2011 jeep grand cherokee windshield replacement

Hey Guys, Anyone have to replace their windshield? I had a truck kick a rock into my upper driver side corner, its only about ½ but several cracks are starting to grow outwards. Is there anything I need to look out for?
Thanks for any advice?

Hey Guys, Anyone have to replace their windshield? I had a truck kick a rock into my upper driver side corner, its only about ½ but several cracks are starting to grow outwards. Is there anything I need to look out for?
Thanks for any advice?

I had the same thing happen to me about 2 months ago. A big rig threw up a huge rock onto my front windshield and within a week I had cracks growing across the whole thing.

We have USAA insurance which is awesome, so I called them and they use SafeLite for their repairs. They put me in contact with a local dealer and I took it in for repair. I requested an OEM replacement, and it was initially approved by USAA but later was rejected and I could only get aftermarket. All in all though the replacement looks exactly the same as the factory original, and so far it seems like they did a good job.

They do mobile repairs too if you can manage to get a time that works but it's usually easier to take it in.

Thanks for the feedback dh650. I am running into the something, not a OME replacement but they say it is the same quality, just not Mopar labeled.

Thanks for the feedback dh650. I am running into the something, not a OME replacement but they say it is the same quality, just not Mopar labeled.

Does your insurance company allow you to pay the uplift for genuine Mopar windshield so the auto headlights still work afterwards without a lot of futzing around. My insurance company will do so, but only if the crack extends such that it is considered a safety violation.

I'm not sure what the GC windows are made out of, as they not only crack easily but if you don't SafeLite or similar even the tiniest chips, they grow--rapidly.
I suspect the windows are made from transparent recycle eggshells.

I have $500 deductible windshield is $350 so insurance is not involved.
Is it a common problem for auto headlights not work on non-Mopar windshields?

I had the same thing happen to me about 2 months ago. A big rig threw up a huge rock onto my front windshield and within a week I had cracks growing across the whole thing.

We have USAA insurance which is awesome, so I called them and they use SafeLite for their repairs. They put me in contact with a local dealer and I took it in for repair. I requested an OEM replacement, and it was initially approved by USAA but later was rejected and I could only get aftermarket. All in all though the replacement looks exactly the same as the factory original, and so far it seems like they did a good job.

They do mobile repairs too if you can manage to get a time that works but it's usually easier to take it in.

Demand OEM Mopar glass especially if you have any sensors mounted to the windshied, even if you have to pay an additional charge out of pocket for it!

Don't use Safelite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They use cheaply made overseas (Chinese) glass and they may cut corners installing it!
That's why your insurance company recommends them.... They're CHEAP!!

Read the link below from a guy who knows his glass and used to work for Safelite.

Replacement Windshiled - OEM vs OEE - Recomendations? - JeepForum.com

I have $500 deductible windshield is $350 so insurance is not involved.
Is it a common problem for auto headlights not work on non-Mopar windshields?

What year is your Grand Cherokee?

Do you have auto dimming headlights? Rain sensing wipers?

Acoustic glass?

Lane departure/collision avoidance camera mounted to your windshield??

If you have any of these features you really should insist on OEM glass. And even then some installs still require dealer only calibration equipment to make all those sensors work properly!

BTW as of 6/1/18 the local Safelite franchise near me said the didn't have the ability to calibrate the sensors on a 2018 Jeep Overland windshield with all those features.
Maybe they didn't want to replace my 2018 windshield when I started asking what kind of guarantee they offered as to all those features working properly over time! Hmmmm!

I have all that stuff on my Summit and didn't get OEM and everything works fine with the new glass. The glass place guy did say that you can run into issues if you get cheaper Chinese made windshields.

I had a Canadian made Pilkinton windsheild. Installed and tested and no problems.

Ive had two replaced through insurance ($0 out of pocket) and was given OEM glass by Safelite each time, all i had to do was ask for OEM glass when scheduling my appointment. The two techs i had at my house were both very professional and did an excellent job, i cant recommend them enough.

Granted i have a basic windshield so the installation is like working on an older model car, no sensors or anything fancy to worry about. Usually if insurance wont pay for OEM you can simply request to pay the cost difference (between aftermarket and OE) to ensure you get Mopar glass.

I have all that stuff on my Summit and didn't get OEM and everything works fine with the new glass. The glass place guy did say that you can run into issues if you get cheaper Chinese made windshields.

I had a Canadian made Pilkinton windsheild. Installed and tested and no problems.

If you read the link I posted above that North American manufactured Pilkington glass is highly rated and many auto manufacturers use it as their OEM glass. It's the made in the far east crap (ie most Safelite glass) you want to avoid!

I have $500 deductible windshield is $350 so insurance is not involved.
Is it a common problem for auto headlights not work on non-Mopar windshields?

It can be an issue if you have all the options with the camera in the glass as others have mentioned, it's better not to role the dice, demand OEM especially if you have those features. I had mine replaced by safelite today with OEM glass on my 2014 Grand Cherokee Summit, my deduct was $250. Safelite told me my insurance company is one of the few that will only install OEM they dont do aftermarket, they also require and pay for the wiper blades to be changed at the same time, weird I thought but whatever if they are paying. Guy was showing me the device for the camera recalibration looks similar to a tablet with an ODBII connector but he said it cost $10,000 for it and the software for it lol.

Also concerning the price you maybe a little shocked and that $350 deduct you have will seem like a bargain instead of going out of pocket. I asked the guy the cost if this were not going through insurance and it's about $1400. OEM Windshield part $850, labor $190, camera recalibration $300, supplies $40, plus tax. Ridiculous gone are the days of a windshield replace for a couple hundered.

I recently had to replace mine on my 2015 Summit and I went with an aftermarket windshield from a local installer. I have had no issues whatsoever!

I ended up replacing mine with aftermarket for $350.00. It has been about 10 days & everything (auto lights & rain sensor) is working fine.
So far I would recommend saving the money & going after market.
Thanks for everyones input!

I made the mistake of having Safelite replace the windshield in my 2012. I did get Mopar glass though. Anyway, my auto high beams NEVER worked again. The rain sensing wipers didn't work at first but those seemed to fix themselves. I had it to the dealer 3 different times to try to fix the high beams. Turns out the tech from safelite mounted the mirror/electronics a bit cockeyed. I ended up trading it in before I could have it re-mounted.

2015 Altitude - Safelite not through insurance. Have not had issues. It seems the OEM glass is not all that great. I had chips and a crack in the first year.

2012 Limited with Rain sensing and auto high beams.

I got Safelite to replace my windshield with Mopar and my rain sensing wipers was not sensitive enough to work properly. Took it to dealership and they had to replace the sensor because it was stuck in some state (can't remember if they said "closed" or "open").

It appears that the guy who replaced it most likely messed up the sensor whey he removed from old windshield to put it on the new.

The rain sensor worked, but I had to keep it high for it sense rain. Once the dealer replaced the sensor, it was back to normal sensitivity (light rain conditions).

Cheers,
-A

I carry "enhanced replacement" coverage on collision and comprehensive in order to get genuine OEM Jeep parts. It isn't expensive but only a few insurance carriers offer this coverage (AAA and I believe Liberty Mutual). I have a Grand Cherokee Overland and Wrangler Unlimited and want genuine Jeep replacement parts, for sure the windshield. Have to have the Jeep Easter Egg for the Wrangler windshield.

THought I'd post additional info in this thread for reference.

Just had my windshield replaced in 2014 JGC. As I read the literature it (Summit) supposedly had acoustic glass in windshield and front side windows. According to internet acoustic glass should have the word "acrostic" on it by the other markings. The glass company showed up and I asked to see the new glass before he starting pulling the old one. It was Pilkington brand and didn't say acoustic. He called his office and they checked all the Pilkington part numbers and none indicated acoustic glass. Told them to check on Mopar but they couldn't till the next week so I sent them away.

Called their office and all they had on the return sheet was "customer wants Mopar Glass". Told them again that I wanted to know if there WAS an acoustic glass. They called the dealer they work with and dealer supposedly told them they could not find any glass listed for it that was called out as acoustic. So I gave up on that but told them I wanted Mopar brand. The side windows are a sandwich construction which supposedly is part of how acoustic glass is made and of course the windshields are sandwiches of glass with plastic in the middle. So maybe FCA is being a little weasley calling the sandwich constructed glass "acoustic" even though it's not the real special glass formulation that is true acoustic glass.

So a week later the second guy comes out with the Mopar windshield and I talked to him about their experience putting these windshields in. He said they had a LOT of warranty claims over the BUZZING noise!! Said they had pulled out just installed windshields trying to cure it till they finally figured out it was that stupid plastic cowl. He said if the noise shows up they have been turning the edge of the cowl down and under to fix it. He sort of showed me what he meant but without really bending mine so I'm not really sure what it would look like. Seems like it would look terrible but he says it looks ok.

He also said he thinks the Mopar Glass fits better because they have had more complaints of wind noise from the non-mopar glass than the mopar. Apparently even thought it just a few hundredths off the non-mopar sometimes sits "different" and creates wind noise (other then the cowl buzz). Mine didn't have any new or different noises than the old windshield.

He also hooked up a dedicated computer system to the OBD port and seemed to be downloading "stuff" to use later to reset all the sensors that stick onto the windshield up by the rear view mirror. He said there is a "dynamic" calibration procedure they do after the new glass is installed to re-calibrate the sensors. The procedure requires them to drive the vehicle around for 10 to 20 minutes.

The acoustic windshield on summit started in 2015 our 2014s dont have acoustic windshields.