WRB '03 WRX Wagon.

Windshield cracked in line with the heater ducts on a day the car wasn't used, pretty much all the way across.

Dealer says it took 2 rock hits.

Insurance paid, but now I distrust the dealer.

Is there a problem with WRX windshields? (BTW, I got Subaru-OEM glass installed after a 2-1/2 week wait.)

Sean

The glass as well as most all windshield glass is made of 3/16 stock glass. It has been since the 90's. Before it was mostly 1/4 thickness. So we see the glass companies flourish as it takes less of a rock at less of a speed or volume to do more damage than in years prior to the 3/16 thick windshields. I had to replace a windshield and then have the one thats on there now fixed as the crack was small and repairs can happen if you catch it early.


you can see where a rock or obstruction hit the window or not. I am surprised that they didnt show you. But some folks dont like to share their knowledge..........or the lack thereof. I have read of a couple incidences of windshields cracking with no apparent reason. So from my perspective thats not that bad...........but its just my perspective which is not one year of NASOIC surfing and posting. OEM glass isnt necessarily superior to someone elses..........as you can see..........I paid 220 for a new windshield

I had a similar circumstance happen with a truck I used to own. It had been parked in my parents driveway for 2 weeks (broken down). It had a practically brand-new winshield on it when I parked it (6 mo. old maybe, but no stars, cracks, etc). When I went back to fix it 2 weeks later it had a nice crack on the top of it. Who knows, maybe it was installed incorrectly, had been weakened by an unnoticable rock pit, or maybe just manufacturing defect? My guess is the last one, it was parked facing toward the sun, and I think the heat/cold and thermal expansion just was too much for a microscopic defect. Maybe yours was something similar. It would be extremely hard to prove though.

Yes, the glass is much more prone to break on our cars than most others. Whether this is because of inferior glass or aerodynamic issues, I don't know. But both my RS and WRX windshields cracked w/in a month of delivery, and like yours, without any active cause. Both were also in the summer, when there is much less road crap flying around. Don't get OEM glass next time, go aftermarket.

josh