Windshield is a rock magnet

[st381183]

I purchased my 2018 Expedition in March 2018, I have 10590 miles and three rock chips. It's like the windshield is magnetically attracting the rocks. My 2007 Expedition has 156000 miles at trade in and no chips. Luck of the Irish I guess.

 

[Garrett]

Have to replace mine too.

 

[Adieu]

Light tint and advertised superior sound insulation, also tendency to pick up a bunch of tiny "sandblasts" right?

Nothing to do with luck, see dealer or aftermarket installer about getting a "basic windshield" for the replacement. This squishiness is a typical trait of the "premium glass" option.

 

[16plati]

I purchased my 2018 Expedition in March 2018, I have 10590 miles and three rock chips. It's like the windshield is magnetically attracting the rocks. My 2007 Expedition has 156000 miles at trade in and no chips. Luck of the Irish I guess.

Well in the rock’s defense, the windshield is the second most vertical surface on your SUV, second to the front bumper.

 

[HawkX66]

Three of my vehicles need windshields right now. My Benz cracked on the way home Friday night. Nobody was around me and it was a back road.... My 07 and 17 Expys both are cracked. This is going to be expensive.

 

[Deadman]

My Ford Flex has that sound screen insulated premium glass in it and it only has 40,000 miles on it, and I just put the 4th windshield in it! This premium glass is not very durable to small hits. Its amazing......

 

[JohnT]

Just replaced my windshield 3 weeks ago, picked up a big chip on Sunday
Guess I'll be on my 3rd windshield in 9 months.

Care to elaborate about the premium windshield being more susceptible?

 

[Adieu]

Just replaced my windshield 3 weeks ago, picked up a big chip on Sunday
Guess I'll be on my 3rd windshield in 9 months.

Care to elaborate about the premium windshield being more susceptible?

"Soundscreen" branded Ford windshields, and other kinds of "premium" glass like stock BMW glass seem far more fragile.

If you see some pretty decent glare reduction but a bunch of little abrasion specks, that's what you got.

Plainer aftermarket Fuyao glass (Made in USA...by a Chinese company) seems to hold up better.

Had at least 35k mi (unknown, came on a used vehicle) on my SSV's Fuyao glass with ZERO sandblasts stars or cracks... driving the same area that put inmumerable sandblasts, dozen stars, and several footlong cracks in a bimmer Pilkington windshield in 30k mi before I went and replaced it.

Drove a stock Soundscreen in my Navigator for ~10k mi, +2 stars and a few sandblasts... probably same as the BMW glass and just holds up better on account of the vehicle sitting much higher up

 

[lbv150]

Don't drive too close the the vehicle in front....

 

[iamretired]

Maybe bug deflector would help?

 

[16plati]

Maybe bug deflector would help?

Nah, rocks are too heavy and won’t be picked up in that airstream like bugs would. I’ve seen rocks just bust right through the bug deflectors

 

[aggiegrad05]

Nah, rocks are too heavy and won’t be picked up in that airstream like bugs would. I’ve seen rocks just bust right through the bug deflectors

I dunno...In the first 6 months I owned my previous truck (an F-150) I went through two windshields. Then I installed the factory bug deflector and drove for another 6 years without a single ding.

 

[st381183]

I installed an AVS Bugflector II on my 2018 but the little rocks keeps making it though. I understand that the windshield is a flat surface travelling down the road but in 32 years of driving and over twenty vehicles, the new Expy seems to suck the rocks in.

 

[Black]

Nah, rocks are too heavy and won’t be picked up in that airstream like bugs would. I’ve seen rocks just bust right through the bug deflectors

You’d be surprised. Sure big rocks it does not stop but smaller rocks it certainly does.
It is not the end all but they help.

 

[zfifty]

There is a product called ClearPlex that can be installed over your windshield to protect it. Probably pretty penny though.
https://madico.com/dealers/automotive/windshield-protection/clearplex

 

[AAOO]

I have 4 star cracks within 10,000 miles. All sealed for free by insurance but they are still ugly. It's definitely a magnet. I think the way the hood is shaped it scoops them right into the glass.

 

[scottdm]

I have 4 star cracks within 10,000 miles. All sealed for free by insurance but they are still ugly. It's definitely a magnet. I think the way the hood is shaped it scoops them right into the glass.

I also have 10,000 miles and do all interstate driving with many triaxle dump trucks that are hauling gravel. I don't have any chips and find that following at a safe distance typically helps. I used to be in a hurry and always on someone's tail in the passing lane and the front of my old vehicles looked like they had been sand blasted on the front bumper, hood, and windshield due to all the rock chips. Much of this can be avoided with a change in driving style if one desires.

 

[Deadman]

I also have 10,000 miles and do all interstate driving with many triaxle dump trucks that are hauling gravel. I don't have any chips and find that following at a safe distance typically helps. I used to be in a hurry and always on someone's tail in the passing lane and the front of my old vehicles looked like they had been sand blasted on the front bumper, hood, and windshield due to all the rock chips. Much of this can be avoided with a change in driving style if one desires.

Most of our glass breaks were from oncoming traffic on 2 lane highways....

 

[AAOO]

Most of our glass breaks were from oncoming traffic on 2 lane highways....

Lol, I had to read that twice. It has nothing to do with riding someone’s bumper. All of mine have been long distance shots. I would guess ~10 car lengths or more on all 4. What’s even stranger, two happened in the same day on different roads from different vehicles.

 

[edizzle]

nothing and i mean nothing ruins the front of a vehicle more than a bug guard!!!!!! i mean i get it, but............