It seems like the Jeep Compass is having a hard time standing up to the heat this summer. Over the weekend I was parked in a subterranean parking structure that was quite hot. A few short minutes after pulling out into the fresh air, I was shocked to actually see a sizable crack appear in the Compass’ windshield right above eye level. I knew that nothing fell on the car and spoke to one of the other editors who immediately suspected the heat.
In an urgent move to take care of this hazard I called the service center which told me that it would be over a week before they could fit me in, but they came through nonetheless and gave me the direct line to the glass company they work with. Within 24 hours Class Auto Glass was at my house with a new windshield and had the old one replaced in a short 2 hour turnaround. It was all taken care of so efficiently that I didn’t even manage to get a good picture of the damaged windshield to share with you all.
The total cost for the repair and labor was $325.00, but I was assured that this was markedly lower than the fee I would have paid if I had gone through the dealer service center. The repairman confirmed our suspicions and indicated that it was likely a hear fracture in the glass, yet another knock on the Jeep’s durability in my opinion.
Alison Steinlauf Anziska, Marketing Coordinator @ 8,200 miles.
opfreak says:
06:09 AM, 08/21/07
but but but but its trail rated. isn't it?
neely2005 says:
07:00 AM, 08/21/07
The Jeep Compass is the only Jeep that's NOT Trail Rated. (The Jeep Patriot can be Trail Rated but only as an Option)
It sucks that your window cracked but shouldn't this be covered under the warranty?
redliner says:
08:30 AM, 08/21/07
Hmmm, it sounds like it should be coverd under warrent like neely said. I see no way that they can say that you caused this to happen. To bad you already had it fixed.
scott65 says:
08:33 AM, 08/21/07
I for one am SHOCKED that the Jeep Compass has a shoddy build quality. /sarcasm
steel5blue says:
09:21 AM, 08/21/07
I'm just glad, you seem to be having the worst luck in the world w/ cars and then muster all the incompetence you can find to deal with the fiascos, so you'll have enough material for your blog.
altimadude00 says:
10:49 AM, 08/21/07
I cracked my windshield while trying to wash it in my driveway. It had been sitting in the Florida sun for a few hours that morning and I sprayed it down with cool water (no Florida water is cold). I heard a pop and a huge crack appeared across the glass.
I don't think it's a reliability issue. It's just hot glass (or cool glass) rapidly cooling (or heating) and expanding and contracting. I'm sure someone with a chemistry background can back me up on this.
mercv says:
11:42 AM, 08/21/07
steel5blue: What would you have done differently, then? People come into my dealership all the time looking for help, but I don't think of them as incompetent. I can fix cars, but I sure can't cut my own hair, but the nice people at Great Clips don't seem to think that I am incompetent because of it. Not everyone is an automotive expert.
opfreak says:
12:05 PM, 08/21/07
altimadude00 - your right...
expect that modern glass can be engineering to not do that
i would have taken it back to the dealer. imho a heat crack like that should never occur on a new vechical.
steel5blue says:
01:03 PM, 08/21/07
mercy, I was not implying she should have fixed the windshield herself, but she obviously doesn't know how to assert herself with her less than honorable dealer (surprise!) and ends up paying 325.- for something that is clearly covered under warranty, unless they find evidence of an impact (i.e. stone). This is not the first time she or her edmunds colleagues have appeared less competent than your average car owner w/ internet access.
estreka says:
01:27 PM, 08/21/07
That should have been under warranty. What's the point of buying a new vehicle if the bumper-to-bumper warranty doesn't cover anything?
opfreak says:
07:04 AM, 08/22/07
i wouldn't blame alison, she called the edmunds fix it people. They should have known better.
pornhusker says:
01:44 PM, 08/22/07
Just 2 weeks ago I rented a 2007 Ford Edge. Long day driving in the summer heat, parked it in the garage for the night, and woke the next morning with a 10 inch crack originating from the A-piller (no bullseye). Of course I didn't have the renter's insurance so out-of-pocket my money went.
boxermike says:
04:00 PM, 08/22/07
Being on the Edmunds Fix-it side of the equation I am solidly behind the actions of Alison. The heat may very well have been the cause, but there is no way that would fall under the warranty/dealer umbrella. It wasn't a manufacturing defect; it was wear-and-tear.
SubyTrojan says:
05:43 PM, 08/22/07
As the Coach, Lee Corso, would say, "Not so fast, my friend!" :o) It would have been worth a shot to take it to the Jeep dealer for warranty replacement. The heat may have caused a windshield that is defective/not to proper spec to crack. I would say that would be a "defect in material." I don't think heat in this case is a "wear-and-tear" or use/abuse issue in any way.
The early (MY2004-2005) BMW E60 5 Series had known issues with stress cracks in their windshields. I believe there was a SIB or SMB (service information/measure bulletin - BMW doesn't call them "TSBs") We replaced a "fair" number of them at the BMW service department I used to work at.