.

 

I have the same crack.

 

Mine is very similar, but come from the top, about the same distance from the corner as yours, then goes left, from the view of your photo. Went for a brief drive, then came out a few hours later and the crack was there. No evidence anywhere near the crack of any impacts. Very strange & upsetting. Will visit dealer, soon. Saw another post -> https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=1 where they mentioned PPG. If that is aftermarket, then do they imbed the radio antenna?

 

Mine is just like Speed-ER doc, but from the passenger side. I drove to work, parked in the covered garage, no crack when I left the car, came back to the car 6-7 hours later (I started late that day), and the crack was there. There was not a big temperature fluctuation that day, maybe low of 60 high of 74?

I thought the antenna was in the rear glass. But the glass place did need to know if I had the auto dim mirror, I do.

 

I didn't have any impact either that I was aware of, just came outside after work and there it was. I'm going to wait until I have to get it inspected in case there is a TSB/recall/warranty fix because I don't think there was a rock. Sounds like too many of us with the same problem...

 

Ok here's another question.

1. The stock strut tower brace only goes from tower to tower and not a 4 point design going to the firewall also, right?

2. Have you added an aftermarket strut tower brace that is the 4 point design going to the firewall?

Reason I am asking these questions, is not all cars are happy running a 4 point strut tower brace. As soon as you add the extra stress to the firewall by adding a 4 point strut tower brace, windshields become very un-happy and crack.

Just some points to ponder.

 

My car is completly stock as of right now. Haven't touched it. And my crack looks almost EXACTLY like Speeder's...except coming from the bottom of the passenger side.

I checked my insurance, my deductible is the same...my dealer quoted me $650 to replace the damn thing. Thats money that could be going towards a million other things =/

Before I do anything, I plan to go to a dealer and raise a little fuss if need be.

 

this sounds fishy

 

I suggest we create an organized letter to Mazda requesting warranty coverage for this obvious defect. If this many cracks start at the pillar, there is a problem.

 

A poll on the forum would provide more visibility (no pun intended ) into how widespread this problem is.

rx8cited

 

Good idea. I'll start it.

Please reply to the poll here if you have this problem.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=30427

 

doc,
I don't frequent the dark side where the polls are and missed that you edited your post let us know where it is. For anyone else that missed it: ---> Speed-ER doc's Windshield cracked poll<---.

rx8cited