Safelite windshield...good or bad?

Hey y'all,

I just got my windshield replaced after getting cracked on a long drive. I had safelite do it and the next day I noticed some things that seem off.

1: The top driver and passenger side corners of the glass are clearly concaved inward to the cab (it can even be seen a little in my pictures). This makes me think it was jammed in there and the glass integrity isn't good.
2: the new window doesnt even remotely line up with the vehicle vin number as it is supposed to.
3: the molding around the window doesn't line up with the top of my truck (nice gap there).

I immediately scheduled a "warranty" appointment. Long story short they gave me the same tech who did the job initially, I argued with him (he was rude and gave me an earful treating me like I'm an idiot), and ended up getting shoed away. I also didn't want the same (now mad tech) putting my new windshield on. All in all, I got some pictures here. Is this normal for remanufactured windshield replacements or not? If not I will continue haggling safelite, if it is normal I'll leave it.

 

that looks wrong to me. I would question it.

 

The glass curve in the upper corners looks the same as mine. They did a ok job with the rubber seal but it could've been better. I was irritated that they chipped the paint a little on the fenders prying it out of there

 

Interesting that looks nothing like the safelite replacement I had gotten.

 

Not all auto glass is the same quality. There are top notch, high quality products as well as bottom of the barrel junk. Use OEM where possible as it's generally at the higher end of the spectrum. Most of the cheaper auto glass installers are cheap because they're using cheap quality glass. Cheaper glass will also pit and chip easier, leading to a shorter lifespan. Aftermarket glass often is also not the same color or design as your original (e.g. blue tint vs green, different UV protection or differences in the upper tint strip).

The better brands are Saint-Gobain Sekurit, Carlite, Pilkington, PPG and AP Tech. When possible, push for one of those brands.

Similarly, places like Safelite are gonna use generic trim wherever possible to save money. For best fit you would obviously want OEM trim/seals.

I would generally never recommend a place like Safelite. Generally they're likely to have lower quality parts and newer, less experienced techs. I always try to find a good, reputable business who can get quality glass and is willing to use all OEM parts (when available). As with anything YMMV.

 

I do understand the differences between aftermarket and OEM glass, however I had mine replaced using my insurance and safelite is who they use. Thanks for the education on different glass and trims I’m sure some on here will find that information very useful.

 

I've had a few windows replaced by Safelite, but have always made it a point to request OEM glass for the reasons mentioned above. If you don't request that up front, it seems you'll receive what's most readily available + what's cheapest - which could be OEM, but could be something completely random.

If going through insurance - your provider may tell Safelite to use non-oem. You can still override this by insisting you'll pay any aftermarket to OEM price difference, which is usually less than $100 in my experience.

Just make sure you're clear about what you want and be flexible if there is additional lead time required to fill that request.

 

All you had to say was Safelite. Enough said. Overpriced crap.

 

I worked for safelite for 8 months or so, and I really enjoyed it and took pride in my work. I was good at it too, just took a career path with more growth opportunities. As a perfectionist I wouldn’t be very happy about the install, but if you can read the vin at all, I don’t see it as having issues to the point of needing to be re-done.

Based on your pictures, I have a few observations:

• the root issue is that the windshield appears to be resting maybe 1/4” further down towards the hood than i would aim for. Evidence:
  • The VIN reading window is below the VIN plate. As you would expect, it should be easily visible through the window cut-out of the frit.
• How does something like this happen?
  • Could have been installed perfectly, and then slid down out of place. This can happen easily if the weather was hot or in the sun, or if the truck is driven before the adhesive is fully set.
  • The tech could have simply installed/decked it too low.
• Is this a safety issue? Not likely assuming the tech laid a decent bead of urethane and the top of the window has a good connection. You want to be sure that the windshield connection to the bead of adhesive is correct, but usually a quarter inch up or down isn’t likely to be a problem. If the glass moved significantly or wasn’t installed in the right place, you wouldn’t have good adhesion.
• In regards to the VIN issue, I have done warranty work where the installing tech painted over the vin window with primer, or just misaligned it. Can you read the vin if you try?

No judgment, whatever you decide. But it’s up to you if you want to spend the energy.

 

I have used Safelite multiple times on different vehicles, because Geico covers my glass against road hazzards, for free.

I have not had a problem. the original factory glass lasted about 12 years with multiple chips and cracks that were there for years, until a freeze ran a crack that finally blocked my view.

The glass Safelite uses (at least in my location) does not seem as durable as the original glass.

I have to get chips filled in immediately before they run. But no charge to me. And they show up to my house as scheduled, so it really doesn't bother me too much.

 

Had Safelite replace mine 2-3 years ago and the corners are concave but not as extreme as op’s.

I opted to have mine replaced in the shop vs the mobile tech.

They had 3 different options for glass when I went in:

OEM $$$
OEM equivalent $$
Aftermarket $

I chose OEM equivalent.

They had 3 different gasket/trim options as well:

OEM $$$
OEM equivalent $$
Aftermarket $

Again I choose OEM equivalent.

When it came to technicians there was two options:

Choose tech
Any tech

Opted to choose a senior tech vs the newer dudes.

I requested to speak with the tech before installation to explain the situation and ask questions. Tech was professional, install was professional and haven’t had any quality issues during the past 2-3 years. Durability seems fine as I’ve taken some large direct stone blows and no cracks. Got a couple pits from some but other than that nothing.

I would recommend you have your glass replaced at the facility vs mobile install. Reason I had mine replaced was because it was leaking profusely above the rear view mirror, glass was still in okay condition. The tech called me out to the shop once the glass was removed to show me why my glass was leaking. Whoever installed the previous glass used the incorrect gasket. It was actually a hack job. The gasket was cut into multiple pieces and had large gaps in between the sections. To compensate they loaded up on sealant to patch the gaps. Tech said while not common it does happen occasionally with shoddy mobile installers.

 

Windshield replacements are a royal PITA and the consumer can't really win. This is what I found.

They are installed by robots at the factory on the assembly line which is why the original one (and its bond) is so good.. hard to replicate those conditions in the real world.

 

I recently had the windshield on our 2021 4Runner replaced after a stone cracked it. My insurance company subs out their glass claims to Safelite - which concerned me. When I called them to make a claim, they tried to steer me into a Safelite windshield installed by them. At this point, I said I had a local glass shop I preferred to deal with. Guess what? That shop was on their "approved" list. Then I asked for an OEM windshield. She did a little checking and also approved that. Way better!

 

Thats great they worked with you I was not so lucky safelite was all I was offered so thats what I got. I did have a great tech though, he took his time and did a nice job and was veru happy with a new windshield.

 

safelite has sucked for a long time, so it is a good choice to avoid them

 

One needs to remember each branch can be very different.

I have had good luck Company Vehicles and personal vehicles

In most businesses reworks are done by the Tech that did the service.

Was yours done in the Safelite shop or at your location.

 

A coworker worked for an OEM glass manufacturer for several years as a quality manager. He has always said that the particular manufacturer would sell any windshield that was "good enough" but that did not meet OEM quality requirements as a replacement for business such as Safelite. The defect could be a visual artifact, a minor warp, color issue, etc. His recommendation is to always repair if possible.

 

Hmm, sounds like mixed opinions on getting it redone. I did get it done at the shop (not a mobile tech). Mostly cause I'm too cheap to pay them to come to me, and in hopes the job gets done better at the shop. Since it's not leaking and I can work out the vin number if I look hard enough, I'll take my time looking into my options. Appreciate all the knowledge and opinions!! This is why tacomaworld is great! Next time I'll avoid safelite, too many mixed opinions about their quality.

 

I am on my third Safelite windshield on my 12 year old Tacoma. Two were done in the field, one done in the shop (weather). Glass is Plinko (?). Windshields were fine, no complaints. One even saved me when a rock the size of a softball hit the glass when I was doing about 65. I use Safelite because that is what USAA insurance "requests", but you can pick your own shop if you want. .

 

(Auto glass installer here) From what I seeing the pictures.
1. Glass was set too low, which is why the vin plate is not visible in the frit band.

2. The molding on the window is most likely from the factory which are notorious for being bigger than necessary and they don't fit well. Because the molding it's held to the window with butyl any pressure will pull it off. Without seeing it in person to know for sure this is what it looks like to me.

3. Unless dealer glass is requested, aftermarket is used. Because its a fraction of the cost, and easily available at any glass warehouse.(2nd gen Toyota glass aftermarket cost is around $45, dealer glass is about $450-500)

4. Unless there is an air leak (whistling while driving) or a water leaking into the cb when it rains of going through a car wash. I would not worry about the window.

Lastly, Safelite in general does shotty work because the techs are pushed to get them done as fast as possible to move onto the next customer. They cut corners,don't prep like they should. They are a huge company and don't give a crap about "bad customer reviews" this isn't to say that the tech are bad, some do amazing work. I would just never personally trust them with my glass replacement.

Best bet is to look for local shops that have positive reviews. They take pridein the work they do.