Every once in a while a similar story appears, but it is far from common.

 

I had a protective film put on my Tesla. Some slight distortions if you look for them. But no cracks from the usual suspects. A slight pin point in the film but nothing else.

Bob Wilson

 

One of the advanrages of higher cars is less chips. Watch traffic, rapidily move away from right behind trucks without mud flaps, especially the rxxneck ones on liftkits. Here around the Marcellus Shale we have the white bare bones trucks the frackers use to add to the problem.

 

I have 2022 Model X. And this is the 3rd time i am replacing the windshield.
When i discuss with the Tesla service team they say its becuase of Rock chip, however my other Honda car which i am owning from last 11 years & jeep from 8 years never has that issue.

I don't know if this will help you, but here there is a highway called 417 that's been under construction perpetually for years now. I used to take it occasionally, and it damaged two windshields in 3 years. So I started taking another route that is about 5 minutes longer, and I haven't damaged a windshield since.

Sometimes that's all it takes, is avoiding a route that either has a particularly sloppy construction crew, or just happens to have a lot of gravel and debris on it.

 

My windshield and top glass incidents:

• Dump truck in opposite lane on a State road dropped a small rock off the back that bounced into my car. State road South of Tennessee river about 20 miles from Huntsville.
• Concrete truck at 5:30 AM hit a bump and loose gravel launched off a rear platform into my car. Huston Texas.
• Driving on the Interstate, a truck picked up a small rock from the shoulder and it ballistic curved onto the top glass. Mississippi enroute to Bolixi.

Since getting the clear coat film, there have been at least three distinct impacts of which one I can identify the point of impact to the film. The glass did not crack. But it wasn't cheap.

It cost ~$1,000 and an overnight stay near the shop. But compared to having a windshield replaced, paid for itself already.

Bob Wilson

 

My windshield and top glass incidents:

• Dump truck in opposite lane on a State road dropped a small rock off the back that bounced into my car.
• Concrete truck at 5:30 AM hit a bump and loose gravel launched off a rear platform into my car.
• Driving on the Interstate, a truck picked up a small rock from the shoulder and it ballistic curved onto the top glass.

Wow, do you live near a quarry or mine, or does your state just have zero regulations about covering/controlling loads on dump trucks?

 

Did the crack start on the inside of the windshield or the outside? My 2021 model X windshield cracked from the inside out. The crack originated underneath the rearview mirror sensor assembly and spiderwebbed out in three directions.

 

I suspect that was a manufacturing error that hopefully the repair also corrected. Improperly mounted windshield can crack from a stress point where the crack started. If it happens a second time, file a complaint (not that it will do much good.)

Bob Wilson

 

It really has more to do with thread patterns and how tight they are then trucks without mud flaps, especial those redxxxx trucks. Truck mudflaps need to be 18” or less from the ground, so a lifted truck will show more tire but also most of those trucks have wider tire grooves so most pickup very few rocks. So unless the mud flaps reach the ground or no mud flaps like on cars there is little to no defense against rock chips other then following distance.

I live in the windshield rock chip capital of the world…Alaska. Average windshield life taking care to avoid issues is 2 years. I have gotten more chips from cars then from any redxxxx trucks. I drive about 6,000 miles a month to include a dump truck and not one vehicle fairs better then another when it comes to getting windshield chips. Even as tall as a dump truck is I get hit and most times it’s from cars as they are changing lanes. i have done a bit of study of this to see about cutting my windshield expenses and looking at dashcam footage the rock is released at the road surface from the tire…..so unless the mud flaps reach the ground or are those special flaps that the guys towing campers use it will make little to no difference. And those one piece flaps or ones that reach the ground the rock just gets released to hit the flap and either goes out the side or under and gets a good bounce into the guy trying to hang way back. I can even say I have rocked my self…😝😜🤣

 

the windshield rock chip capital of the world…Alaska.

I first learned about rock protecting, windshield films from postings by an Alaskan driver. It cost me about as much as replacing the windshield and there are already small impact points in the film.

Rock protecting films are not "bullet proof." By blocking air/water from even the smallest crack, it stops a crack from growing and becoming a problem.

Bob Wilson

 

I feel your pain. I JUST like TODAY picked up a Model 3. Driving it home, boom, crack in windshield. Service Cetner guy says it's a rock, it's not a rock. A rock did not miraculsouly hit the very side of the glass and miss the pillars. It's clearly a defect and they are trying to shirk their responsiblity.

 

Get it fixed. And be nice to the Tesla service people. You'll get nowhere if you're confrontational.

If they still don't cover it under warranty, then contact Tesla corporate. If that doesn't help, take it to arbitration or small claims court.

Or have it covered by your auto insurance's glass policy. It usually has a low deductible.