Cracked Windshield...Again...What a nightmare!

[Ecupip]

I sold my Rivian back in Sept '24, but right before then I had a windshield replaced through Safelite. Their mobile dept came to my house to do it.

However, I did have to take it to Rivian service center for a $85 calibration. Was able to get an appointment just a few days out.

The process ended up being a lot less painful than I was expecting.

I am curious. Did any systems not work, or did you have warnings to prompt the recalibration after the windshield was replaced?

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[sub]

When my windshield cracked the first time I walked into the Rivian service center without an appointment and asked for suggestions.

They told me that they don't do windshield replacements and if I made an appointment through the Rivian app they would ship my car across town to have the work done at a 3rd party shop.

They told me that they would be happy to take care of the arrangements but that it would be quicker and easier if I just called the 3rd party shop myself.

I called the company Rivian suggested, and they scheduled me to come in the day after the part arrived from Rivian (which took about 5 days). When I dropped it off their lot was 90% Rivians so I was quite confident that they knew what they were doing. It took them about 4 hours to replace and re-calibrate the windshield. It was a completely painless experience.

I am up to crack #3 so I am quite glad that at least in my neck of the woods window replacements are easy.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Just got a deep rock strike that cracked the windshield this weekend. In MA we have $0 deductible windshield replacement, but the service center (Chelsea) will not work with insurance so they directed me to a certified collision repair shop as noted by @jemkewl

I reached out to a local glass shop and will reach out to local safelite to see if they can calibrate a Rivian yet.

Rivian Service is more like the Service Dept. at your local car dealer (but do not have their own on-site collision shop or offer that service). Certified repair shops are the independently owned body shops whom Rivian considers competent enough to work on cars they've made. Some of the repair work may require OEM service dept. expertise and that work is farm out from the body shop. The body shop is the "point man" between you and your insurance.

 

[NY_Rob]

I am up to crack #3 so I am quite glad that at least in my neck of the woods window replacements are easy.

Whom is paying for these repairs/replacements? Hopefully your insurance...

 

[KubotaTed]

Whom is paying for these repairs/replacements? Hopefully your insurance...

I don't submit to insurance just because of my own (self-inflicted) personal situation. I have some high end exotic cars and opening a claim on insurance would raise my premiums on a segment of cars that I'd prefer to avoid doing so.

That said, in most situations, yes - it should be covered by insurance.

 

[KubotaTed]

I am curious. Did any systems not work, or did you have warnings to prompt the recalibration after the windshield was replaced?

I believe Level 2 driving (nor adaptive cruise) will work until recalibration. In my particular experience, it all happened within a day or two - so I didn't experience an inconvenience. Immediate after calibrating, I took the truck out onto the highway to confirm it was all working as expected.

Note that the whole process was much cheaper than I was anticipating. Windshield install plus the calibration was under $900.

 

[Schroederhc]

I had this installed at Accutint in Bellevue, WA. They do an excellent job; I can't even tell it's on the windshield. Follow the instructions so it cures correctly. It only needs to work once, and it pays for itself 3x.

 

[sub]

Whom is paying for these repairs/replacements? Hopefully your insurance...

Yes, my insurance covers full glass with $0 deductible. In my state this appears to be standard. I've never been asked if I wanted full glass coverage and it has always been included. They haven't raised my rates yet.

 

[Wispitgood]

Hey All,

We are dealing with our second cracked windshield. Has anyone had any luck getting the windshield replaced, and recalibrated, through a company other than the Rivian SC? The soonest appointment is months away and they are unable to tell us how long they will keep the vehicle (it's not like it needs diagnosing, it's a cracked windshield!). We've tried going through a certified body shop...they are all very responsive and polite, but don't want to deal with the Rivian windshield because Rivian hasn't given them the ability to calibrate. So even if we have it replaced by a certified body shop we still have to wait for Rivian SC appointment to calibrate the windshield.

I've been a HUGE fan of this vehicle, but man...it is an inferior customer experience dealing with their service team.

I was in a Safelite shop in Linchburg, VA few weeks ago having my wife's Toyota windshield fixed before she found out that I found out that, no, you can't get a 10ft board into her car.

I asked if they did Rivians, as I am waiting on delivery. They said they were now certified, but had not done any yet at their location.

Hope I am not the first one!

 

[emoore]

Yes, my insurance covers full glass with $0 deductible. In my state this appears to be standard. I've never been asked if I wanted full glass coverage and it has always been included. They haven't raised my rates yet.

Wish I could get that with USAA in Colorado. I don’t so that’s why I have a crack in my windshield. At least it’s on the passenger side

 

[LHB]

As mentioned by @racekarl , in MA windshields are covered with no deductible. Correct, the SC won't deal with insurance, so last time we had to pay out of pocket and wait to get reimbursed by our insurance company. Again, not an ideal workflow.

I have heard back from one local shop whose receptionist claims the can replace the windshield AND calibrate...waiting to hear back from them to schedule. I will share the shop details if this is in fact true.

 

[rivian.nyc]

Hey All,

We are dealing with our second cracked windshield. Has anyone had any luck getting the windshield replaced, and recalibrated, through a company other than the Rivian SC? The soonest appointment is months away and they are unable to tell us how long they will keep the vehicle (it's not like it needs diagnosing, it's a cracked windshield!). We've tried going through a certified body shop...they are all very responsive and polite, but don't want to deal with the Rivian windshield because Rivian hasn't given them the ability to calibrate. So even if we have it replaced by a certified body shop we still have to wait for Rivian SC appointment to calibrate the windshield.

I've been a HUGE fan of this vehicle, but man...it is a really poor customer experience dealing with their service team.

The rivian glass is especially weak. I’m on my 3rd glass in 18 months. Prior to that, my honda pilot went thru 2 in 17 years.

Plus, even tho I found a provider in the Rivian network willing to do the work, once they had to start dealing with the insuance company, they gave up. (USAA had no method to deal with it, and kept sending tons of paperwork…as if this was the 1st time a windsheild had been broke).

And even if you find a Safelite to do the glass, you still have to go to an SC to get the sensor done.

Pls let me if anyone has found success a diff way.

Hope they change their glass one day.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

The rivian glass is especially weak. I’m on my 3rd glass in 18 months. Prior to that, my honda pilot went thru 2 in 17 years.

Plus, even tho I found a provider in the Rivian network willing to do the work, once they had to start dealing with the insuance company, they gave up. (USAA had no method to deal with it, and kept sending tons of paperwork…as if this was the 1st time a windsheild had been broke).

And even if you find a Safelite to do the glass, you still have to go to an SC to get the sensor done.

Pls let me if anyone has found success a diff way.

Hope they change their glass one day.

Are we sure it’s the glass? Some off-road cars have windshields that have more perpendicular (to the road) angles, which cause higher impacts and more cracks. Eg, jeeps and broncos etc….

 

[Walter]

Hey All,

We are dealing with our second cracked windshield. Has anyone had any luck getting the windshield replaced, and recalibrated, through a company other than the Rivian SC? The soonest appointment is months away and they are unable to tell us how long they will keep the vehicle (it's not like it needs diagnosing, it's a cracked windshield!). We've tried going through a certified body shop...they are all very responsive and polite, but don't want to deal with the Rivian windshield because Rivian hasn't given them the ability to calibrate. So even if we have it replaced by a certified body shop we still have to wait for Rivian SC appointment to calibrate the windshield.

I've been a HUGE fan of this vehicle, but man...it is a really poor customer experience dealing with their service team.

I did one change out, would rather have had root canal preformed! Just cracked my 2nd one..Applied a patch kit, not holding so well. Time to contact SC for another root canal !

 

[teak360]

I believe Level 2 driving (nor adaptive cruise) will work until recalibration. In my particular experience, it all happened within a day or two - so I didn't experience an inconvenience. Immediate after calibrating, I took the truck out onto the highway to confirm it was all working as expected.

Note that the whole process was much cheaper than I was anticipating. Windshield install plus the calibration was under $900.

Does anyone know for sure what doesn't work if you don't recalibrate? Safelite can do my windshield here in Boulder, but not the calibration.

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