2018 Platinum Windshield replacement (Beware)

So I caught a 45 cal sized rock in the windshield and called insurance to have it replaced. They sent me to Safelite. These guys I am sure are usually better than they have been with my Tundra, but they brought the wrong windshield twice. On the second time, they actually took out the cracked windshield and then put it back in the truck. Third time they brought the correct glass and installed it. They then informed me I would have to have the dealership calibrate the camera system for the anti collision stuff. Toyota was unable to do this and had no idea why the truck would not allow the re-calibration. So back to Safelite where they also tried and failed, and then put in some more glass, OEM this time. The system still failed to calibrate. Back to Toyota who now has informed me Safelite damaged the camera while removing it.....unknow how, but it needs to be replaced. So the truck is back at Toyota getting all new glass and camera. $3,000 later, yea 3 grand, what the heck. Insurance will reimburse and all will be good, but be careful who works on these windshields boys....and girls. They need to know how to properly remove that camera without damaging it.

 

Sucks, sorry to hear.

This is why insurance is going to skyrocket in general. What used to be a $600 repair now costs $1200 (not including the camera cost and multiple attempts you experienced).

The technology is nice, but it costs so dam much to repair. Calibrating a camera and sensors for adaptive cruise and braking can be 4 hours dealership tech labor alone.

 

I've never had SafeLite replace a windshield but have used them numerous times for chip fixes. They are pretty good with that. I do remember each time getting a comment card to mail in or do the online thing. I'd definitely go online and comment on your crappy situation. SafeLite does have some decent windshield cleaner they'd always give me.

 

I'm pretty laid back so I probably won't hammer safelite cause they were always way cool and I'm sure trying to get it right.

 

Too late for that because technically this is your "review / hammering" them....

 

because safelite sucks. i would not let those dimwits near any of my vehicles.
and yes i know the dealers sub this out, but there are other companies out there to do the work.

 

Safelite out here isn't very bright. I have a local guy and zero issues. A friend with a Lincoln (people still drive those???) used them and same song & dance - paid $380 out of pocket because the sensors had to be reset etc.

 

That sucks. I'll add my sucky story. 2 Windshield replacements last year and my agent calls, ahhhh you might not want to file a claim for the windshield again since it is such a small cost....underwriter asked us to talk to you. Wow! Been with them for 10 plus years and have 3 windshield claims total and they "threaten" me. Anyway, to the OP, be on the lookout as the insurance company may try and get their money back somehow.

 

Would be interested to know which Ins Co that is so I can stay away from them...

 

Do you know what the average insurance company makes in profit for every dollar in premium that they bring in on auto policies? 2 to 3 cents.

I’m not trying to defend them, just stating facts. I work in the industry, but no longer for any insurance companies.

The more it costs to replace a simple windshield, the higher our premiums will be eventually. It’s pure economics. With all the technology in cars these days, repairs are costing more and more.

Homeowners insurance is slightly more profitable. About 8 to 9 cents on the dollar. However, the wildfires in California destroyed profits for many companies. It will end up costing homeowners more for insurance countrywide. Again, not defending the companies or laying any blame for these horrible catastrophes. Just stating the facts of pure economics.

 

I'm quite familiar with the Ins business as a close colleague is the President of an Ins company and has clued me in on quite a bit over the years. Two main factors are RISK and HONESTY....nevertheless those premiums are paid in good faith by customers and should be honored as such as part of said contract. Personally the 2 - 3 cents per policy is quite undervalued...YMMV. Not here to quibble. I have had some real zingers for Ins policy/company experiences and have only made 2 claims in all my years of driving. And yes those wildfires really impacted the ins companies...and worse yet, the displaced families who lost their homes.

 

The insurance companies that we would by from mitigate their risk with re-insurance.

 

My agent is independent and will review annually to find the best value. They have me with Cincinnati Insurance right now. I’m betting all of them would either raise rates or drop you if they no longer feel your account is worth the risk.

 

Allowing your insurance company to install aftermarket parts in general is a bad idea. New windshields have a lot of design requirements to meet. Water management, wind noise, visual distortion limits, front camera, Heads up displays. If the glass is not “bent” to the right specs all of these items items can be impacted. Before I started working at an OEM I had an aftermarket windshield installed. The glass bend was not made to factory specs and the wiper blades contacted because the draw was not deep enough. Had to get it cut out and replaced with OEM.

 

Just another reason I'm glad I have a pre '18

 

I was a glass installer for 4 years. Your experience is based on your installer. If the guy doing the work doesn't care and just wants to get out of there you will get poor quality. Believe it or not there is actually no manual on how to pull a vehicle apart just to get to the windshield without breaking anything. I replaced a windshield in a brand-new Mercedes once and spent 3 hours removing sensors and exterior mouldings. All in all didn't break anything and the owner never had an issue. Best advice, have them come to the house and watch them do it. It's hard to hide what you broke if the owner is right there.

 

Picking the rig up this am from Toyota after they put in OEM glass. All working great now they say. Just a tough lesson to learn about all this new tech. I went with the Tundra for a miriad of reasons, one being less tech than the Fords. Oh well. Still love this truck

 

The sad part is there's no reason for it to be so expensive. Almost like hospitals charging $45 for a bandaid.

 

all vehicles manufactured going forward are going to have these safety features, so if you plan on buying a new veh after 2019 gonna have to learn to deal with it also any and all toyota dealers can re-calibrate these there is still a learning curve and confusion regarding this tech.... BTW .... NOOOOO i dont work for Safehacks----lite

 

another note what glass is installed during build is OE--pgw/agc ,, Oem ---pgw/agc is the same manufacturer who make the glass.....toyota does not make glass so if you are getting oem its the same as the oe part in the truck minus inflated dealer price .....

 

To clarify, Toyota sources glass from a sub-supplier.
In this case PGW is the supplier. (Which recently changed names to Vitro)
Every piece of glass on a vehicle has a “monogram” that lists supplier, glass specs and mfg location code.
This is dictated by FMVSS.
Body, collision, and glass repair shops can all source Original Equipment glass.

Summary: pick the repair shop of your choice. If you request OE glass, confirm by taking picture of the original monogram and make sure the new glass matches.

 

I caught a rock in the windshield of my Lexus a while back and once I told my agent at Allstate about all the crap in the windshield (GPS antenna, rain sensor, camera, and windshield wiper defroster) I was able to convince him to let me go to the dealer to have it replaced. That way it was done one time and a OEM windshield was used. It cost over $1700 to replace it but Allstate actually covered the whole thing even though I had a $500 deductible policy.
I lucked out that time. Hope it doesn't happen to the Tundra any time soon.