2026 Badlands spontaneous windshield crack

[Whpony96]

Don't know. What are the differences?

The OEM windshield has the SoundScreen layer sandwiched in between 2 glass layers that greatly reduces the interior noise. If you look on the OEM glass you will see the word "SoundScreen" etched in the glass.

Sponsored

 

[NMBroncoSport]

The OEM windshield has the SoundScreen layer sandwiched in between 2 glass layers that greatly reduces the interior noise. If you look on the OEM glass you will see the word "SoundScreen" etched in the glass.

I am looking for that "SoundScreen" etching. Roughly where is it on the windshield?

 

[Frenchy906]

Passenger side bottom corner.

 

[Billwinkle]

That Safelite $895 quote for a replacement '26 Sport Badlands windshield (installed and calibrated) was if we paid out of pocket, not insurance.

I got the quote so I would know.

 

[Billwinkle]

Take a ball point pen and run it along the crack. If it stops anywhere along the Crack, it's been hit and not a stress fracture. Stress fractures are very rare but do happen. 40 year experience talking

 

[NMBroncoSport]

Take a ball point pen and run it along the crack. If it stops anywhere along the Crack, it's been hit and not a stress fracture. Stress fractures are very rare but do happen. 40 year experience talking

A pin test shows no sign of impact. It appears to be a stress fracture.

 

[Billwinkle]

A pin test shows no sign of impact. It appears to be a stress fracture.

That's rare but it does happen. I would suggest having someone take a video of you running the pen down the Crack so that cannot prove you wrong. 40 years in dealerships even though the ones I worked for were fair, I even had dealers that tried to burn me even though they knew I was in the business.

 

[NMBroncoSport]

That's rare but it does happen. I would suggest having someone take a video of you running the pen down the Crack so that cannot prove you wrong. 40 years in dealerships even though the ones I worked for were fair, I even had dealers that tried to burn me even though they knew I was in the business.

The dealer did the pin test.

 

[davidg4781]

The OEM windshield has the SoundScreen layer sandwiched in between 2 glass layers that greatly reduces the interior noise. If you look on the OEM glass you will see the word "SoundScreen" etched in the glass.

I don't think all models get the SoundScreen glass. I might be wrong though. But I did wonder if the SoundScreen feature caused the windshield to be more prone to cracking.

 

[NMBroncoSport]

Spontaneous cracks can start without being visible at first from small impacts, temperature changes from being in direct sun then turning on the A/C, to internal glass flaws. Proving what caused it usually isn't easy.
Here is what the Ford warranty says about windshield stress cracks:
Not covered - windshield stress cracks. However, limited coverage on
windshield stress cracks will be provided for the first 12 months
or 12,000 miles (whichever occurs first), even though caused
by use and/or exposure to the elements.

You can take it to the dealer, they can ask Ford and see what happens.

UPDATE: Dealer did pin test, took photos and submitted to Ford for warranty claim. Ford responded within hours and approved the windshield replacement under factory warranty. 10 to14 day wait to get the windshield.

 

[Whpony96]

UPDATE: Dealer did pin test, took photos and submitted to Ford for warranty claim. Ford responded within hours and approved the windshield replacement under factory warranty. 10 to14 day wait to get the windshield.

Nice, there is nothing like a happy ending!

Sponsored