Safelite Thrashed My Rig!

[Jeff M]

Sorry...long rant. Needed to vent!

So I was on my way out of town in June and got a crack in my windshield. It ran about halfway across the windshield. Since I was out of state, I opted to just hold off until I got home to get it fixed.

I returned home last week and had Safelite come out and replace the windshield few days later. I was pretty busy so I didn't spend too much time looking over the car when it was done (my fault) but paid the guy and thought all was good. The car has been in the garage since he replaced the windshield.

Well, fast forward to this past Friday. I back the 4Runner out enough to access my attic ladder and while going up the ladder I glance at the top of my car and its dented to holy hell! It looks like they must have used a tool to remove the windshield and trim and in the process of prying, left dents and creases all along he area in front of the sunroof. Needless to say I am livid. I get down to inspect further and see that the rubber trim that goes around the sides of the windshield are not even installed right. I lifted them and they come right up. Finally, I'm not even sure they put the right friggin' windshield in!

While I know I should have taken the time to look over the car better when it was done, I'd expect a company like Safelite to know how to install a damn windshield. That's your core business function and you can't even do the job properly??

I called them after finding the damage and of course get connected to someone in India. After spending 20 minutes on the phone, the lady finally realized that the CAR ITSELF was damaged and not the windshield they has installed.

Safelite is coming out to the house tomorrow between 8-Noon. This is not going to go well for Safelite. :bash:

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Take some pics and post them... I want to see what the clowns did.
:cheers:

 

[Jeff M]

Here are some pics. Some do not show well in the photos but you can clearly see what I'm talking about.

 

[danny4runner]

What the....??? Those are huge dents! I was thinking small dents near the windshield maybe caused by a tool...? But these look like someone was standing on the roof or maybe a elbow... but that would take a lot of pressure.... :dammit:

 

[4Runner8]

i would cuss their asses out

 

[Mark86]

That is inexcusable. I don't know what the guy could have done to cause that. Hope all goes well for you and they fix the damage.

 

[Jeff M]

UPDATE:

Two guys from Safelite rolled up this morning to assess the situation. Like me, they were wondering how in the hell the idiot damaged the roof like he did. I was waiting for them to say that they couldn't possibly have done that but I think looking at how crappy of an overall job was done, they accepted responsibility.

They stated that the car is going to have to go into the bodyshop to have the roof fixed and then another windshield will have to be installed. I inquired as to what bodyshop they were referring me to but he was not sure. This didn't help the situation but I guess we will see what happens.

Safelite advised that the bodyshop will be in touch with me in 24-48 hours. I can be sent out of town/state for work at any time so I advised them that this needs to be repaired ASAP. If duty calls and the car isn't repaired, they are going to be paying some rental car fees.

Damn I'm pissed about this BS.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I would advise that you pick the bodyshop so they don't have their "buddy" fix it and cut corners. I've seen crappy work like that before from glass companies. One time a fellow employee of mine had his windsheild replaced in his silverado. I walked out of the building to find the glass employees kicking the windsheild out. I stopped them and called the owner. They said chevys are so hard to get out that this was the only way. I called BS! A month before that I had a windsheild put in my silverado and it sure as hell didn't go like that. I reached into their van and pulled out the knife you use to cut through the urethane to get the windsheild out. Thats right we had to explane to the glass co. how to use their tools. We don't do business with that co. no more.

Always make sure to look over the vehicle completely before you pay!

 

[haddix]

Sorry to hear about that but atleast they are taking resposibility. Like previously mentioned YOU pick the body shop. They will more than likely pick the cheapest one they can find. Hope all goes well.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Holy crap!:upset::jaw drop::upset:







I hope they make it right for you. What a mess.... :iagree: with the "you pick it up" idea. Good luck!

 

[Jeff M]

UPDATE:

Safelite emailed me back and requested that I take the car to my shop of choice and fax them the estimate. They will also provide a rental car while its being repaired.

I drove over to the shop I've used for the last 12 years and they gave me a quote of $1400 in damage. Lots of labor just to get to the damaged area. What sucks is they are swamped and will not be able to get me in until next week.:dammit:

I've faxed the estimate over to Safelite and am awaiting their response. I also advised them that the rubber molding along the side of the windshield keep coming loose and flapping around. I had to actually roll the dangling piece up in the window to keep it from blowing around or completely off! So the car needs to sit until it goes into the shop.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

UPDATE:

Safelite emailed me back and requested that I take the car to my shop of choice and fax them the estimate. They will also provide a rental car while its being repaired.

I drove over to the shop I've used for the last 12 years and they gave me a quote of $1400 in damage. Lots of labor just to get to the damaged area. What sucks is they are swamped and will not be able to get me in until next week.:dammit:

I've faxed the estimate over to Safelite and am awaiting their response. I also advised them that the rubber molding along the side of the windshield keep coming loose and flapping around. I had to actually roll the dangling piece up in the window to keep it from blowing around or completely off! So the car needs to sit until it goes into the shop.

Have you had a paintless dent repair guy look at it? If they can do it for a few hundred that might be a good choice. The whole concept of overspray and mismatched paint terrifies me...

The second thing I'd do is to be sure to save the pics of the damage with the vehicle records. If the "next owner" figures out it had body work the pics will be very reassuring. I don't think anyone would hesitate to buy your rig based on that damage but if all the potential buyer saw was some evidence of painting on or near the roof they might shy away. I would.

:cheers:

 

[Mtn.Rush]

Holy crap, did hey have a Gorilla on the roof ripping the windshield out. Thats just not right, They should be paying for a rental anyway while your rig is in the shop. I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted

 

[jrs2]

I've had windshields replaced on two vehicles. Both times I stood there and watched the entire procedure. I've heard too many stories of vehicles being damaged, scratched, broken glass left inside, sealant oozing, etc. You also should inspect the glass before they install it. Some windshields have defects in them which will appear as distortions when you look through them.

What they did to Jeff here to totally outrageous. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Scoobs]

Those dents look like they could easily be repaired using paintless dent removal. That would be much cleaner, and probably cheaper, than a body shop. I'd look into PDR first.

 

[Jeff M]

Thanks for the input everyone. I've gone ahead and scheduled a PDR guy to come out tomorrow. Based on the few photos I sent him, he thinks he can get everything smoothed out. He's going to charge $500 since he has to drop the headliner. As many of you said, I too would prefer to avoid painting if I can. I'll keep my fingers crossed and see how this goes.

I did fax over the traditional repair estimates to Safelite yesterday and also emailed the Claims Manager I've been dealing with. I have received NO response from him.

 

[riverider]

I only used Safelite once when a rear door window got smashed by thugs. They installed a wavy glass. Will never ever use them again.

 

[VNT]

situations like that make you want to do everything yourself just to make sure it's done right, of course this is unreasonable
sucks to see your car treated this way

 

[Jeff M]

UPDATE:

Well, the PDR guy came out yesterday and worked on the car for about 4hrs. He ended up having to drop the front portion of the headliner in order to access some of the damaged areas. Overall, I think he did a phenomenal job. While he could not get it back 100% to stock form, I'd say its about 95% and l can live with the repair for now. Total charge was $400.

I am having to leave town (with the T4R) for work this Saturday for what will likely be several months. So in essence, I really had no choice but to have the PDR done yesterday. I do still have the issue with the windshield that Safelite needs to fix before I leave Saturday. I called the Safelite rep after the PDR repair was completed and left him a voicemail requesting call back to discuss the repair and repairs to the windshield. A long, detailed email was also sent.

I had several errands to run today so I had my wife call the Safelite rep to inquire when I can expect them to come out and replace the windshield. My wife advised that the PDR repair was done and advised the car is still not 100% but we simply do not have the luxury of waiting until next week to take it to a shop. He was advised that we have only had the T4R for 2 months and we are not happy about them damaging the car. Safelite then had the gall to make a comment to my wife that went something like, "yes, you've only had the car 2 months but the car is a 2006". My wife flipped out on him..haha. The car is an 06' with 30K miles on it in perfect condition. For him to imply the 4Runner was some type of beater was unacceptable. Safelite was advised that:

A) they need to get out to our house and replace the windshield today or tomorrow or they are going to paying for a rental car for the next several months I'm out of town.

B) while were are accepting the PDR repair at this time, we are by no means accepting this as the final repair. Due to time constraints, the PDR repair will have to suffice for now. We can address the issue again once the car and myself are back in town.

C) they are going to reimburse me for both the PDR repair and the cost of the windshield. I've wasted a good 8 hrs dealing with this issue.

I received a call from the Safelite dispatch soon after hearing from my wife and they said they were coming out today to do the windshield. I guess they might have finally gotten the message.

I'm contemplating if I should simply stand out there and watch them do the window the entire time. I hate to do it but I'd pretty pretty pissed if they damage the roof again. :soapbox:

 

[SportRunner]

I would def. stand out there now, I'm kinda weird about that stuff to, watching people do work, but now you better stand out there especially since safelite is doing the work again, IMO I'd make them pay to have a toyota windshield put in and installed by toyota at this point....:nono: