Just some info re: my recent experience with Safelite on my 2017 F350 Platinum: my insurance co. referred me to safelite to handle my cracked windshield. The scheduler asked me whether I had the lane keeping feature in my truck, which I do. I asked whether the replacement glass meets ALL OEM specs, including acoustic properties, she responded “yes, meets all specs, we recalibrate the camera” which indicated to me she didn’t fully understand the question. Same response when rephrasing the question. The work order (viewable online) did specify acoustic glass, so I was feeling better about it.

When I contacted the local office to confirm the appointment and ask the same question, the manager said “yes I put OEM glass on these trucks anyway, the price is about the same as the aftermarket glass and the insurance company covers it”. After the conversation, the online work order was changed to “customer requests OEM glass”. I have AAA insurance.

Day of install (which was actually moved up two days from originally scheduled) Ford Carlite OEM acoustic glass was installed, so in this case, the process was painless. Zero deductible. The tech even moved my annual state park pass to the new windshield, although I removed and replaced the dash cam myself.

 

Did they charge you for recalibration?

 

insurance covered the recalibration.

 

Other than safelite scheduleing and rescheduling my appointment, the glass install was smooth. The installer spent 30 minutes trying to calibrate the front camera, evennthough I told him several times that there was not camera. He finally opened the compartment where the camera would be located to verify there was not camera. Another funny thing, a month after the glass install, I got another notification that safelite installer was on their way to install the glass.

 

I had my original windshield for about a year. Then, I went through 3 windshields in a 5 month span, the original + 2 OEM replacements. Then, after the third Ford glass cracked, I decided to try the Safelite aftermarket. I've had that in place for about 8 months and I've taken a few knocks that I am absolutely certain would have cracked my OEM glass.

 

The knock my glass took to crack the windshield sounded like a 22 rifle shot in my truck. Scared the... out of me. I took a long trip on the hwy this weekend and had something hit the glass, but no mark. It was not nearly as loud as the knock that cracked my glass, but it was still a solid knock. Time will tell how the OEM glass fares.

 

I've replaced my windshield once. It it happens again, I might give Hyperformance Glass Products a try. More expensive, for sure. But if it is less prone to breaking, it might be worth it.

 

Glad it's working out. The last straw for me was my 3rd break. I was driving between 25-30 mph on a clean stretch of asphalt in a groomed state park. The little crossover in front of me was some sort of Kia Soul looking thing. Threw up a rock with a tiny little ping and an immediate crack line in my window. I've had bees hit my windshield with more force. I was done with OEM glass at that point. It was the windshield equivalent to this old joke:

 

I have had OEM windshields crack with what sounded like a pea hitting it and I have also had hits that sounded like a gunshot that did not crack it. I think it all depends on the angle that the rock strikes at.

 

My 2019 F150 XLT windshield got cracked. Glass company said based on VIN number it needs the windshield that supports lane departure. My truck does not have that feature, but based on the part number on the current glass (original OEM) it does appear to be lane keeper glass. Why would Ford put that windshield on when it doesn’t have lane keeper system? It also does not have rain sensor. It does have pre-collision alert and auto high beam. The cost for replacement aftermarket glass is $200 more for lane departure vs not. They want $630. So, will non lane departure type glass fit or do I need to pay for that useless feature?

 

I wonder if the auto high beam sensor is located in the same area as the other option sensors would be, thus necessitating the same windshield.

 

For the guys asking about the more expensive glass in trucks without the extra features, did your OEM windshield say "sound screen" down along the bottom edge? My 2017 Platinum does. Only reason I know about it is my sister had to have a new windshield put in her Edge for a hail repair job. Her factory windshield was the more expensive sound screen glass. Auto body shop put a cheaper aftermarket one in and she immediately noticed more wind noise when driving it. Took it back and after a fight made them put the expensive sound screen one back in. Was back to being quieter again. They weren't happy since they had to eat the cost of the cheap one, but she was!

So maybe at some trim or package level (XLT) they put the more expensive windshields in for noise reduction in the cab? Would explain the "Acoustic" line in Bhewit's picture.

 

yes, it says sound screen. I have two quotes and they both say acoustic interlayer but are $200 different in price and two different part numbers. They are from the same glass company. The lower price was a quote they gave before getting my specific info from the vehicle. Aftermarket glass of course. They even verified the correct oem part from a local dealer and we’re told if they wanted OEM glass they are back ordered indefinitely. Glass shortage apparently.

 

Yes mine does say “sound screen”. The glass shop that I got two quotes from list acoustic interlayer on them. The first quote they sent me was via email based on truck model. I then stopped by their shop to schedule installation and they looked at the truck and entered the VIN number into their computer and said it came back with a more expensive windshield due to truck features. Anyhow, since both the cheaper glass that is not listed as a fit and the pricier one that is a fit both are acoustic interlayer I don’t think being sound screen is the cause for the expense. The glass shop of course is going aftermarket glass. The local Ford dealer doesn’t have the glass in stock and has indefinite back order due to glass shortages right now. The shop said their aftermarket glass hasn’t hit the shortage problem yet.