weak windshield?

[ultranaut]

I have 3500 miles on my Golf and already have two large cracks in the windshield from rocks. My last car had 100,000 miles on it and no cracks. I drive the same route. I watched both rocks fly at my windshield, I was going approx. 60mph and neither seemed to hit it with exceptional force.
Am I just incredibly unlucky or is the windshield glass in the Golf exceptionally weak? Has anyone else noticed cracks forming easily?

 

[frugality]

The windshield was one piece of the 2010 Golf that was revised. It was made thicker, with an extra layer of plastic, if I remember correctly, which reduced wind noise inside the cabin.

That's a bummer if the modifications made for a weaker windscreen.

The fact that the windscreen was modified was briefly mentioned here, at about the 1:30 mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxtcVek7Ees

 

[wsktdi]

A large large rock (2-3" in diameter, more or less) bounced up off the freeway and hit my windshield at 60mph. I was shocked when it didn't shatter - it left 2 little gouges but no crack.

Glass is an amazing material - hit it one way and it takes very little to break it, hit it another and it's unaffected. Luck of the draw.

 

[frugality]

Right, but you also have a JSW, which doesn't have the new windshield. My 2000 Golf has taken some serious hits in 279k miles, and although it's peppered with tiny pock-marks, there are no substantial chips or cracks.

However, it's possible that the modifications to add more plastic to the 2010 Golf's windshield may have actually weakened it with respect to impacts. We'll have to see if this is a one-time incident above, or if it's part of a trend.

 

[eggspoogas]

I feel your pain. Rock hit my windshield the other day on my 2010 jetta. However, safelite auto glass people came to my house and repaired the crack. My insurance covered the bill without effecting my rate and all I can say is wow. I seriously can barely see it now. Now it looks like I tiny water spot with three tiny hairs going across it. I am totally amazed how good and almost invisible the crack looks now. I would give safelite a call.

 

[boerssd]

2 weeks and 2000km into our new Jetta and we had a massive crack - supposedly from a rock chip. Colour me less than impressed with it.

 

[homac]

This is so true. The window on the Golf is pretty slanted which helps. My Jeep has a much more vertical window which is a sitting duck for rocks.

A large large rock (2-3" in diameter, more or less) bounced up off the freeway and hit my windshield at 60mph. I was shocked when it didn't shatter - it left 2 little gouges but no crack.

Glass is an amazing material - hit it one way and it takes very little to break it, hit it another and it's unaffected. Luck of the draw.

 

[takebars]

I have a '10 JSW, I just noticed a crack in my windshield this morning. I had a rock chip it a couple months ago, but now I have a random crack in a completely different area. I have absolutely no idea how it could have happened, and I didn't find any points of impact. I think it is still small enough at this point to have fixed, but I'll have to see if it gets any bigger before I can get it in.

 

[adrienne]

I had a '98 Passat Wagon (gasser) before I bought my '10 JSW this January.

I have had more chips and things flying at my window in the last *four weeks* than in the 12 years/130k miles that I owned the Passat.

My fella thinks it's coincidental and random. I think there's something different in the dynamics of the front end and slant of the window.

I have four small chips and one additional that was so serious I called Safelite as soon as I got to my destination. And my insurance *doesn't* cover it.

I'm beginning to think I'm not crazy after all. =\

 

[eggspoogas]

Wow that sucks about your insurance man. Sorry to hear about that

 

[boerssd]

Well the good news for me is that at least my insurance covers it!! Yessir - right after I pay that $500 deductible on that $400 windshield - I'm good to go! Man I'm glad I pay for insurance.

 

[mysql]

in FL, windshields are fixed/replaced at no cost. It also has no effect on your insurance rates.

Because of this, if we see anyone with cracked windows, we usually assume uninsured motorist.

 

[takebars]

Ok, so the crack in my windshield was 8in long, and they can only repair up to 6in. Good news, I only have to pay $100 out of pocket. I think I am going to ask them to put a wedge plate on for the rearview mirror. That way I don't have to buy the adapter when I purchase the gentex homelink mirror. I figure I might as well take advantage of the situation to save myself a little money down the road. Just wish I still lived in Florida for this one circumstance.