"Something probably hit your windshield and then cracked after the fact with the change in temperature".

That is a reasonable explanation.

 

I suspect that quotes obtained when the glass company knows you're using insurance might be higher than quotes for a cash replacement - the insurance company may get a discount so the price could be inflated to take that into account. When you say a quote is $1000.00 I hope that's not your out-of-pocket.

Some glass could be cheaper than others, and it wouldn't be as big a deal if it weren't for the Subaru Eyesight. Can't say which glass is necessarily better - I wouldn't insist on OE glass necessarily but I would want to know which glass they're using. A manufacturing defect in the glass would probably reveal itself within the first 3 years so I am not surprised that Subaru isn't likely to cover it, but it seems like maybe they might since you have an open claim.

If your insurance doesn't cover calibration then some people have opted not to have calibration done and say that their Eyesight works just fine, but if there's distortion in the glass Eyesight may seem like it's working but not as well as it should. Some glass is so warped that it fails Eyesight calibration. My car insurance includes glass and calibration after my $100.00 deductible. Subaru insists that calibration be done but I don't know all the implications if it wasn't calibrated.

There are two kinds of Eyesight calibration - static and dynamic. A static calibration is done with the car stationary looking at a special test target under controlled conditions, and a dynamic calibration is performed on the road while driving. When they talk about calibration it's good to know whether they're including a dynamic calibration or not. I don't think it's absolutely necessary that a dynamic calibration be performed but people who have had dynamic calibration have found that Eyesight may work better than new, for advanced features like lane keeping, but for basic automatic emergency braking I don't know if it helps.

 

Thank you for all of this information. Unfortunately, this is out of pocket cost with insurance. Allstate told me that this would fall under comprehensive, for which I have a $1000 deductible. My vehicle falls into the extended warranty category because SOA lost a lawsuit for "spontaneously cracking windshields.

 

Can you link us the lawsuit and its reported outcome?

 

This is all I have on hand. Once I get back from a Christmas Party later tonight Ill dig up a case number for you. This lawsuit extended the warranty for the 2015 Outback until November 2022.

Subaru Settles Outback, Legacy Cracked Windshield Lawsuit - Here Is What Owners Get

Subaru has settled the Outback and Legacy cracked windshield lawsuit. See what models are covered and what owners get from the new settlement.

www.torquenews.com

 

Is this it? Home | Khona, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc.

 

I would suggest getting a quote on zero deductible comprehensive insurance coverage. I had it with allstate before i switched to geico. Still have it with geico. I guarantee its not $1000 per year extra. Seems like the subie windshields crack easy. Worth the extra for me to have 0 deductible. Had mine less than 6 months and already replaced one.

In God's Grace ~ Pastor Bob

 

Was there any penalty for leaving Allstate before the insurance term was up? I just did a quote with Geico and their $500 deductible is $70ish less a month than Allstate.

 

Sorry but I don't have the attention span to read through you original post but here's my experience.

Rock chip left unattended turned into a large crack. Called the insurance and they honored the repair with a $500 deductible. They waived the deductible as a 1st claim program.

Subaru fixed it for $1500. Yup.

 

I believe AZ and perhaps some other states require insurance companies to offer zero deductible glass coverage, but the policy holder still has to ask for it. My first glass claim many years ago I paid my comprehensive deductible, but since then have never paid anything for a glass claim despite the rest of my comprehensive deductible being somewhat higher.

As to the replacement cost, Safelite charges USAA a lot less than they would charge someone paying cash. Safelite does both a static and dynamic calibration, mine is one of the vehicles on here whose Eyesight performed better after a replacement and dynamic calibration than it did before.

 

I believe AZ and perhaps some other states require insurance companies to offer zero deductible glass coverage…

As to the replacement cost, Safelite charges USAA a lot less than they would charge someone paying cash. Safelite does both a static and dynamic calibration, mine is one of the vehicles on here whose Eyesight performed better after a replacement and dynamic calibration than it did before.

Thank-you for that info on Safelite/USAA.

It’s a state law in FL that insurance companies have to replace your windshield at no cost. It’s a safety thing…

 

Unfortunately, it looks like that's not a thing in VA.

 

Forgot to add the question: if I get the windshield replaced by a 3rd party, will I be able to get eyesight recalibrated at the dealer? Or is that a thing they will only do if you go through them?

 

My first windshield was replaced by Safelite and calibrated at the dealer because Safelite didn't have the software yet. By the time I needed another windshield Safelite had the software so they did the calibration as well. I found it interesting that the dealer only did a static calibration; Safelite did both the static and then the dynamic, and I did notice an improvement in performance after Safelite's calibration, little things like maintaining lock on the lane lines crossing intersections, better lane centering performance, subtle but noticeable improvements.

I believe that all dealers have a third party come in to do the actual glass replacement, but I could be wrong.

 

Although you have a high deductible with Allstate, you might want to ask them if you can run the claim through them rather than on your own. This way, you would probably get the insurance company discount similar to medical insurance (health providers give insurance companies discounts on services rendered to patients).
And use Safelite since they’re accustomed to doing both the static and dynamic calibration.

 

The Safelite quote was through the insurance with an insurance discount unfortunately. So, with my insurance it would cost about one thousand dollars.

 

😖

 

Good Afternoon Everybody,

My windshield recently cracked (2015 Outback 3.6R with Eyesight) and I am having a hard time finding/getting straight answers. I parked the car last Monday after work and didn't go back out to the car until Wednesday evening. When I came out, I had a crack going from the base of the glass on the passenger towards the center of the windshield. I called my insurance and they put me in touch with the glass company they use, Safelite, who returned with a quote for a thousand dollars. This was later in the day so I wasn't able to get to a dealer to have them visually look at it just yet. The next day I called SOA and asked how to open a claim and they told me to contact a local dealer. I ended up contacting two and went to one in person. The first dealer I contacted by phone and they were super nice but unfortunately, didn't make any forward progress. The conversation mainly revolved how in order for it to be a warranty the crack needed to be in this extremely narrow band of requirements, including a chip over the heating element on the passenger side. The conversation ended with, "Something probably hit your windshield and then cracked after the fact with the change in temperature".

After that conversation, I decided to drop into the dealer next door to me and have them take a look. The technician found the tiniest chip, in a location that I personally thought was over the heating element, but said that SOA was likely going to deny the warranty. Again, super nice and also opened a claim on my behalf, which I am waiting to hear back from. I asked what it would cost to have it replaced through them and he said it would probably be close to one thousand dollars, $600 for glass, $124 for recalibration, and $200 for labor because they contract it out.

After leaving the dealership I decided to ask some teammates in the area what their recommendations were and one suggested that I use a company called Auto Glass Now. I went to their website and requested a quote and was surprised when I got a quote back for $180. This does not include a recalibration but is much easier to digest in my opinion. Something I need to figure out is if the dealer will one, do a recalibration if I dont go through them for the replacement and two, how much will it cost.

To conclude, I'd like to ask a few questions and hopefully get some answers. First, what has been your experience with cracked windshields? Second, I feel like the quotes from the dealer and Safelite are exorbitantly high. A BMW x5 costs less to get its windshield replaced. Are the costs appropriate? Third. if you have had claims with SOA what has been your experience? Lastly, what are some general recommendations for the path forward? Thank you all for taking the time to read this novel. Any light shed on the topic would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Moose

I've had various ordinary auto insurance companies replace at least 10 windshields in many different vehicles over the last few decades. From New Mexico's frequent sandstorms* to objects flying off of trucks to operator error (hit it with my steering wheel lock), my out of pocket costs have been either ZERO or $50 (no Eyesight systems involved). Warranty schwarranty, I gotta ask ... what kind of auto insurance doesn't cover glass replacement?

* When I lived in New Mexico 40 years ago, State Farm HQ once notified me that they would not renew my auto insurance because of all the accidents I had had. "I've never had an auto accident." They responded with "But you've had six windshield replacements."

"Ever been here?" I responded. "These have all been sandblasted in winds of 50-100 mph.. Besides, I've paid you tens of thousands in home and auto insurance premiums and you're whining about a few windshields? Do you want my money or not?"

Never heard from them again, still with them, still getting charged a flat rate of $50 for new windshields even on my motor home.

 

I have worked in a Mercedes Benz certified body shop for almost 17 years, we always use a competent glass company to remove or replace front or rear windscreens, more cost effective for MB

 

Yeah, Auto Insurance covering windshields isnt a requirement here in VA, at least that I've found. I think I'm going to go with the 3rd party that came as a recommendation from a few people. Then I'll figure out the recalibration.

 

I went through this earlier this year on my 2015 OB. Windshield cracked from a falling tree branch but here in SC glass is automatically covered with no deductible since I had comprehensive. The one dealer around me doesn't do glass replacement but recommended a shop they take all of their windshield work to. That shop replaced the glass with a non-oem brand but were unable to recalibrate the eyesight for reasons they didn't understand. They also chipped the corner of the windshield at some point so I was eligible for a replacement under warranty. I didn't care for that shop, so next I went to Safelite who assured me they could replace and re-calibrate no problem. Safelite also installed a non-oem windshield and were also unable to re-calibrate it. They too really couldn't explain why but said the dealer should be able to do it since they have the latest software and equipment. The dealer said they wouldn't/couldn't (I don't remember which) re-calibrate a non-oem windshield. So back for a third windshield replacement (Safelite again) this time with an oem windshield which again Safelite wasn't able to re-calibrate. So that meant another trip to the dealer who was finally able to re-calibrate the eyesight and all's well that end's well. I had to pay the dealer ~$260 for the re-calibration but my ins co reimbursed me for that. I had no money out of pocket but quite a few hrs of time were involved.

I guess the point of that story is that you should make sure what kind of windshield you're getting and some guarantee that the installer will be able to re-calibrate it or that the dealer will be willing to. Good luck!

 

I live in FL so I get free glass replacement, but replacing the windshield in my 19 Outback was probably over $1000 in cost. With that being said I had a duck hit my windshield and scratched it all to right in the middle!! Called my insurance and they refereed me to Safelite. While I use them for where I work, I would not trust them to do the calibration. I took the car to the dealership and they took care of everything once they got the insurance to release them to do the work.. Come to find out at the time there was only OEM glass so safelite couldn't have done it anyways!! I've had no problems with eye sight or anything since. If anything, get the replacement done through safelite and have the dealer do the calibration.

 

My wife and I purchased a 2019 Outback when we retired in PA. We have since moved to FL. During this time, we had 2 windshields replaced due to stones from passing trucks hitting and cracking the windshield. My 2 cents are that the Outback's do seem more prone to cracks from impacts like this, as opposed to other vehicles we have. That said. both windshields were replaced in PA by a local company that specializes in auto glass replacement. Both times the glass was replaced WITHOUT the need to re-calibrate the Eye-Sight. Both times I asked about this and was told unless there was a significant amount of impact/damage to the area around the unit, there is no reason the spend the money for re-calibration. The windshield can be removed/replaced without touching or moving the Eye-Sight unit. Other than my dislike for the Eye-Sight and all the quirks and annoyances that goes with the system, ours still functions the same as it did when new after the 2 windshield replacements.
I find the system itself is basically a "fair weather" device and in bad weather conditions, when you might need a little help, it will suddenly decide to turn off and leave you to fend for yourself anyway. Just more costly electronics pushed onto the consumer that raises both the initial cost and the repair costs of vehicles.
FYI - I am now 62 and managed to drive almost all my life until 2019 without all these added devices and still drive my other vehicles without them. Two of my previous vehicles were Foresters without the fancy electronics and original windshields still intact when I traded them in.

 

Completely agree with the sentiment on Eyesight as someone who works with computers all day. I find all of the chimes distracting and the only thing I like about the system is the cruise control. I've got an appointment later today with the 3rd party company and then a 700 mile drive tomorrow so I guess I'll figure out what works and what doesn't haha.

Regards,
Moose

 

Just finished up the replacement. Took about an hour and $200 before tax. Quickly testing Eyesight yielded no abnormal results but will provide an update after tomorrow's journey.

 

@RubberMoose what's the verdict?

 

I had mine replaced few months ago. I don't believe it was caused by an impact because I don't remember having one and there was no evidence of an impact on the glass. The crack appeared to start from the bottom edge, inside the rubber, in front of the driver and arc up and across to the center. I had it replaced by safe-lite with my insurance and it cost about $600 for the glass and $400 for the calibration... at least that's what the invoice said.

 

Awesome! Thanks for the update!

 

I know this post is old, but my crack was recent. I created a new thread with my facts. Did not want to hijack this thread.
This month I had the windshield replaced by USAA/Safelite. It was in a 2020 OB with Eyesight. The bill to USAA was $1162.00 plus change. I had zero deductible, so it cost me zero.

The problem I stated in MY thread, was that the contractor left me searching (not on purpose) for how to turn on most of the functions that were disabled. Thet and I have no idea EXACTLY how the functions got turned off.