2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Cracked windshield

[Sarge]

About a week ago I noticed that my windshield has a stress crack about 6 inches up from the bottom, on the drivers side. It is about 5 inches from end to end and is half moon shaped. There is no reason that the crack should have appeared, as I do not take it off road, it has not been on jacks, or have hit any pot holes. I took it to the stealer, and he looked at it, and then told me that DC had just came out with a notice saying that DC will not replace any windshields past 12 months or 12,000 miles. My truck has 24,000 miles and is a 2001. I checked my 36,000/ 3 year bumper to bumper warranty, and it says NOTHING about an exclusion for windshields. My position is too bad DC, you can't exclude a part AFTER THE WARRANY STARTS!!

Has anyone else had any experience with this type of problem?? I am supposed to see a "factory rep" next Friday and plead my case. Right now I'm cool, but I'm poised to take his head off if necessary!!! Any comments are greatly appreciated, Sarge

 

[M Barnett]

Stick to your guns, I think they will replace it. Same thing happened to me after I bought my truck and they replaced it. It was a long time ago though.

Michael

 

[GiesJ]

Sarge -

worst case scenario is that they don't replace it - check your insurance plan. Most windshield replacement shops will cover your deductible and you get new glass for 0 dollars out of your pocket. In the west, we have sand/gravel exclusively as a counter measure to icy roads. I'm on my 4th windshield.

Good luck!

Jason

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

When I had my windshield replaced, I was told by the installer that he sees a high failure rate in the Ram trucks, quite a bit higher than the GM and Ford HD trucks. Who knows if that is true or not, but the relatively weak frames these trucks have are probably contribute to it, if there is any truth to what he was saying.



One of the NW BOMBers members had his windshield pop loudly and break in several places when he was simply backing up his 5er recently.



Vaughn

 

[Sarge]

Thanks for the advice, I'll update after round 1... ... ... :-{}

 

[RJ2]

Here in Tampa ,they come to your house,install the glass and give you a box of steaks,and bill your insurance.

 

[Tardog]

Be CAREFULL with how the glass is installed, not bashing anyone but many mobile units have been found to NOT follow correct installment procedures. Your glass is a structural part of your truck. I would seriously ask for a copy of their procedure and products they use. Glass installation is a very competitve game and corners are cut. This is not saying there aren't bad shops either. good luck, cheers

 

[Timinator]

Weak frames? WHere did that come from? As vocal as we are about truck problems, frame problems are not a big issue.

 

[KEarnest]

Sarge,



I just had my cracked windshield replaced today by a mobile unit. The installer has been in the business since 1970. He went through the whole process with me while I watched. After removing the original glass, he showed me several places around the windshield frame where DC skimped on the install (which answers my question about why my windshield creaked and popped all the time) and then he showed me how his install was superior. This guy took a lot of pride in his work.



Anyway, they covered $85 of my $100 insurance deductible, so I got a new windshield for $15



-Kent

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Originally posted by Timinator

Weak frames? WHere did that come from? As vocal as we are about truck problems, frame problems are not a big issue.

The frame seems weak on my truck. When ever I drive over very uneven surfaces offroading I can hear the body structure, quad doors, dash & windshield area creak & groan in protest. I noticed if I put my finger against the edge of the window frame there is a LOT of movement between the door and cab when driving on uneven surfaces, even mildly uneven. It's probably no worse than the other makes though, my coworker has a 2001 GMC HD with supposedly "hydroformed frame" and his quad doors creak and groan pulling into parking lots. He has only 12,000 miles and I'm up to almost 80,000.



Vaughn

 

[Sarge]

I know what you mean by creaking. I hear the same noise. The test will be tomorrw when I am susposed to talk to the "factory" rep. :-{} Why do I feel like I am wasteing my time... ... ... .

 

[Eric Kahn]

the next step if the "factory" rep does not give you satisfaction would be small claims court, I am sure the judge would read your warranty and come to the same conclusion as you, that it does not exclude windshields and that DC can not change it after the sale, they can change it for units not sold, but not ones they sold before they issued the "change" order

 

[Tagalong]

Sarge,

Before I picked up the '01, we owned a '96 Ram 2500 (gas). Shortly after we purchased it I notice a crack in the windshield. It looked like a "J" and began just at the middle of the left "A" pillar. I went to the stealer because I felt it was structural! We argued, he lost (I'm an ASE Cert. Collision Repair Tech. Teacher) The Service Writer was on the ball! They replaced it for me. Take a ball point pen and trace the crack. If there is a stone chip or other "hit" the pen point will catch in it. Now here's what caused it... the glass tech that replaced the glass got talking with me... it seems that the OEM windshield setting tool presses the glass in a tiny bit too much..... not enough flex in the adhesive... . crack!!!! (The adhesive must have a specific height. ) As we talked I felt that his explanation may not have been anywhere in writing but I'll bet many people with broken Dodge Ram windshields were turned away from their dealers and told that it was a stone chip and their ins. must take care of it. This may not be gospel, but it certainly is "food for thought!"

 

[Sarge]

Just about the time I thought I had em figured out...

Well, I went to the dealer today. I was ready for war, but was cool on the outside. I met the factory rep named "Rick", who seemed like a reasonable guy. He looked at the crack while listening to my story. I also made sure I let him know that I had been to a reputable glass shop already for their opinion. Rick looked closely at the crack, and attempted to peel back the rubber on the outside of the window to look underneath (everyone that looked at the crack did the same thing). After the brief but to the point explanation, I shut up and waited for his response. After he hesitated for a moment, he looked at the service writer standing there and said "take care of it"Oo. I think the service guy was as stunned as me, because it took him a moment to respond!! I shook his hand and he walked away. The moral of the story... ..... Stick to your guns, do your research, and rely on the TDR membership for direction Thanks everyone, the new windshield goes in next week!! Sarge