[John2724]

A couple weeks ago while washing my RTL-T, I flipped the wiper down on the driver side. My hard work was rewarded with a nice crack that has now made it's way to the top of the windshield.

I'll admit I didn't let the wiper down gently , but in my 30 years of washing vehicles, I never have. But what if I had bumped it with my elbow and it slapped down onto the windshield? That's happened many times. What am I supposed to do if a rock hits it? Duck?

So far my attempt to convince Honda to warranty it have been unsuccessful but I'll keep trying. Everyone do me a favor and learn from my mistake. I've had to make a conscious effort to be more careful when dealing with wipers these days.

The design of the wiper, with the little plastic wing that holds the metal spine is where it contacted the glass. You can see it in the attached pic.

 

[DriveAllNight]

I've already had my windshield pelted more than once with rocks/pebbles on the highway doing well over 70 mph and no damage; although it scared me, I don't want to have to replace that windshield, especially so new.

I wonder if you had a defective windshield from the start, or if it was already just slightly cracked and the wiper just made it worse.

You may want to go back to the dealer, go up to a Ridgeline on the lot and do the same thing, see if it happens. If it doesn't, which is probably the case, the dealer doesn't have to believe that's how it happened to yours, if it does, you have uncovered a pretty big defect.

 

[Doobiewah]

I've already had my windshield pelted more than once with rocks/pebbles on the highway doing well over 70 mph and no damage; although it scared me, I don't want to have to replace that windshield, especially so new.

I, too, have had a few good sized rocks hit the windshield, and quite hard, too. Just a small divot and no crack or bad damage. The sound of the rocks hitting is also quite muted compared to other vehicles I have owned and I was thinking that it might be the way they make this particular one, with the additional sound-proofing/deadening.

Appreciate the heads up, though, and keep us informed as to the outcome. Curious to see if your insurance picks up the total amount on a new OE windshield.

 

[Bockstar]

Should have waited for a VIN over 10,000
Joe was right
These "trucks" are crap
.
.
.
Sorry, couldn't resist. That does suck. Though I always feel better getting the first ding out of the way. Especially when it's minor. Do you have windshield coverage on your insurance? If so that rock sure did crack it good.

 

[cccbock1]

I had as similar situation with my 2012 with 100 miles on it the windshield cracked. The dealer did not want to warranty it. There was no visible point of contact (like a where a rock or a wiper had hit it). I raised enough hell that it was defective they finally covered it under warranty. Had to have a windshield FedX from California to Florida..I know that was not cheap. The new one has about 70k miles on it with no problems. Just to be clear, yours was probably stressed when installed. It was going to break at some point, you did not cause it with the wiper. Dealers first answer nowadays is almost always no.

In Florida, insurance covers windshields with little or no deductible. You might check that out where you live.

 

[klossfam]

Hopefully not a sign of the windshield 'FUN' MANY of us had with the G1 (I went through 5 windshields in 70k miles - all from very minor pebble impacts). I even had a call with Honda and this was discussed on ROC at length...

Many chalked it up to the windshield design on the G1 that went so far down over the firewall (it had a lot of stress on the windshield). I can't say I've looked in detail at how far down the glass goes on the G2. We can definitely rule out the heated wiper zone as a culprit since the G2 doesn't have it...

That sucks but those direct, concentrated impacts (like the contact point of the wiper arm) are what tends to cause stress fractures in auto glass.

 

[hiconehonda]

Sorry to hear about your windshield - hope your comprehensive insurance will cover that and you have zero deductible. I wouldn't recommend trying to duplicate that on a dealer's lot with his inventory - you might end up paying for two windshields!

 

[zroger73]

I'll admit I didn't let the wiper down gently , but in my 30 years of washing vehicles, I never have.

So far my attempt to convince Honda to warranty it have been unsuccessful but I'll keep trying.

If I were Honda, I wouldn't warranty the damaged you caused, either. The simple fact is, if you hadn't let the wiper slam onto the windshield, it probably wouldn't have broken.

This reminds me of cases where people sue because they spilled hot coffee in their laps and they were not specifically warned that the coffee was hot.

You may want to go back to the dealer, go up to a Ridgeline on the lot and do the same thing, see if it happens.

You're actually suggesting that the OP visit his local dealer and intentionally slam wipers into the windshield to see if it breaks? I'd have that person jailed for vandalism.

 

[DriveAllNight]

If I were Honda, I wouldn't warranty the damaged you caused, either. The simple fact is, if you hadn't let the wiper slam onto the windshield, it probably wouldn't have broken.

This reminds me of cases where people sue because they spilled hot coffee in their laps and they were not specifically warned that the coffee was hot.



You're actually suggesting that the OP visit his local dealer and intentionally slam wipers into the windshield to see if it breaks? I'd have that person jailed for vandalism.

It was a tongue in cheek comment, no I wasn't being serious.

I don't believe it is something that would happen twice anyway, I've seen people do this too many times to believe under normal circumstances it would break a windshield.
I believe it was, for what ever reason, (a weak spot/ already broken) area on the glass.
Of course I'm no expert on the subject, just my real world experience

 

[ljr]

In Florida, insurance covers windshields with little or no deductible. You might check that out where you live.

Ditto Massachusetts. Windshield replacements are 100% covered by insurance.

 

[BillmanMotion]

In the picture, there is an overhanging part of the wiper arm that lines up with the crack. This overhang is farther than most I've seen, and if dropped fast enough the wiper arm will compress the blade rubber enough to allow the overhang to contact the glass.

This should be stickied with a warning in the title "do not drop the wiper arms".

 

[zroger73]

Ditto Massachusetts. Windshield replacements are 100% covered by insurance.

Same in Texas - covered under comprehensive (usually with a "small" deductible of $50). The downside is that regardless of fault, it is still a claim. Your insurance company may not legally be able to drop you or refuse to renew you because of comprehensive claims, but they'll sure raise your deductible or premium high enough to effectively discourage future claims once you exceed a magic number. I highly doubt Honda will warranty the OP's windshield since there is an obvious point of impact. If the crack had appeared from the side with no sign of impact, Honda might warranty it.

 

[S.T.U.V]

Sorry to the OP. But here at toyota I have had multiple instances of this. Customers and porters have done this. with and without the arm attached. Even worse when it is just the metal arm. The spring is incredibly strong.

When I replace the wiper inserts on cars I always lightly put the blade down back against the windshield even if it is the metal hook. I have had a few customers yell at me for doing this that it will scratch the glass...I inform them it is better then a broken windshield and unless you jump in the car and turn them on while im doing this..you wont have a problem.


I highly doubt you will get this covered under warranty. It is not a design flaw or a defect.

Your'e only hope is through you private insurance.

EDIT: BUT I have never seen this happen with the wiper rubber piece installed.

 

[speedlever]

I seem to recall Joe saying that the windshield on the G1 RL was a structural component of the assembly... or words to that effect. Being specific about that implies other vehicle windshields are not structural components. I wonder if the windshield on the G2 RL is also a structural component (which I infer implies is stressed)?

 

[DriveAllNight]

Sorry to the OP. But here at toyota I have had multiple instances of this. Customers and porters have done this. with and without the arm attached. Even worse when it is just the metal arm. The spring is incredibly strong.

When I replace the wiper inserts on cars I always lightly put the blade down back against the windshield even if it is the metal hook. I have had a few customers yell at me for doing this that it will scratch the glass...I inform them it is better then a broken windshield and unless you jump in the car and turn them on while im doing this..you wont have a problem.


I highly doubt you will get this covered under warranty. It is not a design flaw or a defect.

Your'e only hope is through you private insurance.

EDIT: BUT I have never seen this happen with the wiper rubber piece installed.

Wow, I would never have guessed you could bust a windshield with a wiper. Well that changes things, now it's time to be a little more careful.

Good to know.

 

[Flyboy]

I think I'll roll down the window and turn my head out the window when I sneeze in my '06.

 

[Doobiewah]

S

EDIT: BUT I have never seen this happen with the wiper rubber piece installed.

Neither have I; however, I've sure seen it many times over the years with the arm slamming down on one side while a tech replaced the other...so I do, and trained the techs, exactly what you do...put it down gently on the glass, even without the blade and only lift if up when I'm doing the replacement. Even then, I will put a folded shop towel down on the windshield after seeing them break one too many times this way....

 

[speedlever]

I think I'll roll down the window and turn my head out the window when I sneeze in my '06.

Lol! I actually have at least 2 stone chips in my G1 windshield and no cracks! Yet.

My wife's '06 Pilot with 30+k miles more than my G1 doesn't have any chips that I'm aware of.

 

[geoNH]

Hard to imagine how that plastic piece could get to the actual windshield. I just tried to push mine into the window and couldn't get it anywhere near the glass.

 

[ROBSRTL]

I have pushed wioers down on occasion and never had a windshield crack. Also it may have had a slight rock chip in it. And when the wiper hit the stress in the glass released. Have never seen a plastic wiper crack one. unless ir came down upside down.

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