Rock vs windshield

[SmoothJ]

Well, after nearly 3 years of ownership, it happened. I was traveling along the highway and was behind a beer truck when I was hit with a nice size rock that caused 3 little marks/pits on the windshield. They are pretty tiny, but they are in my center of view and I can use them for target practice.

Is there anyway to repair this, even though they are really tiny?

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[Mach Turtle]

I received a somewhat larger impact while driving my wife's Mach-E whose windshield is likely very similar to a Lightning's. Bought a windshield ding repair kit (I think the brand was Permatex) and applied it within a couple of hours of being hit. The repaired spot isn't perfect, but it's much better than before the repair, and the small cracks haven't grown. The system they have for vacuuming air from the dent, applying epoxy, etc. is clever.

Your damage looks tiny, but glass being glass, it's a good idea to use epoxy in the dents to prevent crack growth.

 

[Scorpio3d]

I think you can get it professionally done as well, it will always be an imperfection, but they can make it look close to new.

 

[The Weatherman]

If you act before it spiders, and it will, it can be repaired. Your insurance will cover the repair without charge. If it spiders you will need to replace it and may have a deductible to pay. It depends on your coverage.

 

[RickLightning]

If you act before it spiders, and it will, it can be repaired. Your insurance will cover the repair without charge. If it spiders you will need to replace it and may have a deductible to pay. It depends on your coverage.

It amazes me how many don't know that insurance companies will do free repairs. That said, they are not going to be invisible.

 

[Phil D]

I have AAA. No deductible for windshields cracks smaller than a dollar bill or divots. It’s part of their coverage. Maybe your insurance will cover it also.

I had Safelight do the repairs. They’ll even go to your work parking lot to complete the repairs. After repairs, you would have to know about the crack to see it.

Hopefully you’re covered. Good luck.

 

[rikster63]

I've used Safelite to repair small rock chips and small cracks in my windshields, and can confirm they do make it hard to spot the imperfections when done. However, I think they will refuse to do that repair if the chip/crack is directly in the line of sight for the driver. Hopefully I'm wrong, but that's what I've been told in the past. Good luck!

 

[rockfish]

I have had to replace a couple of windshields on my 2018 lariat not fun... so first thing i did after picking up my lightning was ordering a clear PPF film that was cut for the lightning windshield, wasn't too difficult to install, you need two people ... crystal clear cant even tell its on there unless you look at the edge. should be worth it to keep the rock chips down...

 

[Athrun88]

That's an easy DIY fix if you're up for it. Pick up a windshield repair kit and it'll fill the chip and be invisible afterwards. If you're not comfortable with DIY, look up your local repair place and they'll probably do it for cheap. Not worth going through insurance imo.

 

[Randall Stephens]

I’ve used the rainX brand. With a razor blade those will disappear. You won’t see them. At all. Time is important though, so get on it.

 

[RocketGhost]

Your insurance will cover the repair without charge.

It amazes me how many don't know that insurance companies will do free repairs.

It's based on state insurance laws. In some states you can't get free glass coverage because they don't require insurance companies to offer it. There might be insurers that offer it anyway, but none of the policies I've ever had include free glass repair/replacement.

OP: I'd go to a glass shop and have the chips repaired. They look to me to just be on the surface so they may not be in danger of spreading, but I wouldn't take that chance.

I heard a rock hit a couple weeks ago. I got home and it took me awhile but I found a chip, close to the edge and not visible from the inside. It was bigger than yours but less than 5mm. I had it professionally repaired so it wouldn't spread. Also I always have chips repaired immediately, cracks can spread very quickly. My wife's car got one and by the next day it was 6" long.

 

[Warren]

Suffered two rock chips in the first 6 months of ownership. I think these windshields magnetically attract rocks. Had Safelite do the first, $150, then I bought a kit for the second.

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