Weak or thin windshield that chips/cracks easily causing visibility issues at night/rain/snow etc.
I was driving down there highway in utah with no vehicles in front of me. i heard a loud cracking noise come from the passenger side upper corner of the windshield. i stopped and inspected the windshield and did not see and chips or cracks. i kept driving on the highway for approximately 4 hours and when i stopped i noticed a 4 inch crack in the upper area of the passenger side where the original cracking noise came from. there was significant temperature fluctuations this past week while in utah (30f at night and 60-65f during the day). the highway was smooth (not bumpy or rough). it was a clear and sunny day.
The windshield seems to be brittle. rock chips develop into long cracks that continue lengthening within weeks. rock chips cannot be repaired without further cracking continuing. one technician tried six times to repair a crack. the windshield had to be replaced for $802.13 and a claim filed with insurance. within 14 months the windshield has developed a snacking crack that is continuing to grow from a rock chip again. it's concerning that another insurance claim will need to be filed and that the windshield can not withstand normal rock chips. it is also concerning how the windshield will perform in an accident. also the required windshield to maintain 'eyesight' is not affordable without filing an insurance claim. the chips develop when driving 50-65 miles an hour on the highway.
We noticed a tiny chip in the windshield one day. we did not see or hear it happen and it was too small to repair (no bubble to fill), so we had no choice but to leave it alone and hope it didn't spread. a few weeks later the weather changed and it became a 2ft long crack across the driver's side of the windshield. the dealer told me today that the manufacturer would cover it only if the crack originated from the bottom, not from a rock in the middle. however, the problem of weak glass that easily chips and then cracks is widespread with this vehicle and it is clearly related to the glass heater, which heats the bottom but not the top of the windshield. the combination of weak glass under tension and differential heating is a design flaw for which the manufacturer should be responsible.
My car was parked and the window suddenly shattered for no reason. if i had been driving this could have caused a serious accident. it was only 76 degrees and suddenly i heard a loud noise. now there is glass all inside my door. this could have been very dangerous. i think it must have been a defected window. i have had my car parked at work on hotter days such as 97 degrees with no problem. this is a new car and my first summer owning it and i have to have this occur. i have pictures but had taken them with my phone camera. if needed i can send them to a website from my phone.