2023 F-150 Lightning Windshield Cracked After Defrost—Ford Won’t Cover It! Help Needed

[BeerNuts]

It's called soundscreen and it's applicable to a whole bunch of Ford vehicles, my old ice f150 had it.

3rd winter on my windshield and it's fine, I precondition every day, I'm preconditioning right now, no problems. If it did break then for sure it's from something that hit it.

Yes so I have a dud

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[Heliian]

Yes so I have a dud

Yes, it's a dud, it couldn't stay intact after being exposed to the roads for however long it has been. Better lemon law return buyback your truck and file a class action lawsuit against ford.


Still though, if you're 80 years old and on the dole why did you buy the truck or any other expensive vehicle in the first place?

 

[BeerNuts]

Yes, it's a dud, it couldn't stay intact after being exposed to the roads for however long it has been. Better lemon law return buyback your truck and file a class action lawsuit against ford.


Still though, if you're 80 years old and on the dole why did you buy the truck or any other expensive vehicle in the first place?

I did not say I am 80 I am 67 and thought traveling would give me the best way to spend my retirement. NOT that that has anything to do with this post.

 

[Grease Lightning]

An Ice car worms up slowly whereas EVs don't. That is why it cracked... it's like like pouring hot water on a frozen cup or glass it will break.

I think this is your opinion and not based on data or science. Yeah you are correct in the fact the PTC/HP do generally create heat faster, but to a delta that works to your analogy is not correct.

Pouring hot water on the windshield is an instant transfer of energy and shocks that glass in a small area. An EV still uses air as a transfer medium so you have to warm the elements, warm the air, move the air to the glass, then the warm air blows across the plane of glass. At each of those points you have time, energy loss, and a slower rise in temperature of the glass.

I am sorry that happened to you, but it is not an “EV” or electric heater issue. If that was true, the we would see failures in a large majority of rear window resistance heated windows that have been standard for years.

 

[BeerNuts]

So you are saying that it wasn't caused by the hot defrost. ok so then the glass had to be defective. I saw it before with ice cars that are running until they are warm without the heater fan on and turn on the defrost the windshield cracks

 

[swajames]

Sorry but I feel better that I am not alone Yes I will know longer be raving about this truck ( yes I love it ) but I will be thinking about trading it in on something other than a Ford.

That is, respectfully, insane. You will take a far bigger hit on the trade than the cost of several windshields and to shoot yourself in the foot for this reason is the peak throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[RickLightning]

It's called soundscreen and it's applicable to a whole bunch of Ford vehicles, my old ice f150 had it.

3rd winter on my windshield and it's fine, I precondition every day, I'm preconditioning right now, no problems. If it did break then for sure it's from something that hit it.

Nope. Stress cracks happen. Glass is glass. You can get a crack years into a vehicle and nothing hit it. Stuff happens.

 

[twodogsdennis]

You can pre-condition your vehicle with no environmental on but if you want to preheat the cabin, I am not sure if you can select how the heat is distributed. My XLT Lightening 2024 has a heat pump so it warms slower that my MachE that has almost instant heat.

I don't think this is an option on the Pro, at least I can't find it anywhere. In one of the latest app updates, there now is a "climate" option after I initiate precondition. Even with climate temp set at 60 and defrost and seats set to off nothing changes with precon nor are there any changes with cabin settings once the truck starts so I haven't discovered what the "climate" button does for the truck.

 

[RickLightning]

I don't think this is an option on the Pro, at least I can't find it anywhere. In one of the latest app updates, there now is a "climate" option after I initiate precondition. Even with climate temp set at 60 and defrost and seats set to off nothing changes with precon nor are there any changes with cabin settings once the truck starts so I haven't discovered what the "climate" button does for the truck.

"Climate" is a word. It replaced "Remote Start". That's the change, nothing more, nothing less.

This was done for two reasons. 1) There is no difference between starting an EV and turning on the climate. 2) To create confusion.

After you hit Climate, AND your vehicle has had a server side update, you can change the temperature, the defrost, heated seats, and heating steering wheel.

Using a departure time while plugged in, which is the only way to precondition the battery, will go to the settings you pick when you set your departure time. It gives you less options but warms the battery.

 

[earlyadopt]

That is, respectfully, insane. You will take a far bigger hit on the trade than the cost of several windshields and to shoot yourself in the foot for this reason is the peak throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Let him vent, it is very upsetting to have such a finely tuned investment have a weak link. I am in the same boat, asking myself why I went down this path of electric only to have silly issues like this happen.

 

[hturnerfamily]

As an insurance agent, if a customer came to me with this claim, or concern if it is even a claim, it would make sense to reach out to the manufacturer, first, just in case. If it is out of the manufacturer's warranty, then it 'might' fall under the customer's COMPREHENSIVE coverage, which is damages not caused by other vehicles, or because of 'at fault', generally speaking. A chip, a crack, or a line, whether caused by another vehicle, a falling tree limb, or weather, all might be covered. Deer claims are an example, as you can't control animals. Sometimes they actually jump in the truck WITH you. : /

Glass Damage is sometimes covered for a 'free' REPAIR, but only if it meets certain requirements: less than 6", not in the driver's line of sight, etc., if your policy has this feature.
If not, then you have to either meet your deductible, or find a glass replacement yourself, on your own dime.

We can complain that a windshield should not 'damage upon usage of cab heating in frigid weather'... and certainly it seems it shouldn't, but like anything, there may be more to the story than is told here. We all know the rule of 'do not pour hot water on your windshield to remove ice', and it seems that this condition is along the same rules. Sad, yes, but true.

I think contacting the glass manufacturer and having a claim conversation with them might warranty some good feedback, although it doesn't necessarily mean they will give you anything, unless you can prove there was a defect beforehand. If the paint starts peeling on the truck 37 months after ownership, you might feel the same way, although I'm sure that being out of warranty is not going to bring any solution. If the glass is out of warranty, then the vehicle manufacturer is out of the picture.

 

[BeerNuts]

Let him vent, it is very upsetting to have such a finely tuned investment have a weak link. I am in the same boat, asking myself why I went down this path of electric only to have silly issues like this happen.

I am the biggest fan of EVs you can't shut me up by giving MANY rides to everyone even strangers. Open the frunk at every store ( wife keeps her bags in there ) Most I even offer them to drive it for a short spin. Now when I talk to ANYONE I will have a different conversation.

 

[PA Lightning]

I assume your truck has been through cold weather cycles before and the windshield did not crack.

Unfortunate that it happened but probably not a reason to black ball Ford, and I fully understand why glass issues would not be warranted on a 2023 vehicle. Focus on the positive.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I'm not sure what the trim level limitations are, but this is what the climate control panel looks like for a 2022 Lariat-ER, I almost never select the window defroster mode, truck is usually in the garage overnight and during inclement weather.

 

[swajames]

Let him vent, it is very upsetting to have such a finely tuned investment have a weak link. I am in the same boat, asking myself why I went down this path of electric only to have silly issues like this happen.

Upsetting as it may be it does not make the idea of trading your truck, with the financial hit that inevitably entails, for this specific reason any less insane. And "finely tuned investment"? It's a truck.

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