Chipped Windshield - NHTSA complaint

Randy Grant · Mar 25, 2019

Over 7000 and nothing. Had a couple hit, but no chips. But, it is glass ya' know, so will get a bulseye sooner or later.

Random_Walk · Mar 26, 2019

rotwiler said:
My 2013 has no chips, but I work night shift so hardly any cars on road to kick rocks up. My wife goes through windshields one after another on her car.

This might explain how I got away with a chip-free windshield for so long... I normally drive my commute (one day a week for 50 miles) at 4:30-5:30am (to catch the India and UK portions of my team), and head home at 2:30pm (long before rush hour). The first 30 miles (And last 30 going home), the traffic is usually just me and the occasional log or bark-dust semi. My firewood trips involve going down logging roads that few people even see, let alone travel on (outside of hunting season, anyway).

indept · Mar 26, 2019

Hauling Pillows said:
I have 2019 Ram 1500 Classic, I had it for about 3 months and about 3000 miles, I'm mostly driving on the county back roads and it seams that every time I get on the highway I get rock chip in my windshield. There's 6 of them already. I have never seen or witnessed anything like this before on any other vehicle. I drive speed limit, stay in lane and usually stay 4-5 car lengths behind.
After getting a 'new one' yesterday I decided to put in complaint on the NHTSA web-site, and hopefully get FCA to install and produce a higher quality more durable windshields.
There has to be more RAM owners out there with same issue, so I would like to invite all of you to register on NHTSA and get the ball rolling on this safety issue. Use link below and then clink on 'report safety complaint' in the menu on the left

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/RAM/1500%2520CLASSIC/PU%252FCC/4WD

I found your problem, it's your driving habits. I always drive over the speed limit, tailgate, and change lanes a lot & no chips here... Just sayin...

bigred90gt · Mar 26, 2019

TA462 said:
I've only ever replaced one windshield in all the cars I've ever owned, it was a 91 Cavalier and a bird actually hit it and broke it. I've owned around 30 vehicles so far, half of them new and that's the only one I've ever replaced. People who tend to get stone chips in their windshields are people who drive way to close to the car in front of them. That's a true fact. The OP even said he drives 4 to 5 car lengths behind the car in front of them. Try driving a little farther behind, like 8 car lengths and you will never have another stone chip.

I’m not sure where you are located, but in Houston, if you have 8 car lengths you would never get where you were going. As soon as you leave even 1 car length open, some idiot feels the need to squeeze in there.

I’ve had several chips in the 2 years I’ve had my truck. Most of them I was on top of and fixed with those windshield repair kits from the auto parts store. They’re still visible, but don’t grow. 1 of them I did not fix, and the one night we had freezing temps, it spread almost the full width of the windshield. The other one that never got fixed was too big to fix. Whatever hit it was huge. It instantly spidered out about 8” and blew some glass on my dash. It’s weird because there’s no chips on the outside there, only the blown out glass on the inside.

glwhitetail · Mar 26, 2019

I've had a lot of rocks hit the windshield on the highway and never actually leave a chip but the other day going 20 miles an hour in town I had a rock come off the car in front of me and left a small chip in the windshield.

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Llamafood · Mar 26, 2019

Windshields happen. I don't think mopar or any brand is immune

Grumpy Craig · Mar 26, 2019

Probably the biggest factor in getting chips in all vehicles, cars and trucks, can be contributed to the change in the physics of design for better aerodynamics. This move from square, flat, gas guzzling front ends to the aerodynamic designs for better mileage. These aerodynamic designs are made to cut through the air which allows flying objects including dust, rocks, birds, etc to flow over the hood and straight into the windshield. No longer is there a buffer created by air being pushed outwards from the grille creating a buffer in all directions that might have helped deflect those items away.

I live in outside of Boise and my insurance also carries chip repair in addition to windshield replacement. Due to all the Semi trucks, Farm equipment, gravel and sand for snow I have had to use both several times.

Consider it a bonus feature if you will of saving gas.

jmurdr1 · Mar 26, 2019

Got a good old crack in mine two weekends ago thanks to the highway its a 14 model

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Matts175 · Mar 26, 2019

On my 2015, I got a chip and broke my windshield ON THE TEST DRIVE!!! I drove it back to the dealer and said.... "I haven't signed the paperwork yet, you still technically own the truck. You need to put a new windshield in it." LOL.... and they did.

mike5809 · Mar 26, 2019

In 20 years of driving I never had a chip in a windshield.

I purchased a brand new 2018 Challenger and got a chip driving home from the dealership and 2 more within 1000 miles I had to have fixed.

I then purchased my 2019 Ram 1500 and had 2 small ones within 1000 miles.

I assume they use very low quality glass.

kryptek · Mar 26, 2019

I have a 2018 big horn with 5 chips and a crack across the bottom. I have 9100 miles on it.
They started @ 4k

K-Dawg · Mar 26, 2019

Ransom said:
Not sure its an FCA issue, get a new windshield about once a year on all my vehicles - Have a Ram, old (79) Dodge, Chevy and Ford. No windshield lasts

Same here. Either a repair or new windshield once or twice a year, no matter what vehicle. Between rocks and deer, zero-deductable comprehensive insurance is a must. Also pays for when the mice chew up the engine wiring.

sbarron · Mar 26, 2019

I can't believe we have 6 pages of thread about chipped/cracked windshields.

You're tilting at windmills.

Yes, the windshields probably ARE lighter than they once were - as is every other component on these things now... 20 MPG from a brick doesn't happen by magic - but it's not a safety issue. They are still doing exactly what they are designed to do, which is to keep those rocks from caving your skull in. They are almost a consumable item; the rest is aesthetics. You don't blame RAM when you wear out your brake pads or probably more similar, wrecking a tire or rim by driving over something. Yes, a crack across the drivers view would be a safety item, but so are worn out brakes or a flat tire.

harryk · Mar 26, 2019

Had a big enough rock coming at me that I actually ducked & yes there is a chip in my line of vision.

happycanuk · Mar 26, 2019

No chips or cracks but I do notice on the couple of FCA products I have they seen to get sandblasted very easily. Had a 17 ram and 06 charger and if you get the sun hitting it directly the window shows like its been sandblasted. Both vehicles low mileage with less than 30 kilometres on them. I wound say winter road salt and sand could be the issue but charger isn’t winter driven. It’s like the glass is soft.

stimpy433 · Mar 26, 2019

sbarron said:
I can't believe we have 6 pages of thread about chipped/cracked windshields.

You're tilting at windmills.

Yes, the windshields probably ARE lighter than they once were - as is every other component on these things now... 20 MPG from a brick doesn't happen by magic - but it's not a safety issue. They are still doing exactly what they are designed to do, which is to keep those rocks from caving your skull in. They are almost a consumable item; the rest is aesthetics. You don't blame RAM when you wear out your brake pads or probably more similar, wrecking a tire or rim by driving over something. Yes, a crack across the drivers view would be a safety item, but so are worn out brakes or a flat tire.

Hahaha, of course we do because it's the internet and that's some serious business!!!!

Ram1958 · Mar 26, 2019

Come on up here to Alberta Canada. Drive the Deerfoot from Calgary to Airdrie and be real surprised if you don't get a chip. I drive minimum 10 km a day on gravel and worry more about highway for chips.

K-Dawg · Mar 27, 2019

sbarron hit the nail on the head here. Every thing is there for a purpose, windshields protect you from objects while allowing you to see. Paint protects the metal. Clearcoat protects the paint. Sealant protect the clearcoat. Grille protects the radiator.

All the stuff that's at the border between your 6000lb mass of metal travelling down the road at (whatever speed you drive) MPH, is going to take the damage that the environment inflicts.

Can't get all twisted up over nicks and chips in the border protection.

Now if a stone hits the windshield, and the UConnect or Cruise Control stop working........charge that windmill!

Jrod · Mar 27, 2019

Lol, I've replaced 8 windshields since 2001 in VA between a dodge neon, a jeep liberty, and 2 jeep JK's.. I havn't had to replace the windshield on any of the 3 RAM's I've owned. Although, I did get a small chip filled on my Challenger last year.. The JK's were the worst.. The new JL has a more slanted window, which should help.

Lucy Girl · Mar 28, 2019

Ohio5pt7 said:
I have 1 on my 18 granted it was basically a boulder lol.

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Ma n I hate those boldest. I also hate that it happened to you. I’m still dodging them for now.

Chipped Windshield - NHTSA complaint

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