Windshield glass is trash

[jasonphoto01]

Exoshield is not a viable option if you live in the AZ desert, it may prevent some light pitting, but not a crack. I've had it on two vehicles here, not to mention scratches on it and replacing it every 2-3 years (no thanks). We have the highest cracked windshield rate in America. I have had three chip repairs because there is no quality aftermarket windshield option yet, but you know someone will have one.....

I believe this is a new version that just became available in March but I could be wrong.

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[Riviot]

I believe this is a new version that just became available in March but I could be wrong.

Exoshield Ultra, in the video posted above? Not on Rivian yet, I asked a company. Just the GT3. A place in Olympia will do it for $650.

I really want that UV ceramic tint again! Another partly sunny day here and I'm heating up. It's hard to justify get it again without real protection.

 

[CheezyNachos]

Unless you are a Rivian engineer with actual data over thousands of vehicles for actual rates of cracks per number of vehicles and insurance data to compare to other manufacturers, both of these anecdotes are meaningless. Sorry for the OPs bad luck, but I see zero evidence that Rivian's glass is any better or any worse than any other manufacturer.

That's because it's not Rivian's glass. It's also not better or worse than any other manufacturer.

It's manufactured/supplied by Fuyao who also (according to their website) are:

"AN OEM GLASS SUPPLIER TO ALL MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURERS
General Motors, Ford, BMW, Honda, Bentley and more all use Fuyao glass in their newly manufactured automobiles."

 

[waitingforrivian]

That's because it's not Rivian's glass. It's also not better or worse than any other manufacturer.

It's manufactured/supplied by Fuyao who also (according to their website) are:

"AN OEM GLASS SUPPLIER TO ALL MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURERS
General Motors, Ford, BMW, Honda, Bentley and more all use Fuyao glass in their newly manufactured automobiles."

Even the supplier is the same, each auto manufacturer could still get different glass specifications for their cars.

Like most smartphone manufacturers buy their glass from Corning, but the top end models from Samsung and Apple have higher quality and more durable glass.

 

[cmtaylor963]

My R1T is in the SC for a replacement windshield currently (3 months/4k miles old). It was a chip and when Safelite tried to seal, it turned into a crack. Agree with the others, I think it’s just bad luck (and driving I95 in MD with the constant construction). I’ve replaced 3 windshields on 3 different vehicles in the past 12 months.

On a side note, my service experience has been fantastic so far but that’s a topic for another post.

How much did Rivian charge? They sent me an estimate of $0.00 which I don't see them absorbing. My Safelite quote was around $1800

 

[Lucanjo]

How much did Rivian charge? They sent me an estimate of $0.00 which I don't see them absorbing. My Safelite quote was around $1800

i think it was around $1900. Waiting on the ”final” bill.

 

[pc500]

I think it's just more of an "upright windshield" kinda thing. I have a 2021 Bronco, and, oh boy, the forums were going nuts regarding broken glass for months.

My '97 Jeep went through windshields like candy.

My 99 TJ has its original windshield until last year. I replaced it because it was so hazed at night from microchips but there was no crack in sight.

My friend's JK on the other hand has
gone through multiple windshields.

 

[kyunam]

I got my R1S on 2/7/2023.
I just discovered these.
It's hard to see in the picture but there are small cracks around the chips.

 

[Cary Hawk]

I've previously read several comments re the windshield glass and when my 1st windshield got a 10" crack from small pebble in Month 2 of ownership, I chalked it up to bad luck. But now in month 6 of ownership and windshield #2 cracked from a smaller than small, barely bigger than a grain of sand @ 60mph, the glass is crap!

Having had many vehicles hit by rocks, stones, pebbles, etc and not getting cracks for decades and now taking two tiny hits that result in large cracks is not bad luck but bad glass.

And this is an adventure vehicle? Not when any little particle will result in failure of your windshield! @Rivian, you gotta do better!

It Happened AGAIN! Three for three, my windshield has been hit three times by pea sized (or smaller) pebbles and all three cracked the windshield! This glass cant take being hit by anything. Hell, Im afraid to spray glass cleaner on it for fear the bubbles might crack it. I'll be on my third windshield in 10 months. Ridiculous.
Never had a vehicle with such fragile glass. Mercedes 7years, zero cracks, volvo, 10 years zero cracks, current toyota 4 years, zero cracks, current Mazda 2 years, zero cracks, Rivian 10 months, 3 impacts & 3 cracked windshields.

 

[DaveA]

Hmm...might be time for someone to make one of those stone deflectors for Rivians.

 

[R1Tom]

Just a data point...and I just knocked on the wood dash....22k and original glass in perfect condition.

 

[srkz]

That's because it's not Rivian's glass. It's also not better or worse than any other manufacturer.

It's manufactured/supplied by Fuyao who also (according to their website) are:

"AN OEM GLASS SUPPLIER TO ALL MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURERS
General Motors, Ford, BMW, Honda, Bentley and more all use Fuyao glass in their newly manufactured automobiles."

Very weak argument. It is Rivian's glass (and responsibility) because they designed the dimensions and shape, tested the samples, chose materials and thicknesses, and approved the batch. If Apple made a shitty iPhone you wouldn't blame Foxconn.

Think of glass like tires. You can buy tires from any brand and they all look pretty much the same but you know that the specifications like rubber compound, tread pattern and depth, sidewall thickness, belt material and thickness, etc. can all be different and give a very different result. Just because Michelin makes tires for the 747 doesn't mean the tires on your car are the same as the ones on a 747.

My anecdote: Less than 30 days of ownership and my windshield is severely cracked already. I drive pretty conservatively and have never gotten a crack in any other vehicle in 20+ years of driving just about everything with wheels.

 

[BeerInPeril]

Maybe worse than the windshield... I filed a complaint this winter that my roof glass was making quite alarming squeaks when in freezing temperature, sounded overconstrained.

Fast forward six months, I left the truck parked in full sun while out and about in nature a few weekends ago and was greeted by a nicely cracked roof.

Fingers crossed it will be handled under warranty... But I've used Fuyao glass one other cars and it's been performing poorly every time.

 

[JamesPolk24]

The fuyao glass and the wipers are both garbage. Fortunately the wipers are easy to replace. Glass has to be babied and even then you may get unlucky. No matter what anecdotes some provide about their other experiences with other vehicles and chalking it up to bad luck, one thing is for sure. The Rivian wind screen by Fuyao has the durability of peanut brittle.

 

[SASSquatch]

Folks, I hate to break it to you (no pun intended - ok, maybe) but the glass manufacturer has NOTHING to do with the rock chips and cracks.

Look carefully at the angle of the R1T/S glass and compare it to other brands. The R1s have a very short dash and a very long nose for the frunk. That design choice necessitated a windshield angle that is fairly steep in stead of being more sloped.

The angle of the glass has everything to do with how much damage a projectile will do. If the glass is sloped, the object is much more likely to graze off if it and not cause much damage.

If it is steep - it is much more likely to slam into the glass and cause a break or crack.

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