Cracked windshield, with a 3 month wait time

[geekmeat]

San Jose, CA area. I got a small chip/star from a rock or something. Overnight that small thing cracked almost the full height of the windshield and turned at the bottom for half way across the bottom. Luckily not in any driver line of sight, so probably not illegal.

Insurance (GEICO) went fine, they agreed the windshield needed replaced, and sent a request to Rivian. I had already filed a Service Request separately, so I'm hoping those two are connected appropriately.

Here's the kicker. Now in early Feb, the first appointment available is in early May. This is getting ridiculous with this service center. I don't really blame them, but Rivian has not setup this area for success if it takes 3+ months to fix something critical like a windshield that has a giant crack. I mean at this point I'd be better off taking a hammer to it to finish it off and then they'd have to treat it like an emergency. Instead, I have to worry every day for 3 months that the windshield will just shatter or something, and at anytime. Could be I walk out and it's gone, could be while driving on the highway.
Sorry for the rant, but wanted to share my story so others in similar situations can at least not feel alone. I've talked to the service agent and they tried to do what they could, but limited. I wonder if I have any other options for recourse.

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[NoGoingBack]

Wow that really sucks! I just had a chip last week and I was worried the same thing was going to happen. I called Rivian and they said if it’s just a chip that it could go to the local Safelite to be repaired. So I started the insurance claim and they had me scheduled right in the insurance app for the next day. The safelite guy repaired it, but couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t splinter due to it being so close to the bottom by the defroster. He didn’t even charge me or my insurance. So fingers crossed it holds. If it does crack I hope the Cleveland service center doesn’t have that kind of wait time for a safety issue like this.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

It's mind blowing to me that you have to get windshield replacements from a service center. Just a terribly flawed approach to service if Rivian has made so many odd choices here that Safelite can't just swap in some OEM or even equivalent glass.

In the off road scene, windshields are a wear component. I had my Bronco for 16k miles and it went through two windshields and probably a dozen of those Permetex resin kits.

 

[geekmeat]

Wow that really sucks! I just had a chip last week and I was worried the same thing was going to happen. I called Rivian and they said if it’s just a chip that it could go to the local Safelite to be repaired. So I started the insurance claim and they had me scheduled right in the insurance app for the next day. The safelite guy repaired it, but couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t splinter due to it being so close to the bottom by the defroster. He didn’t even charge me or my insurance. So fingers crossed it holds. If it does crack I hope the Cleveland service center doesn’t have that kind of wait time for a safety issue like this.

I had an appointment for Safelite to patch the chip in a day, had to cancel that when I woke up to the huge crack. :-/

 

[Theeman]

I'm on my third windshield because they crack so easily. Rivian fixed the first one, then I had a certified body repair shop replace the second one. Rivian West Sacramento can get me in for another repair in mid-march. Weak glass or bad installs, whatever it is, I'm wasting a lot of money

 

[timgradywy]

Wait times are nuts. I tried to book a simple door handle sticking repair this morning. SSF was booking June or July. I wound up choosing May at San Jose. When I brought mine in to SSF to get a spare tire installed (no option for self install), they initially wanted my car for days or even a week and were shocked when I said I planned to wait…

 

[cbrcanuck]

It's mind blowing to me that you have to get windshield replacements from a service center. Just a terribly flawed approach to service if Rivian has made so many odd choices here that Safelite can't just swap in some OEM or even equivalent glass.

In the off road scene, windshields are a wear component. I had my Bronco for 16k miles and it went through two windshields and probably a dozen of those Permetex resin kits.

In Vancouver they have one certified repair shop that can do them, I think they need to get more!

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

In Vancouver they have one certified repair shop that can do them, I think they need to get more!

It's a windshield. For me, that's right down there with tires. There's no reason they need to require a service center to replace them. They should be providing their calibration tools to providers like Safelite and they should publish a workshop manual for this repair.

 

[9527]

I already had my windshield repaired twice in the first 6 months of ownership due to rock chips. The second one was actually a little too big to be repaired but I repaired it anyway knowing that it’s a pain (and expensive) to have the windshield replaced.

Don’t know if I’m unlucky but I’ve been driving the same commute for the past 15 years and never got rock chip so frequently. Maybe 5 times total before getting the Rivian.

 

[COdogman]

I don't know the law in CA, but I would politely but firmly attempt to tell them your windshield is bad enough that you could receive a ticket if it obstructs your vision. I know people who have been ticketed for that here in CO.

 

[capitolm94]

Certified body shops can do the replacement. I am having it done right now in Orange County. The shop says they do them frequently, and the wait is minimal (1-2 weeks for parts only).

 

[IGR]

I am also dealing with cracked windshield and 3+ month wait time for service center.
My advise is to check Rivian Certified Collision Centers, they will fix/replace it quicker but it is usually more expensive. But hopefully your insurance will take care of it for you.

 

[solaskaze]

Certified body shops can do the replacement. I am having it done right now in Orange County. The shop says they do them frequently, and the wait is minimal (1-2 weeks for parts only).

Here in the South Bay, every single certified shop save one will refuse glass only jobs, and I personally gave up trying to schedule with the glass one.

 

[virgnia_rivian]

We had a rock break our windshield back in November. Rivian gave us an appt about 10 weeks out, but recommended we reach out to a Rivian-certified body shop. Which we did. The shop was able to order an OEM windshield and get us in about two weeks later. They had the truck for a week. One day for the windshield repair and a couple of days for them to take it to the Service Center for calibration. (Most shops can't do the calibration, but some can)

All-in we went from broken windshield to repaired in less than a month. I'd recommend this route if possible. Also, while our insurance paid for the entire thing, the quote from Rivian and the repair shop were very close to each other, around 2k.

 

[teartags]

I don't know the law in CA, but I would politely but firmly attempt to tell them your windshield is bad enough that you could receive a ticket if it obstructs your vision. I know people who have been ticketed for that here in CO.

That's good to know. I've lived in CO/ WY for almost 30 years. I think the longest I've ever driven WITHOUT a cracked windshield is like 6 months. I finally replaced the one on my last truck, not because the 4 cracks that had been there over the course of 6 years, but because it had become so sandblasted from these infernal Front Range Winds, that I could no longer see when driving off into the sunset.
OP, don't worry about your windshield suddenly imploding. It's laminated glass.

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