2nd Windshield in less than 5 months

[MnSparty38]

I know others have mentioned it here. I'm about to get a second windshield replaced in less than 5 months. In my 30+ years of driving, this is the first (& second) times I've had to do this. Not accident related. I've had chip marks filled.

I drive 99% on paved roads.

Both webs started from the bottom of the glass, which is leading me to further believe its a design problem or quality of last re-install. Took to Safelite for first replacement/Re-calibration.

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[RickMachE]

I'm on my 3rd Mach-E windshield. Got one this past summer, then again cracked in December. All from rock hits.

 

[Falcon53]

I have gone through two. I have a hit on this one for the last 6 months. Insurance (USAA) covered the first one completely (and it was OEM) , second one cost me $500 (SafeLite), now I need another but have decided to wait. No other car I have ever had has gone through this many in such short span of time.

 

[markboris]

MnSparty38, I'm not sure about your issue with it cracking in the same place both times but Rick, you may want to invest in a Windshield Protection Film. That is what I have on my cars for the last couple of years. So far, no windshields chips or cracks. However the film itself has some very small imperfections where rocks have hit it. The clear, hard film is a 6 mil thick and is applied over the windshield. Cost was $300 both times for me. It is made by Ceramic Pro but there are probably others.

 

[RickMachE]

I have gone through two. I have a hit on this one for the last 6 months. Insurance (USAA) covered the first one completely (and it was OEM) , second one cost me $500 (SafeLite), now I need another but have decided to wait. No other car I have ever had has gone through this many in such short span of time.

Why did you have to pay anything the 2nd time?

MnSparty38, I'm not sure about your issue with it cracking in the same place both times but Rick, you may want to invest in a Windshield Protection Film. That is what I have on my cars for the last couple of years. So far, no windshields chips or cracks. However the film itself has some very small imperfections where rocks have hit it. The clear, hard film is a 6 mil thick and is applied over the windshield. Cost was $300 both times for me. It is made by Ceramic Pro but there are probably others.

Mine are fully covered by insurance, so no reason for me to cough up $300 to prevent it.

 

[markboris]

Mine are fully covered by insurance, so no reason for me to cough up $300 to prevent it.

I understand but I don't particularly like anyone working on my cars and a windshield replacement can go wrong if installers don't know what they are doing. It hopefully prevents this.

 

[Falcon53]

Why did you have to pay anything the 2nd time?



Mine are fully covered by insurance, so no reason for me to cough up $300 to prevent it.

I assume my policy would only cover 50%. Probably my mistake not inquiring with USAA. Will the next time for certain.

 

[Tmirage]

I have a 2025 MachE and have had two rock chips. The first I had filled within 24 hours so no harm. The second just happened three days ago and the windshield developed an 14 inch crack overnight. It has now grown to twice that size. In the sunlight, I can see the depth of the crack and it looks like this windshield is incredibly thin compared to vehicles I have had in the past. I am also hearing from several other MachE owners that their winshields have cracked very easily. Maybe Ford needs to look at this issue.

 

[markboris]

I have a 2025 MachE and have had two rock chips. The first I had filled within 24 hours so no harm. The second just happened three days ago and the windshield developed an 14 inch crack overnight. It has now grown to twice that size. In the sunlight, I can see the depth of the crack and it looks like this windshield is incredibly thin compared to vehicles I have had in the past. I am also hearing from several other MachE owners that their winshields have cracked very easily. Maybe Ford needs to look at this issue.

Posted this a couple of years ago but I will mention again. Two things....

The Windshield on the Mach-E is an acoustic "SoundScreen" (as marked in the lower right front corner) which is comprised of a sheet of plastic sandwiched between two thin pieces of glass. Because the glass is not as thick as a standard windshield, it's more susceptible to chipping and cracking. You should replace it with the same windshield because it is dramatically quieter but you do have the option to replace it with a normal one.

Secondly, you can spend $300 and get a windshield protection film applied to the outside. I have done this on the last two Mach-E's, and my GT500. I have a detailer here in town that uses Ceramic Pro products and they make a protective film (8mils thick) that I've been using the last couple of years. My '21 Mach-E had 48K miles when I traded it in and there were a few nicks out of the protective film but the glass was never touched. If I would have kept the car, probably would have gotten the film replaced on the 5th year or so just so I would have a perfectly nick free film again. You should go check out a detailer that sells this product and can demonstrate how durable it is.

This is not a great photo of the edge of the SoundScreen windshield but you get the idea.

 

[Tmirage]

Thank you for that information. I had not thought that there was a reason the windshield is so fragile. Not happy that I will have to spend extra to get the protective surface added. I wonder if the Manufacturer can handle that moving forward.

 

[markboris]

Thank you for that information. I had not thought that there was a reason the windshield is so fragile. Not happy that I will have to spend extra to get the protective surface added. I wonder if the Manufacturer can handle that moving forward.

Many manufacturers use acoustic windshields. BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Honda, Lexus and more. It is not anything new but Ford only uses it on their more premium cars/SUV's. My XLT F-150 did not have one but my King Ranch F-150 did.

I think I've gotten one cracked windshield in the last 20 years but the glass gets a lot of pits in it from small rocks and debris hitting it. Before I used to use the protection film, my windshields would look terrible with pits everywhere after a few years. The MAIN reason I use the protection film is because I don't want to have the windshield replaced. I hear horror stories even on this forum how they were not installed properly or the wrong one was put in. I just do what I can to minimize having it replaced.

 

[rreddy3]

Many manufacturers use acoustic windshields. BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Honda, Lexus and more. It is not anything new but Ford only uses it on their more premium cars/SUV's. My XLT F-150 did not have one but my King Ranch F-150 did.

I think I've gotten one cracked windshield in the last 20 years but the glass gets a lot of pits in it from small rocks and debris hitting it. Before I used to use the protection film, my windshields would look terrible with pits everywhere after a few years. The MAIN reason I use the protection film is because I don't want to have the windshield replaced. I hear horror stories even on this forum how they were not installed properly or the wrong one was put in. I just do what I can to minimize having it replaced.

sounds like a good idea … I was unaware of the windshield protection product … I’d rather not have to deal with a windshield replacement…

 

[JoeyD]

Living in AZ, we seem to get a lot of cracked windshields and my insurance co allows me to replace 2 per year without the deductible. My Tacoma has gotten a new windshield about every other year for the past 6 years. When I picked up my new '24 MME, I had the windshields protection film applied at the same time they ceramic coated the paint. It was from a Ceramic Pro dealer and they also applied PPF on the entire front end. The car is just over a year old with 13K miles and still looks brand new. I have a couple of little nicks in the protective film but the glass is perfect. I don't want to ever have to go through getting a new windshield on this car.

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